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Have you ever stripped a piece of furniture to give it a new life and a fresh purpose? Recently, I finished a project that I’ve been dragging my feet on, and found the process actually refreshing and satisfying. I inherited my late brother’s trunk, which he in turn inherited from our late father. It was sooo dated that it would have made a great prop for a pirate movie. Yet, there was so much history and character to this trunk, I wanted it for a personal challenge, as well as to have a keepsake from my brother and father. So, after being ‘stuck’ as my hubby called it, in the garage since February, I began to seriously work on my trunk at the end of the August.
Honestly, I really, really hate the stripping process. It’s kind of like editing the first draft of your book. You know you have to grin and bear it to remove the gunk, and get to the bones of the story. So you do it. My elbows and hands are still screaming at me! Slowly, but surely, the old red and gold paint peeled off to reveal the trunk’s original color. The poor thing appeared so naked, so exposed, like a newborn baby with bits of after-birth stuck to it. Sorry for the visual, but it’s true.
Next came choosing the new paint color. I wanted to go with a dark brown—mostly to hide all the flaws in the trunk’s body caused by my scraper. Perhaps I used little too much elbow grease. Hubby helped me with this part, carefully spraying the sides, allowing the trunk time to dry, then giving it another coat. Covering the flaws reminded me of the care a writer takes in creating characters. Like the gouges and grooves in my trunk, your characters NEED flaws because readers must feel some sort of connection with them. Readers WANT to cheer on those flawed underdogs, see them scream, watch them change and grow. And when that connection happens, they wholeheartedly invest in your characters and the hell authors drag them through.
Once the paint was completely dry, it was on to varnishing the trunk. Boo-yah! This was a painstakingly long process, done by hand. But there was no turning back now! I did two coats and allowed the varnish time to dry and hardened. Like revising and polishing your book before submitting for publication (self or traditional), the varnishing step protects and gives a glossy finish to the trunk to give it life. This process reflects something every writer needs to do in order to get the best quality book in the hands of their readers.
Finally came the finishing, the piece de resistance. I wanted the trunk to be cedar-lined. Call me anal (hubby did), I don’t care. I wanted to be able to use the trunk to store bedding for guests, as well as double as a coffee table. I’d already invested quite a lot of time and money into this project—think how much time writers invest in their books, and you’ll understand me completely. So I went all in and did it the way I visualized the trunk that I wanted. This was hubby’s job, as he’s a skilled woodworker and finisher. And he didn’t disappoint. The trunk smelled of cedar (love the smell) and had a fresher, cleaner look to it. Truly an improvement my brother and father would have been proud of!
Speaking of improvements, Book #2 of the Last Timekeepers time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Dark Secret was originally written in 2001. There’s been so many revisions and rewrites to this novel that fifteen years later, I’m so proud of the final product. I do hope you get a chance to check it out when this Timekeeper mission is released on October 17th! So grab your spy gear and suit up, the Timekeepers are going undercover in their next time travel adventure! Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!
0 Comments on Reaping what you Sow in Life and in Writing… as of 1/1/1900
I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since my youngest brother, Ian, has left us. Truth be known, we actually got closer when he was diagnosed with cancer over two years ago. I’d phone him once a week, and he’d phone me when he was feeling up to it. He brought his son to our ‘Farewell to the Cottage’ party and had fun watching him fish and hang out with the family. Oh, there were times when I wanted to slap my brother across the back of his head for his bad behavior and callousness in the past. I know I’m not the only sibling in that boat! LOL! Still, in the end, Ian was my brother. And as the old saying goes, blood is thicker than water.
They say you can choose your friends but not your family. But I believe that we choose the family we want to be with before we’re born. Scary concept, eh? We choose what lessons we want to learn from our family that will help our souls grow, develop, and evolve into someone better than before we were born. And when those lessons are over, the teacher leaves us.
So this got me to thinking. What lessons did my brother teach me? I did a little time traveling, since I’ve been so good at that lately, and came up with some answers…
I remember when I got my father’s station wagon crooked in the garage and tried to straighten it. Um, not one of my finest moments. I scraped both sides of the car, until I realized that there was no way I could straighten it. So what did I do? I ran crying to my two brothers. I swear they couldn’t stop laughing, but my heart was pounding so hard knowing I was gonna get in trouble. Ian managed to get the car out, and drove it back into the garage with no sweat.
Lesson learned:Patience is a virtue. Oh, and never try to straighten a big-ass car in a small garage.
I remember when I used to cheer Ian on during his hockey games. I wished like hell I could have played hockey back then. But being born in a time when no such opportunities existed, I settled for being his team’s number one booster.
Lesson learned:A team doesn’t just consist of players. The backbone of any sport is comprised of the blood, sweat, and cheers of all family members. Plus, I believe I found my true voice with all that cheerleading I did!
I remember when Ian let me drive his and my other brother’s green Challenger. Somehow, I managed to put one of the front wheels into a ditch while backing out. I think we had to pull it out with my father’s station wagon (yes, the same one that got a garage door make-over). Again, my brother got me out of another tight spot and didn’t berate at me.
Lesson learned:I always have the support I need to overcome obstacles. And never make wide turns in a small driveway.
I remember when my brother and his best buddy sat on me so I couldn’t go to church. They held me down until it was too late to attend. Um, yeah. Hope God forgave them for that one. Still, I know Ian was never one for religion or going to church, and sometimes we all have our faith tested again and again to see if our beliefs have changed from when we were kids. I know mine have.
Lesson learned:Develop an understanding of where other people are coming from. Even if those people are sitting on you.
I remember when my brother tried (operative word here is tried) to teach me how to drive three on the tree in his red truck. He drove me down to the town’s fairgrounds where I could practice shoving the stick-shift in the column. About ten grinds later, we called it quits before I did something very bad to the transmission. He never took me out again.
Lesson learned:When something doesn’t work for you, just let it go.
Finally, I remember when we celebrated the first Christmas during Ian’s apprenticeship as a mechanic. He bought us some wonderful and expensive gifts, and I truly appreciated his generosity. I still have part of that gift – the mirror to the tea caddy he bought me. Ian was very generous to our family that year, and I believe our father would have been so proud of him, had he lived.
