Imagine the Possibilities

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Last night Allan and I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much. That one, along with Rear Window, are two of my favorites from Hitchcock. (Of course, it probably has something to do with Jimmy Stewart, too.) As I watched, I thought about how much movie making and book-making, especially picture books, have in common.

There is a classic scene in The Man Who Knew Too Much that takes place during a concert in London’s Albert Hall. Doris Day and Jimmy Stewart are frantically trying to find their son, but in the process realize that something else very sinister is about to happen. Jimmy Stewart rushes in and realizes Doris has figured something out. They talk, he runs up to the balcony, argues with the guards, runs to each door. The scenes cut quickly back and forth from character to character, and all the while the only thing heard is the beautiful music in the concert hall. There is dialogue, but we don’t need to hear it to know what is happening. Everything is in the visuals and the music. That is what makes us feel anxious (no matter how many times we have seen it). That is what carries the story forward. Just like in picture books, the illustrations enhance the text and are so often used to evoke emotion and advance the story.

After the movie we watched the “behind the scenes” to learn more, much like the back-matter in a book. To me, it was like reading an author’s note that explains the process. There is so much we can learn about story and writing from watching movies, especially the classics. Sometimes we just have to approach it through a different lens.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

I’m up early this morning. The house is quiet. In a few minutes my phone will buzz with a text message from my on-line writing critique group friends. We write together on Wednesday mornings at 6:30 for as much time as each of us can put in. We text what our plans are for the morning and at the end we say a few words on how it went. Sometimes there are questions. Always there is comradery.

I met these ladies a few years ago at a Highlights writing workshop and I spent another few days with them at a writing retreat some time later. It’s been only recently that I formally joined the group, and already I can see the benefits of talking and learning together. But it is this early morning writing time once a week that is comforting and also productive. There’s some accountability built in, but no hard and fast rules. It’s nice knowing that somewhere there is a friend maybe struggling to find the right word just as you are, or wondering how to better develop a character. And if you have a question, they are just a text message away.

I decided several years ago that I would get serious about writing for children. But it’s been only about a year that I’ve really jumped in with both feet to learn and write as much as I can. I had plenty of excuses, and sometimes I let other excuses, uncertainty, or fear hold me back. But here I am, having fun (but taking it seriously).

        Bzzzz…there’s my phone. Morning…

        …I’m finishing a blog post for Slice of Life, then tackling revisions. There’s snow

           already so I guess it will be a writing kind of day.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

Yesterday was a slow morning in the Children’s Garden at Longwood. I took a book and sat down in the central cove, hoping to engage an unsuspecting toddler in Joyce Sidman’s Swirl by Swirl. Instead, I found myself in a delightful conversation with a couple from Michigan.

They were on their way to the flower show in Philadelphia and decided to stop at Longwood when they discovered how close it was. When the woman saw me with the book, she shared that she had been a second grade teacher. She talked about collecting thousands of books and turning her classroom into a rain forest or a planetarium. We shared favorite titles and favorite authors. Then we talked about the wonders of Longwood and she told me that she is a master gardener and wants to visit as many botanical gardens around the country as she can.

What struck me most about this couple was their devotion to each other. They held hands as they chatted with me, explaining that this trip was to celebrate their anniversary. The gentleman likes to drive, not fly, so that is what they do. He said that he has done many things and been to many places because of his special lady. She shared that for Christmas he still gives her a picture book, preferably one by Jan Brett, her favorite author. My heart felt full by the time they left to find the Blue Poppies.

There are many perks to volunteering at Longwood. This is one of them.

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

I consider myself an adequate cook. Not a great cook, or even an exceptional cook, but definitely adequate. Allan says there a just a few instances he can recall when he thought I might be trying to kill him. One of those occasions actually occurred before we were married, when I made some seafood dish in my new crock pot. Let’s just say the after effects were not pretty. But he married me anyway.

A few days ago I started making tacos for dinner. I used to use the packaged powder seasoning, but now I season it myself with garlic and cumin and coriander (less sodium) and mix it with tomatoes and beef. The recipe calls for diced tomatoes with jalapeño peppers. Usually I can find that, but apparently not on my last trip to the grocery store. So instead I just bought a can of jalapeños. I wasn’t sure how much of the can I should use, so I just dumped in the whole thing. Wrong choice.

The tacos smelled great. The tacos looked great. But with the first bite, there might actually have been smoke coming from our ears. Well, maybe not that bad, but enough for Allan to comment that I might be trying to kill him again. A little spicy, aren’t they?

With just two of us, we often have leftovers for lunch the next day. The rest of the taco filling is still in my refrigerator. I guess that says something. Want to stop by for lunch?

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

January was a blur. February was a little better. Now it’s March, and my sights are set on March 30 when it will be a full three months since I had my right knee replaced. I am getting better every day, but for many weeks I did nothing more than exercise and rest (Allan would say I also sighed a lot).  But with lots of time to think, here are ten things I learned over the past two months.

1. Physical therapy is grueling.
2. Being a good care-giver does not necessarily mean you will be a good care-receiver. In other words, I’m a terrible patient. (Allan should probably be elevated to sainthood).
3. Get-well cards and phone calls really do lift your spirits.
4. Friends who stop by with meals and/or other assorted goodies are angels.
5. When you are told it will be a full three months of recovery and physical therapy before you are feeling back to normal, believe it.
6. Physical therapy is grueling (worth repeating that one).
7. Even after forty years of not having much to do with meal planning and preparation, your husband can learn his way around the grocery store and the kitchen.
8. You know it’s time to start getting out more and doing more when “The Price Is Right” becomes the highlight of your day.
9. Learning to nap well is an art.
10. Being helped into your pajamas, tucked into bed, and kissed good-night is comforting at any age.