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It’s time for the November edition of Flashback Friday where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

For this installment I thought I would just embarrass myself by posting some of my break-up poems. Did you ever write those? Break-ups in high school were so *dramatic* — the end of the world and being the budding writer that I was — I had to immortalize my pain in the form of bad poetry. Here are two poems that I wrote to two boys after they broke my heart:

Untitled (10th grade)

Out of your life
I’m gone without a trace

No hugs or kisses good-bye
Not even a warm embrace

Out of your life
I fade into the sunset

No pictures or sweet memories
Not even a slight regret

Out of your life
I leave and you do not resist

No questions or a reason why
Not even to ask if I still exist.


Memory (11th grade)

Days When I
Think of
you.

How deep I
exist in
Thoughts.

Aspirations and
Dreams in my
Mind.

Wishes that go
Unfullfilled
And wilt.

Memory and dust
Become
My existence.

Time will bury
Me beyond
Recognition.

Living dead
With heart
Still beating.

I still cringe knowing that I slipped these poems into the lockers of those boys.

With the 11th grade break-up poem I tried to get the janitor to open up my ex-boyfriend’s locker so I could retrieve it — this was right after lunch when I found out that his new girlfriend had access — oh, it was so humiliating! She was also in my Spanish 102 class and made it a living hell when she passed the poem around to her friends. Yeah, good times. And no, I’m not still bitter. Not at all. Ha.

It just proves when you’re young and heart-broken, you can do (and write) some dumb things.

It’s the October edition of Flashback Friday where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

For this installment, I’ve included another relic from my mother’s box. She is the one who encouraged my early writing and she was my first “reader” of the stories I wrote. This one is a “retelling” of a fairy tale I typed on my beloved typewriter when I was 10 years old:

THE STORY OF CHICKENRELLA

You may have already seen the movie or read the book but here is the untold story.

Once there was a beautiful girl who loved chicken. She loved chicken so much, people called her Chickenrella. But Chickenrella had an evil stepmother and two evil step-sisters Bertha and Gertrude.

The people around the land were getting ready for the annual ball the poultry factory held every year. Chickenrella knew this would be the chance she could meet the Inspector and get a free frozen pack of chicken legs. But her evil step-mother would not let her go to the ball. Chickenrella had to make chicken bone gumbo for Bertha and Gertrude. The step-sisters thought the bones had powers to make them beautiful. They had heard the most beautiful girl at the Poultry Ball would get a three-piece chicken dinner.

After the step-sisters left for the Poultry Ball, Chickenrella cried and cried because she knew she wouldn’t get her frozen pack of chicken legs. But a rooster gave her some shoes and the hens made her a dress of feathers. She was ready to head off to the Poultry Ball.

When she got there she saw the Inspector and it was love at first sight. They danced and danced the whole night. Chickenrella won the three-piece chicken dinner. The Inspector married her and she lived happily on frozen packs of chicken legs for the rest of her life.

THE END

Hmm…I think my reasoning wasn’t quite logical since it was the roosters and hens who help Chickenrella get to the Poultry Ball — so that she could get a free frozen pack of chicken legs. But hey, I was only 10 years old and hadn’t learned revision yet. Ha.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Work on your novels.

It’s the September edition of Flashback Friday where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

I have to give credit to my mother for this month’s flashback. When I went to Athens last weekend for the Labor Day holiday, she gave me some letters that I had typed for her birthday. I was 10 years old and it was the year I got my *first* typewriter. Let me tell you that I ADORED that typewriter.

At the time my mother worked on an assembly line at a clock manufacturer and she had a rubber rat named Wilbur that she used to scare people for fun and pranks. She told me she found the letters in her bag during her lunch break.

I must admit that I vaguely remember typing these letters.

Birthday Letter #1 - “You Must Read This One First”

Dear Joyce:

You may not know me but I am Wilbur’s mother. He informed me that today is your birthday. Being the rat that I am I thought I would write to you to wish you a very happy birthday. Oh and I would also want to wish you a happy birthday on the behalf of all the rats in the world.

Yours like a rat,

Wilbur’s mother (Wilbina)

Birthday Letter # 2 - “You Must Read This One Second”

Hi Joyce!

Everybody is talking about your birthday today. Sorry so rude you may not know me but I see you every morning and every evening. Don’t you know who I am? I’m the shift time clock that rings at work silly. Wilbur’s mother typed this up for me. I hope she didn’t get any rat hairs on this! I think that I am being nice to wish you a happy birthday. Anyway since it’s your special day today I just might ring earlier than usual tonight and give you some extra time off.

Ringing out,

The Shift Work Bell

Letter #3 - “You Must Read This One Last”

My Good Friend Joyce,

This is just so exciting! Today is your birthday. I just can’t believe it! Joyce we go back so far. Remember the times that we had together? Scaring the devil out of people? Watching them scream? How we giggled in glee? Don’t tell me that you don’t know who I am. Wilbur himself. The true rat attack. It’s been my pleasure playing pranks with you. Maybe one day we can get someone to pee in their pants. Happy Birthday!