Lesson learned:Enjoy the fruits of your labors, so that you may share them with those you love the most.
Ian celebrating our 'Farewell to the Cottage' party
As the first year of your absence in our lives comes to a close, I want to just thank you for choosing me as your big sister, Ian. It was a truly a gift from the Universe, and I believe I made the right choice too. Here’s a toast to you, who in the end, will always be my little brother…
“Be grateful to those who left you, for their absence gave you the strength to grow in the space they abandoned.” ~ Dodinsky
0 Comments on Lessons from my Brother… as of 7/13/2016 4:57:00 AM
Teachers Rock! is the new picture book from New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Todd Parr. The book is a celebration of teachers and all the wonderful things they do for students. Children spend many of their waking hours in classrooms, so teachers have a huge impact on their lives. Teachers Rock! contains many real life scenarios; Parr shows teachers buying their own supplies, making sure children wipe their noses, and a few unexpected moments.
Parr grew up in Wyoming where he remembers having a wonderful classroom experience. While he was appreciative of many of his teachers he cites Mrs. Judson, his fourth grade teacher, with being the one who encouraged most of his creativity. As an adult Parr studied art; however, he didn’t do well because he preferred a style all his own. Todd Parr’s work is highly relatable to children because of the bright colors, imperfect lines, and simplicity. Parr told StoryMakers host Rocco Staino that his ultimate goal is to continue writing books that help children feel good about themselves, embrace their feelings, and understanding of others.
Do you have a favorite teacher? Let us know who that person is, and why they’re so special, in the comment section below.
We’re giving away three (3) bundles of Todd Parr’s picture books. Each bundle includes a copy of Teachers Rock!, It’s Okay to Make Mistakes and The Goodbye Book. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on May 3, 2016. Enter now!
Teachers Rock!
Written and illustrated by Todd Parr
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Teachers are amazing! They teach you new things, make you laugh, and help you meet new friends. They always encourage you to do your best. They make the classroom a great place to be!
From admiring the way teachers foster creativity in the classroom to how they ensure all children’s needs are met, Todd Parr offers an ode to everything teachers contribute to the world. Bursting with positivity about school and the people who make it special, this book is sure to become a classroom and at-home favorite.
ABOUT TODD PARR
Todd Parr is the author and illustrator of more than 30 children’s books. Todd moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as an artist, then took a detour as a flight attendant, before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Todd draws in a style that’s highly relatable to children.
Todd acknowledges his supportive family — including a grandma who introduced him to Dr. Seuss books — as being a strong influence in his work. He is able to write stories about kindness and love because of his upbringing. Todd’s books have been translated into more than 14 languages. In 2005 Todd received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his preschool television series ToddWorld.
Todd’s favorite color is blue, and he loves macaroni and cheese.
Todd loves hearing from fans of his books. Go ahead and contact him, here. You can send him a note and pictures too!
Bonus: Actress Sandra Bullock is a big fan of Todd’s Family Book. She reads it aloud to her children Louis and Laila before bedtime.
I still have fond memories of my math teacher, Mr True, and “you yahoos”. He was great.
creslibrary said, on 4/19/2016 3:10:00 PM
I loved my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McClish. She actually wrote in cursive on my report card. I hope you go to college and become a teacher. I was the first one in my Mennonite family to go to college and become a teacher/librarian. Mrs. McClish believed in me and saw my career talents at such an early age.
Donna Rossman said, on 4/22/2016 8:34:00 PM
I have fond memories of many of my elementary school teachers. My husband is a retired teacher and it is so wonderful when his old students contact him on FB and tell him how he inspired them.
Every now and then we make mistakes. Kids make mistakes and adults do the same thing too. Todd Parr’s It’s Okay to Make Mistakes reminds children they don’t need to be perfect. The best thing about making mistakes is that you can learn and grow from them, create new experiences, and more.
Todd reads It’s Okay to Make Mistakes in a tone that is warm, confident, and affirming.
KidLit TV’s Read Out Loud series is perfect for parents, teachers, and librarians. Use these readings for nap time, story time, bedtime … anytime!
LIKE IT? PIN IT!
ABOUT ‘IT’S OKAY TO MAKE MISTAKES’
It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
Written and illustrated by Todd Parr
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Todd Parr’s bestselling books have reminded kids to embrace differences, to be thankful, to love one another, and to be themselves. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes embraces life’s happy accidents, the mistakes and mess-ups that can lead to self discovery. Todd Parr brings a timely theme to life with his signature bold, kid-friendly illustrations and a passion for making readers feel good about themselves, encouraging them to try new things, experiment, and dare to explore new paths.
From coloring outside the lines and creating a unique piece of art to forgetting an umbrella but making a new friend, each page offers a kid-friendly take on the importance of taking chances, trying new things, and embracing life, mistakes and all.
ABOUT TODD PARR
Todd Parr is the author and illustrator of more than 30 children’s books. Todd moved to San Francisco to pursue a career as an artist, then took a detour as a flight attendant, before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Todd draws in a style that’s highly relatable to children.
Todd acknowledges his supportive family — including a grandma who introduced him to Dr. Seuss books — as being a strong influence in his work. He is able to write stories about kindness and love because of his upbringing. Todd’s books have been translated into more than 14 languages. In 2005 Todd received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his preschool television series ToddWorld.
Todd’s favorite color is blue, and he loves macaroni and cheese.
Todd loves hearing from fans of his books. Go ahead and contact him, here. You can send him a note and pictures too!
Bonus: Actress Sandra Bullock is a big fan of Todd’s Family Book. She reads it aloud to her children Louis and Laila before bedtime.
I was looking for a book to take with me on my recent holiday (something light and easy to read)—so when I saw the title of this book, my heart almost stopped. Huh? Another book using the name time keeper? Perish the thought! And not written by just any author, but by Mitch Albom who has rubbed elbows with the rich and famous, including being Oprah’s Book Club pick. I reached for the book and checked the publication date. To my surprise The Time Keeper was published in 2012, the same year as the first book in my young adult time travel series, The Last Timekeepers and the Arch of Atlantis came out through my former publisher. Coincidence? I think not.
Here’s the gist of this novel…
The Time Keeper is a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time.
In The Time Keeper, the inventor of the world’s first clock is punished for trying to measure God’s greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.
He returns to our world-now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began-and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.
After reading The Time Keeper, I found Albom truly has a gift for words. He has a unique brand of storytelling, one I’ve never come across before, which made this book flow easily. The tale is original and inspirational. At first, I wasn’t quite sure how to read Albom’s prose, but soon I found that I couldn’t put it down. I’d get to the end of one chapter, then was hooked into the next one. Although Albom’s spiritual convictions shine through, he’s not preachy, and leaves room for his readers’ imagination to percolate throughout the story. I loved the way certain myths were introduced into the mix—the Tower of Babel and Father Time—to give the story an air of familiarity. All and all, this book is worth the investment of your time, whether on vacation or cozying up on the couch at home.
Having read this book made me stop and think about how I spend my time and what is truly important in my life. Trust me, when you’re on your death bed, you’re not going to wish you could have spent more hours at work. Life is all about relationships, how you treat others and how you treat them. Life is about what makes you happy, what fulfills you. Just to stop and be still in the moment—now that’s a gift you can’t count.
So what about you? Read any good books lately? Would love to hear your comments! Cheers and thank you for reading my blog!
0 Comments on Book Review: The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom… as of 12/14/2015 3:49:00 AM
Happy Spring everyone! Since this season is all about new growth, renewal, and fertility it’s only fitting that I share a post that reflects the promise of better (and brighter) days ahead. The following is taken from a Hallmark® birthday card I received from my mom this year. Trust me it’s worth the read, and guaranteed to put a smile on your face…
Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t…fun, tempting…maybe, but not right.
Remember your manners. It doesn’t cost you anything, but speaks volumes about who you are. Having CLASS starts with this.
Never let possessions “own” you. It’s just STUFF! The most valuable things in life—friends, respect, love, knowledge—don’t cost money… Hokey, but true.
Nurture your friendships. The investment you make in true friends will pay huge dividends all your life—remember, you can’t make an old friend.
Keep your hands clean. This is meant both literally and figuratively… It will save you a lot of regrets later…
Believe in yourself. Another hokey one, but you DO happen to be the only YOU in existence, and you’re also the only person in the world who can TRULY hold you back in life…
Be grateful. Don’t waste all your todays in anticipation of some grand tomorrow. NOW is all we’ve got. Live in it!
Treat others the way you want to be treated. Just because you’re smarter or richer or prettier than someone else doesn’t mean you’re BETTER. It just means you’ve been more blessed.
Always keep playing. Who says adults have to give up toys? Keep the little kid inside you alive… it keeps your imagination primed. Silly is good.
I’m kind of partial to the last one! Thanks a heap for reading my blog. If you have time, please leave a comment and share some of the things that have made your life a little better. Cheers and have a great week!
0 Comments on 9 Things to Make Your Life a Little Better… as of 1/1/1900
Similarly, Latino authors likely know a lot more about Anglos than Anglos do about us. This regularly plays out in some Latino literature's Anglo characters. This brings to mind growing up in San Antonio decades ago, and how Anglos gradually worked their way into my life. Although mine is no template for the "Chicano lifestyle," here's how it taught me the first things I learned about Anglos.
A highway like this "improved" my 1st neighborhood
Given the decrepitude of ageing, I don't remember most of the names, but the first one was a neighborhood kid my age, maybe five. He came over regularly and taught me that playing "cowboys and Indians" was fun. Ignorant of the fact that I was part "Indian," we'd ride around the dirt yard on our stick horses, shooting at each other, falling down, and getting dirty. I sort of remember sometimes getting to be the cowboy. He taught me that some Anglos would play with me.
The next ones were female teachers, first through third grade. They were mostly nice, even if I don't remember what I learned from them. Before entering first grade, mi 'amá had already taught me to read, so I assume I picked up whatever math and writing I was supposed to learn because I kept passing to the next grade. The teachers taught me that teachers were Anglo women.
Two incidents in elementary school stick out in my mind. The first was halfway through first grade. Our teacher announced that three of us were being skipped into higher grades. This one poor white boy who could've been twelve years old--the biggest, burliest kid--was being "skipped" to third grade, which was probably still less than age-appropriate for him. I remember thinking the teacher just wanted him gone from her room. From him I learned there were Anglos were much less intelligent than me, even if they were bigger, older and meaner.
Then our teacher announced that two of us--I think the other one was named Judy--were skipping into second grade. That meant something to other kids, my parents, relatives, and the teacher, but I don't remember being impressed by this, since I didn't know what it meant.
Judy gave me another memory, of dancing. During one of those school activities everyone had to participate in, maybe May Day. Out on the playground, we were all paired up and for some reason, nerd-brain, skinny, too-tall, blond Judy got paired up with the shortest kid--a "Mexican" as we called ourselves--who was me. I faked it, going around in circles, thinking I it was supposed to be having fun. Though, not as much fun as getting to be the cowboy. From Judy, I learned Anglo girls would at times be willing to hold my hand, at least in public.
San Anto was the military's playground
Next came my uncle Jack, a military-lifer who later married my mother's sister. He was real white, tall and big, loud and always made his presence known. Whenever the couple came by our house was a treat, probably because their income was higher than most of the family. Before they had any of their own kids, Uncle Jack would take me out while he courted my aunt. The best time was a zoo visit where I got to eat lots of junk because he could afford it. He taught me the military had it much better than most people, though maybe his Anglo-ness had something to do with his good fortune.
Projects like where we lived
About my age, Mary B. didn't teach me as much as I'd have liked. In the federal projects where we lived, her family was one of the few Anglo families around. She had an older sister who was a template for juvenile delinquency, and sort of respected by all the younger kids. Whenever they let her out of juvey or prison, she'd visit with her latest tattooed boyfriend who also looked like he was on parole. They taught me there were tough, young Anglos in the world, whenever they were let out.
Marie B's were shorter than this
Mary B. could've been my first love, or at least experience, except that never happened. She was hotter than her older sister and usually wore shorts that couldn't have been cut any shorter. Neighborhood culture dictated she was unapproachable because she was white, something I didn't understand. For my only teen birthday party I can remember, I invited her and, chingau, she showed up. I danced with her at least once and that was as close to heaven or to Mary B.'s shorts that I ever got. Like Judy, she taught me Anglo girls would dance with you in public, but that my life experiences might be limited to that.
like the coach who "taught" me
There were so few Anglo kids in my junior high (middle) school, none of them would've stuck out. The gym coach, however, taught me corporal punishment and how much it hurt. I got busted doing some regular-Mexican-kid obscenity to another Mexican kid, in jest. But it wasn't funny to the teacher establishment. The board the coach used on the two of us--the "victim" of my jest was deemed guilty as me--taught me to never get caught again. That's how I learned that an Anglo's "paddle" could hit as hard as my pinchefather's leather belt.
My mother snuck me into another school district so I've get a college-prep education. Thomas Jefferson was heavily Anglo, from higher incomes and taller parents, and being the shortest kid from being skipped a grade became a bigger joke; most of the kids were a foot taller than me. I learned they were much more silent around me and resembled actors on TV or commercials, with nicer clothes, make-up and styles of strutting that showed they were better than other humans.
Real pic of my high school
I had some great Anglo teachers, especially in the sciences, possibly why I later imagined studying to become a physicist. I don't remember facing prejudice from the teachers, but that might've been due to my I.Q., more than anything else.
My French teacher came straight out of an 18th century novel. She exuded European style and aloofness that I'd never seen in any "Mexican." Despite being ignored by most of the Anglo student body, I'd come to understand it wasn't that hard to get good grades, especially A's. There was only one student better than me in French class, and her grandmother was French-born.
Everybody knew your grades
Each grading period, we'd go up to the blackboard and write down every one of our grades that the French teacher dictated to us, and then figure out our average. As a private joke, through three years of French, I made it a point to totally fail one test. So, I'd stand at the board, copying down A after A, but always with one F. It was obvious what I'd done. Funny thing is, no student, much less the teacher, was ever impressed by this. It took me years to understand how difficult it was for old or young Anglos to admit when a Mexican could do better than them. And how much they didn't like being involved in my sarcasm.
I could write a book: How Chess Can Pay for Your Lunch
The only friends I had in high school were other nerds, the straight-As, headed-to-Harvard kids who sat together before school playing chess or sat at the lunch table playing chess. No other club, except for science clubs, would have them as members. I was comfortable among them, especially since the only way I ever had money to buy a Coke or breakfast was from beating them at chess.
One of them--name withheld--was as fat as Fat Albert and became my best friend. With coke-bottle lenses, he was definitely smarter than me, possibly the smartest kid in the school of a thousand. Midway through, he spent a summer losing weight, getting contact lenses, and returned as New Hunk on campus, and was admitted into the exclusive club for the richest, cool Anglos. He still came around us, and I learned that if you were Anglo, you could change your outside appearance and improve your status in society.
Berkeley radicalism my best friend's parents saved him from
After we graduated, that best friend and I played tennis for the summer, until we got into a fight over a racquet, and he disappeared. I don't remember why we got in the fight, whose "fault" it was. He taught me I could have Anglo best friends, at least for a stretch. He also taught me that Anglos were sometimes smarter than me, were able to raise their societal standing, and could be accepted to schools like Univ. of Berkeley.
last time I returned to San Anto, for my novel
When his parents refused to let him go to that college, because of the student radicalism of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, he taught me Anglos could be more fragile than me, who'd only be accepted to UT. His suicide wasn't the last thing I learned about Anglos, but it's enough, for now.
Es todo, hoy,
RudyG, a.k.a. Chicano fabulist-mextasy author Rudy Ch. Garcia, striving to put on paper some of the things I learned about Anglos. And others. And some things I never learned.
0 Comments on Some stuff Anglos taught a Chicnao author as of 1/6/2015 10:27:00 PM
Each year on my blog I try to write my year-end “what I learned list.” It’s a creative wrap-up, I guess, since I see birthdays as the beginning of a new year. 2014 was the year of breaking out of my tightly-knit cocoon and joining the world again. There were many losses–a nod to Bun-Bun and Speedy–and loss of some friends and connections, so there was sadness, but there was also many joys.
Here’s my list of what I learned in 2014:
1. It’s okay to trust and reveal your heart, but be mindful who you share it with. Not everyone is up for that precious responsibility. Flattery and lovely words mean nothing, if you aren’t willing to be there when it really matters.
2. True friends will remind you who you are when you forget. ;)
3. Sometimes it really isn’t about you. In fact, most the time it’s other people’s stuff. We see each other through our own lenses and wounds.
4. Stay open. The world may be harsh nowadays, but it needs feeling people with open hearts.
5. Don’t stay in situations where you have to keep trying to be seen. Giving more doesn’t solve the problem. Giving where it is unappreciated really sucks and you will question the worth of what you are giving.
6. Good boundaries. 2014 was all about creating better, stronger boundaries.
7. If you eat too many Rice Thins, you will get wired.
8. If life gets too hard, there is always the Forest to run to.
9. You can’t walk in another’s path. It won’t work. You will be pleasing another, but you will be miserable.
10. You don’t have to do it all alone. Ask for help. And if you ask for help and you are shamed for asking, slowly walk away from that source.
11. Some very lucid dreams are real. Yup, we can connect to some in dreams. Even wilder when you are both aware of this, on some level, and the dreams are pretty exciting.
12. Alone time is crucial. Sensitive folks need time to process our experiences.
13. Sharing on Instagram is quite fun; a little like artist’s crack.
14. Dogs rock. Seriously. They are so cool on so many levels.
15. Always pursue your dreams. They are planted there for a reason.
16. Even though you know souls live on and you feel them, you still miss them like crazy and it hurts.
17. I am over-responsible and over-cautious because I am not always sure God has my back, and when Speedy crossed over, it brought that up.
18. Telepathy with each other is increasing…greatly.
19. The most sensual place in the world is the Forest. It is filled with sounds, feelings, and sights that feed you. If you are a sensual person, you will really benefit going there.
20. I can finally get rid of the “not enoughs.” It’s total bull shit. :)
What’s on your list? Did you learn a lot? Relate to any of these? Hopefully, the big one, #20.
Fairy Blessings,
0 Comments on Almost Forgot My “It’s My Birthday What I’ve Learned List” as of 1/1/1900
Achievement in any field requires effort and sacrifice. You need to act in a manner that will allow your goal to become reality. If you want to be an Olympic medalist, a bestselling author, or a great actor it requires hard work and dedication. Every achievement in life comes with its own price tag. Here are nine guidelines for those on the journey toward achieving their dreams:
Write down what you want to achieve: Be clear and concise on what it is that you want in life. You can’t commit to memory what you don’t remember. Put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard, but get your dreams and goals out of your head.
Make preparations: Know where you’re going, make a plan and work your plan.
Act deliberately: Do it NOW! Taking decisive actions instill a sense of purpose and confidence.
Get others involved: No one is a self-made person. Life is teamwork. Find your team. All achievement requires the help of other people.
Expect failure: Bummer, but true. Failure is a necessary ingredient of success. There can be no success without some failure.
Keep your focus: Don’t allow yourself to be distracted. Stay focused on your written goals.
Examine your journey: What’s working, you keep, and what’s not working, you toss out. Make sure you insert some new directions. Review your goals often, this way you’ll see how far you’ve come!
Take a reward: Give yourself an occasional ‘high five’ for a job well done. Treat yourself to something special. Be refreshed and encouraged by your progress.
Be true to yourself: Never compromise your integrity and moral character. It’s not worth it! Achievement is gained when we are seen as a person who can be trusted and relied upon. Be that person!
Thank you for reading my blog. If you have time, please comment and share what you are doing in your life that will help you to achieve your goals and dreams. Love to hear your comments! Cheers!
0 Comments on 9 Ways to Achieve Your Goals on the Road Less Traveled… as of 6/16/2014 6:37:00 PM
How do you want to be remembered at the end of your journey? If you’re like me, most of us hope for a successful life and to have made an impact on those around us. To have no regrets, to make a difference, and wipe our karma slate clean. Some manage to do this, while others fall terribly short. To achieve the success you’re looking for, here are some simple—dare I say UPSTANDING— guidelines you can put into practice every day:
Wake UP to the OPPORTUNITIES and pleasures that life offers you. Always seek out the silver lining that forms around the clouds of your life. Every situation has the potential to add something to your life if you’re brave enough to seek it out.
Dress UP your face with a SMILE. It’s the best exchange of positive energy around! A smile will allow others to be welcomed into your life. So go on and get cracking!
Button UP your mouth. There is a reason why you’ve been given two ears and one mouth. We’re meant to LISTEN more than we speak.
Stand UP for what you BELIEVE in. Be a person of principles and live them. Don’t let others control how you act or what you believe. Be true to yourself. A person of principle will always have more long term impact and a positive influence.
Look UP and set your sights HIGHER. Never be content to wallow in mediocrity. People who set a higher standard of excellence also experience a heightened sense of being alive.
Reach UP and strive for higher goals and bigger DREAMS. Your dreams and goals will provide you with a passion and the motivation to excel.
Lift UP and ENCOURAGE others by helping them feel CONFIDENT in themselves. A positive word or kind act to someone down in the dumps could uplift them immediately. Remember that real success comes with the help of others.
Give it UP and leave the past behind. The past is not the FUTURE unless you make it so. Stop being afraid of failure, or making a mistake, or of what others may, or may not think. Life is way too short for that. We cannot live in the past, we must always be moving ahead.
Gear UP and get excited! Be ENTHUSIASTIC! People love to be around those who show excitement for life. Besides, I believe it was Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said, “Nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.” True that, Ralph!
I hope these guidelines will SERVE you well. Thank you for reading my blog. If you have time, please leave a comment and share what you do to keep UP. Cheers!
0 Comments on Feeling Down? Try Thinking UP with these 9 Guidelines for Successful Living… as of 6/9/2014 8:11:00 PM
Real Simple – Sixth Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Maybe, in the course of your life, you’ve had an Erin Brockovich moment: say, the time you stood up to a bully in second grade, or the day you ended a long-standing friendship that had turned toxic. Or maybe your acts of courage have been less dramatic but no less powerful: moving to a new country. Daring to fall in love a second time around. Leaving a settled career to embark on a risky new venture. Whatever your story, share it with us.
Enter Real Simple’s sixth annual Life Lessons Essay Contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple and receive a prize of $3,000.
Send your typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 words maximum, preferably in a Microsoft Word document) to [email protected].
Contest runs through 11:50 P.M. EST on September 19, 2013.
All submitted essays must be nonfiction. Open to legal residents of the United States age 19 or older at time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. (Entries will not be returned.)
The Hard Way by third-place winner Katherine Dykstra
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How should I format my entry?A. Essays should be submitted in English at a maximum of 1,500 words and typed and double-spaced on 8½-by-11-inch paper. Essays exceeding this length or handwritten may not be considered. If submitted by e-mail, we prefer that you send the essay in a Microsoft Word document; however, we will also consider essays that are pasted into the body of the e-mail itself.
Also be sure to include your name, address, and phone numbers (home, work, cell) in the body of the e-mail and on any copies or attachments of the essay itself.
Q. How do I submit my entry?A. You have two options.
Mail your entry to the following address: Essay Contest Real Simple 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 9th floor New York, NY 10020
Each e-mail submission will receive a return message verifying that the essay was received. Please be aware that due to the volume of submissions, we cannot send verification that we have received your specific submission by mail. Additionally, please note that winners and runners-up will be notified in and around January 7, 2014. If you are not contacted, you are free to submit your piece elsewhere.
Q. What happens if I go over the word limit?A. Your essay can be excluded from consideration. And although there is no word minimum, we strongly encourage all contest participants to submit at least 1,000 words to maximize their chances of winning.
Q. Can I choose to remain anonymous?A. Unfortunately, we cannot consider anonymous entries for this contest.
Q. My piece has been previously published. Will you consider it?A. No. All entries must be original pieces of work and not be previously published.
Q. Should I send in photos or other memorabilia that relate to my essay?A. Please don’t. The essays are judged on the following criteria: originality (25 percent), creativity (25 percent), use of language (25 percent), and appropriateness to contest theme (25 percent). No supporting materials will be considered, and they cannot be returned to you.
Q. Is there anything else you can tell me about how to stand out from the crowd?A. Certainly. Here are a few pointers from the Real Simple editors who judge the contest.
Stick to the theme of the contest. Sounds obvious, right? But every year we get many entries that diverge—sometimes wildly—from the stated topic. You may have an amazing essay in the bottom drawer of your desk, but if it doesn’t cover the contest theme, it’s not going to win.
But don’t feel the need to parrot back the exact wording of the contest theme in your essay. For example, if the theme is “What was the most important day in your life?” try not to begin the piece with “The most important day of my life was…”
Check your spelling. Double-duh, or so you’d think. But as many as one in five entries has multiple misspellings.
Avoid clichés. (And please don’t try to work the phrase ‘real simple’ into your essay. It almost never works.)
Try writing on a less-expected subject. Many submissions cover similar ground: pregnancies, weddings, divorces, illnesses. Many of these essays are superb. But you automatically stand out if you explore a more unconventional event. In one year’s batch of submissions, memorable writers described the following: a son leaving for his tour of duty; getting one’s braces off; and learning that an ex-wife was remarried.
Hmmm….could definitely use the prize! Let’s hope life allows!
Thanks, Kathy
Holly said, on 9/10/2013 8:01:00 AM
Kathy – when you use artwork at your site as you have done with Sendak poster,is this considered free use or do you need permission to use? Thanks, Holly http://www.zhousestories.com
Tracy Campbell said, on 9/10/2013 8:21:00 AM
Hi Kathy,
This sounded like the perfect contest to entry. Then I read, “U.S. entrants only”. The same rules applied to the Holiday Card contest that you posted a few weeks ago. Guess I’ll have to move to the U.S. Anyway, keep posting great content.
Thanks,
Tracy
darlenebeckjacobson said, on 9/10/2013 9:08:00 AM
Reblogged this on Darlene Beck-Jacobson and commented:
For the budding writers out there. Take a chance and enter a contest. You never know…
Kathy Temean said, on 9/10/2013 12:42:00 PM
Holly,
No, it is just used to point everyone to the article about his posters. It over 34 years old, but it might be 50 years to be use. No sure about that. Can’t check with Sendak, since he has passed away. If I wanted to use it in a book about him, I would contact his estate for permission.
Kathy
karenleehallam said, on 9/11/2013 9:32:00 AM
Thank you for sharing this. I just finished my rough draft for the contest. Love flexing my writing muscles on alternate, and unexpected ideas.
It's difficult for me to encapsulate my definition of education because education is everywhere in everything. It is life. It's growth. It's improvement. Education is so much more than school (or home school), which is merely one structure from which we aim to become educated.
Education, to me, is placing ourselves, and those we are responsible for, on the path of eternal progression, and moving forward. All light and knowledge are part of this. There is no division between temporal and spiritual. All truth is God's truth. In this way, there is no end to education. There is no graduation from eternal progression.
Part of our eternal path, is to gain success in our earthly life. I feel that my role as a mother is to help my kids obtain success here that will prepare them for this life, and in turn, for the eternities.
This includes, but is not limited to:
1. Building Christlike attributes and character. 2. Loving and understanding the Gospel. 3. Being exposed to a broad base of knowledge, with deep understanding of topics of interest, talent, and passion. 4. Realizing personal life mission. 5. Possessing skills that will enable them to support themselves and their families when/if necessary. 6. Embracing God-given gender roles.
When people ask me what we do for home school, it's difficult for me to explain. We don't structure it like public school. It's a life style of learning. I like to call it Life Education.
Happy Learning!
3 Comments on Thoughts on the Meaning of Education, last added: 5/10/2012
In death I wrote journals that spoke of goals I wanted to accomplish. I spoke of the promise if given a chance to live. I find this quite humorous. When we humans are faced with travesty we remember our faith. We are saved and sanctified. God’s promise is first and foremost and our prayers become daily rituals that were once gone in the winds. I thought that when faced with death I would cringe with fear. However, when it came time to fight there was a point and time when I embraced it.
These same feelings of inadequacy and anxiety come when I am on the brink of success. I become so fearful of achievement, I let go. I am afraid to fail, I am afraid of the added responsibility, I am afraid to follow through. Hence, the pep talk comes into play. “The Rebirth I like to call it,” I get fired up. I remember the cause, I remember my fight. Thus I am Reborn and ready to fight…
“Around and around I go…, this life of experience. Around in death, in remission, and back to the fight, around and around I go…”
I was 76 pounds of scar tissue to meat upon my bones. Forgetting the struggle from time to time I got caught in the winds. I was found out cold riddled with signs of my disease. My soul was dying and I had to die in order to be reborn. Grabbing hold to my shoulders I cradled my frail bod and whispered these words, “I want to survive.”
There was a time when I didn’t want to fight. I didn’t see much reason to deny the inevitable. This is my story, my reason, my life support, my cause. I survived, but many a time I must call to remember why. I get frustrated when things don’t go my way. I get frazzled when the winds pick up and threaten to close my lungs and stifle my breathing.
I write to remind myself of the fight and uphold my shield for I am at war. I write these words of encouragement, mentoring, and self-reflection as I recover. I also write my words of hurt, pain, and odd feelings as I am reborn. It is a daily fight to remember your struggle. Comfort comes quick. We take advantage of second chances in the blink of an eye.
0 Comments on BORN AGAIN THE RESURRECTION 10/31/2011 as of 1/1/1900
This weekend I did something SOOOOOOOOOOOO un-Shannon.
I had right around 10,000,000,000,000,000 things I needed to do. But the hubs asked me to take a day off and...well...I kinda needed a break. So instead of staying home and working, I went HERE:
And had SO MUCH FUN!!!!!
Personally, I could have spent all day here:
(The Animation Academy, learning how to draw a new Disney character every half hour.)
(But the Hubs wanted to do like...rides and stuff--the nerve!--so all I learned how to draw was Daisy Duck)
(which, sadly I don't have a picture of to show you.)
(The drawings got a little soaked when we went down the waterfall in Pirates of the Caribbean)
(yes, I realize the waterfalls in Pirates are super wimpy)
(but we were in the front of the boat, and the splashage was unexpectedly intense)
(AHHH--my parenthetical statements are officially out of control!!!!!)
(ahem)
The weirdest part?
I thought I'd come home SUPER stressed about all the things I still had to do. But, I actually came back relaxed, recharged, and ready to
27 Comments on Flaking off, Wishes, and other ramblings, last added: 5/26/2011
I hear ya, sistah. Hubs is a hero for doing the Disney-suggest (and for making you do all the rides of course.)
Julis Cameron in The Artist's Way recommends what she calls a weekly "Artist's Date." Time off from "work" so that the artist within us can refill the well.
It sounds as if your "Disney Date" did the same thing. Yay!!!
yaaaaaaaaay! I am SO PROUD OF YOU. See, I told you sometimes taking a break is a good thing :) (I mean, a day break... not a six-month break... But you know what I mean.)
Agreed. I'm glad you got a break. When I wrote my novel in a month, I hated to take a day break, but it was just what I needed. I thought I'd lose my muse, but instead it was completely refreshing!
Sounds like you really recharged your batteries. Sometimes I think our bodies—like our taste buds—get flavor fatigue. Doing the same thing over and over just burns you out, so a change in the routine helps shake things up.
Disney, my favorite place ever, DISNEY!!! Lucky girl. I'm just diving in to big, intense revisions. So no breaks for me for a while. But you're right. They are necessary and wonderful!!
So so jealous!!!!!!! We have plans to go to Disneyland soon (might try and work it in with RWA Nationals next year!!) We are much closer to Disney World and have been going once or twice a year for the past 6 years. We're supposed to go this November, but we might have to cancel :( My dad has to ahve some tests done and depending on what they show...we migt not be able to go. well, me and the hubby and kids can still go, but I just wouldn;t feel right!
But anyway, back on topic...yes...so so so important to take time for ourselves!! One thing I will not give up is time with my family.
I'm with you, I've actually taken a long break (unplanned, uninvited) from writing and blogging and it's done me well. I'm back now, with a whole lot of enthusiasm and energy. Hopefully all will work out well.
I am so overdue for a Disney visit. Looks like you had fun! Oh and I totally get you about the Pirates not-so-wimpy waterfalls! They like added more water or something because the last time I went on it, I also got unexpectedly soaked.
So with you on the taking breaks thing. Looking forward to the long weekend.
I am! In fact, I did just that yesterday afternoon. I got home from school feeling, well, down. Exhausted, overwhelmed, etc. And then I did the unimaginable.
I took a nap. A TWO HOUR NAP.
It was out of this world. I'm pretty sure the happiest place on earth is actually my bed. ;)
Taking time out for you is pretty un-you, and you do need to do that.
But I was totally not surprised to learn that you did it at Disneyland! I can't think of a way to unwind that would be more "you". Glad you had fun and had a chance to recharge. Take care of yourself!
When life gives you lemons, use them. That's my new motto.
I consider myself a decent cook. I mean, I can follow a recipe as well as the next person. I'm not one of those creative cooks or anything, but I can certainly put together a simple meal for my family each night.
BUT, once in a while I just totally and completely can't follow a recipe for some reason.
Like a couple of weeks ago. Doesn't this lemon meringue pie look divine? I was so proud of it, until right before I was about to eat it and realized that I never put in any lemon!
This may or may not have been my first disastrous dessert making. I may or may not have also (on a different occasion) made peanut butter cookies without peanut butter.
Moral of the story: When life gives you lemons, use them. They're one of the main ingredients, after all. And really, if we didn't have any lemons, our lives would be quite bland, don't you think?
(PS. Feel free to let me know that I'm not the only person who blunders up their recipes. Thanks.)
6 Comments on When Life Gives You Lemons..., last added: 4/11/2010
You are not alone!! I ALWAYS mess up recipes when I make them for your family. ALWAYS. I could make the exact recipe 100 times but the time I make if for you guys it's ruined. And ps - I miss your lemon meringue pie - it is AMAZING.
That is hilarious. I hate when that happens!! At least you got a good moral out for all of us. Sad you did all the work and didn't get the reward though. Love your blog!
I once left out the flour in chocolate chip cookies. I was in Imagination mode and didn't realize they were runny until I pulled a sheet-sized burnt mess out of the oven.
I've mucked up bread in a bread machine. One member of my family likes white bread for sandwiches. So the other family member kept telling me how much water to add (they make it all the time).
For several breads, every single time I did it, I ended up with alien bread. It was smaller, and denser than normal, with a funny top that looked like antennas. It was a real mystery what I was doing wrong.
Turns out I'd been told the incorrect amount of water!
To give our daughter Jo every advantage I can, I'm passing along to her the accumulated tips and tricks I've learned from my 38 years on Earth.
Life Lesson #3: Don't worry; Worf isn't really going to die. The main characters on a TV show never die unless they posed in Playboy or pissed off the producers.
To give our daughter Jo every advantage I can, I'm passing along to her the accumulated tips and tricks I've learned from my 38 years on Earth.
Life Lesson #2: If you're going to eat one glazed doughnut and one chocolate iced doughnut, eat the glazed doughnut first. That way, it doesn't just taste like another chocolate iced doughnut.
Reading a book is a unique opportunity to see the world from another person or thing's perspective. When a child reads a book, whether it is a fantastical story about an object come to life or a very real article about a neighboring country, he or she becomes a part of that world and sees life, however briefly, through the eyes of another. Children are uniquely able to accept and invest in the reality created in what they are reading.
Couldn't have said it better myself! These are just a few of the advantages of picture books I've been preaching through this blog for nearly a year now. Check out the whole article, since Allyn includes more titles for each theme which might find a place in your classroom library.
Looking for other reasons to use picture books in the classroom? Be sure to check out my static site Teaching with Picture Books which describes thirteen reasons why teachers in grades 3-8 should be using picture books in their instruction.
1 Comments on Life Lessons from Picture Books, last added: 2/12/2010
So glad to see this post. I recently reviewed a non fiction book called "Owning Up" which is part of the “Growing Up” series – a collection of books which are “about everyday situations in every child’s life, [and] show children ways of working things out together” - they cover similar ground to that in the psychology today article, but with NO imagination, and I lamented that good picture books can cover this issues so much better.If you're interested the review is at: http://www.playingbythebook.net/2010/01/25/inventions-with-junk-modelling-nonfiction-monday/. Do you know this database: http://mercury.educ.kent.edu/helpingbooks/home.htm
It's great for searching for picture books with themes like those covered in your post.
Okay. Here's the story behind this portrait of my dog Emma in a Bruin's get-up.
My nephew Jamie lives in New Hampshire and he's a huge, die-hard Boston Bruins hockey fan. I used to be obsessed with them when I lived here before but other things have taken over my life. He asked that I paint a birthday card for him but I couldn't think of what to do.
I digress. Jamie came to visit us just before Christmas and he gave us a fleece throw with the Bruin's logo on it. It unnerved my sense of decor in a huge way. I came unglued (in my mind) about having that black, yellow and white thing on my sofa in my tasteful red and grey living room. No ugly sports crap on my couch!!!
That's until Emma fell in love with it. If you want her to move, just move her Bruins blankie. She will faithfully follow. She could care less if it 'matches the decor' or not. It comforts her. It makes her feel soft and nestled. I look at her under that blanket heap and I quickly 'get over myself.'
Gifts come in many packages. So do life's lessons ;)
Thank you Jamie. Here's your birthday card from your number one fans, Me, Bri and Emma.
Happy Animal Wednesday!!
19 Comments on Animal Wednesday: Big Bad Bruin, last added: 1/14/2010
Oh wow!!! What a gorgeous portrait of Emma and what a heartwarming story!!!!!! Life changes and so our attitude towards things , animals are to remind us of basic things;) Once again I LOVE the portrait makes me want to eat her (translated from Dutch, you probably don have that expression...)
i can vouch that emma is a sweet sports fan. she especially likes toe nipping and face kissing. i can't comment on her hockey skills but she is delightfully puckish.
mr. jamie is going to be very excited when he sees this. i'll bet he'll show all his friends, proud to be a member of your family.
This story is so funny. I can't believe you'd share your initial feelings with Jamie! LOL Well glad he got it...the card that is, which is priceless! So is the story! I'm still laughing at your and your decor!
I can relate. I've stopped buying Oliver rattan, natural wood, and lovely things to remind him of ghana. He wants chrome and plastic, shiny and purple or pink or green. NOT BLUE because he doesn't like blue things. He's a modern parrot.
We all know that life can be unfair sometimes, but explaining this to a child can be difficult. After all, we want to protect our children and their innocence as long as possible but letting them know that they can't always expect things to go their way, or win every game, is a part of growing up.
I took my son to Legoland a while back with a neighbor of mine. Her son is a year older and so, when we reached the Volvo driving school, we froze as the lines separated the kids into different age groups. One line was for those 5 and under, the second line was for kids 6 and up. This was going to be difficult to explain, or I thought.
My son and I stood in line with the 5 and under crowd while our friends went and stood in the line with the older kids, a line which was much longer than ours. By the time my guy was finished driving, we found them, still in line along the other track. My son was convinced that he was going to drive over there too and, while I thought about explaining to him, one again, that he wasn't old enough, I figured I'd just wait and see what happened when we reached the front.
When it was "our" turn to go in, the Legoland employee made sure to ask each child their age. My son, who up until that moment was excited about driving again, looked her dead in the eye and said, "Five and a half."
At this tender age that precious half is so important that it didn't even occur to my son to lie about such a thing. She looked at me (as if I were the one trying to cheat) and let us know that he wasn't able to drive on that track. She directed us to the other side (like we didn't know about it already) as my son took it all in stride. No crying, no temper tantrums, no complaining. And me? I was so proud of him for handling it so well. If only us adults were so calm - and honest - under similar circumstances.
3 Comments on That's Not Fair, last added: 8/20/2009
It sounds like your son is mature beyond his years. He has a high EQ, which is much more important than IQ (in my opinion). This will serve him well in the years to come. Great blog and thanks for finding me on Twitter!
Many readers of your blog may have vague recollections of themselves at age five.
Mine was my dinner habit of telling my mother little white lies about certain veggies I hated which were carefully placed on my younger sister's dinner plate. Of course, Mom caught me and made me promise that I would never lie to her again.
Your son obviously prefers truth over lies and is a credit to his generation!
BTW, you also found me on Twitter, with my thanks!
Congratulations! Our selection committee compiled an exclusive list of the Top 100 Dad Blogs, and yours was included! Check it out at http://thedailyreviewer.com/top/Dads
She was trying her best to make a nice card for a friend. I was sounding out a word for her. I told her the next sound was i, and she proceeded to write an A. I said, "Oh honey. It's supposed to be an I." She smiled and responded, "That's okay. I'll make it fancy." Her A-turned-I was fancy, indeed. Almost too fancy to recognize at all.
If only we were a bit more willing to allow ourselves to fail once in a while. To make a leap without worrying about where we might land.
We would be more creative, wouldn't we? We'd try new things. We'd create for the purpose of creating and not dwell on the imperfections in the outcome.
Maybe her "fancy letter" wouldn't fit in the box of what is "right", but is that what matters? Once in a while, we might even come up with something better than "right".
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." –Theodore Roosevelt
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. ~ Sir Winston Churchill
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation--Herman Melville
"I have not failed; I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work." – Thomas Edison
0 Comments on Fail with Style as of 7/20/2009 12:45:00 PM
Next came choosing the new paint color. I wanted to go with a dark brown—mostly to hide all the flaws in the trunk’s body caused by my scraper. Perhaps I used little too much elbow grease. Hubby helped me with this part, carefully spraying the sides, allowing the trunk time to dry, then giving it another coat. Covering the flaws reminded me of the care a writer takes in creating characters. Like the gouges and grooves in my trunk, your characters NEED flaws because readers must feel some sort of connection with them. Readers WANT to cheer on those flawed underdogs, see them scream, watch them change and grow. And when that connection happens, they wholeheartedly invest in your characters and the hell authors drag them through.
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I still have fond memories of my math teacher, Mr True, and “you yahoos”. He was great.
I loved my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McClish. She actually wrote in cursive on my report card. I hope you go to college and become a teacher. I was the first one in my Mennonite family to go to college and become a teacher/librarian. Mrs. McClish believed in me and saw my career talents at such an early age.
I have fond memories of many of my elementary school teachers. My husband is a retired teacher and it is so wonderful when his old students contact him on FB and tell him how he inspired them.