Your rat forever,

Wilbur

I realize now how much me and my mother had this sort of sense of humor with each other. This was important because we as a family had hit a rough patch as far as finances and things got kind of tense. Working 12-hours shifts on the assembly line was a tough job for my mother but she did it to bring in the money we needed so badly. She says she remembers when she read those birthday letters on her lunch break and how good they made her feel.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Get some writing done.

While looking for this month’s Flashback Friday subject, I came across some of my clippings when I was a writer for my high school newspaper, THE EXCLABILUR: The Sword of Truth.

It brought back lots of memories too. Plus, I didn’t know I had written so many short stories for the paper. It now dawns on me that I was probably known more as a writer in high school than I realized.

So here’s an excerpt from an article that I wrote when I was a 16 year-old aspiring journalist. Good advice that’s still applicable today:

Procrastinators Master The Art of Putting It Off

Do you wash the dishes when the suds are gone? Is your motto “‘I’ll do it later,” “I’m tired,” or “I’ll do it tomorrow?” Do you wait until the trash looks like furniture to take it out? Do people hate to ask you to do anything?

If you answered “yes” to at least one of these preceding questions, you could be a true blue procrastinator.

Believe it or not, many psychiatrists say that people procrastinate because they aspire to the ideal of doing everything perfectly.

So what should a true blue procrastinator do? These ten tips should help:

1. Plan tasks. Do the difficult tasks when you have the most energy.

2. Double up. Do two things at one time. An example may be talking on the phone and doing paperwork or exercising and watching T.V.

3. Set deadlines. Give yourself a specific date on which a task must be completed.

4. Get organized. A lot of people lose time looking for things, so set up a shelf, counter, table, etc. for important things.

5. Do it now. If something needs to be done, do it then not later. You’ll feel better if you do.

6. Make a schedule. Block out a time for each specific things os you won’t waste time figuring out what to do next

7. Ask for help. If something is too hard or not easy to understand — ask for help!

8. Set priorities. Of all the things you have to do, figure out what should be done and what must be done.

9. Learn to say no. Don’t accept too many tasks from other people. Let them do it themselves if you’re too busy.

10. Get rest. This may sound tempting. Just don’t overdo it. Be realistic. Procrastinators need rest too!

No one can change overnight, of course. However, putting things in order and doing your tasks on time will make a big difference. You will notice a sense of relief when you finish something.

Okay, these are not bad tips coming from a 16-year old. Though #2 is sort of suspect. But I wonder what my younger self would say about my habits now?

Hmm…

But I think she would be happy that I’m still writing and almost finished with my novel project.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

5 Comments on Flashback Friday (7), last added: 7/18/2010

For the new readers of the blog, I’ve been doing a monthly installment where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

For this installment, I’ve included a note given to me in study hall from one of my girlfriends. The things teen girls share with each other are timeless:

Hey Karen:

Hope you liked my present. I didn’t know what to get you so I just got you something useful. You’re always writing something so I figure pen and paper! Genius!

I went to the mall this weekend but got depressed because there wasn’t anything I liked or could afford. I ended buying some cheap earrings. I wish my parents would give me more for my allowance. How can I get cute with the chump change they give me? I need more CASH.

I saw Jeff and he FINALLY asked for my phone number. I’m so excited! Then I saw Michael, Steven, Julius, and Tony. There were so many cute boys at the mall that I got all light-headed.

I saw Marie with her boyfriend. Have you seen him yet? I swear that is the most ugliest little pea-headed boy you would ever want to see. I would never tell her that but I had to tell somebody — you in this case. Karen, if I ever get an ugly boyfriend, you have to TELL me! Okay? Promise?

Next time you’re coming to the mall with me. You shouldn’t stay up in your room writing stories all the time especially since you let NOBODY read them! You’re missing ALL the action!

I hope that everyone has a great weekend! Don’t forget Father’s Day — do something nice or in remembrance for your father figure(s). Also try to get some writing done!

It’s that time again for my monthly installment of Flashback Friday where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

This installment is a diary entry during the summer after my senior year. The joy of graduation has passed and now it’s time to face the future. Thinking back on this now, I can see how overwhelmed I was — going from things and people I’ve known to a big unknown — college.

“My horoscope says that there is a big change coming up. Duh. I hope that this Fall brings good changes. I will make myself like dorm life. I mean I have to stay there! I have to go to class. I have to make friends. Things can only change for the better.

But then I have these moments. What if I don’t study hard enough and flunk out? That campus is HUGE, what if I get lost? What if my roommate is a total *&#$@ and I can’t get along with her? What if I don’t make any friends at all?

Okay. I have to relax, put my mind to rest. Positive. Okay. I feel better. God, Karen, you need to get a grip. From this point on, you’ve got to grow up. Mommie isn’t going to be there to pick up the pieces. It’s all on you now. Be strong — that is your last name you know.”

The first year of college was definitely a whirlwind experience. And in the end, I didn’t flunk out or get lost on the big scary campus. The roommate situation? Oh well, it could have been much worse (though slightly). But I did meet great friends that I still connect with to this day.

Back then in that month before college, I didn’t know how it would all turn out but I learned how to cope. This is what most teens do — they adapt and they cope because they are always on the brink of something new.

It’s time for my monthly installment of Flashback Friday where I share events from my own life during my kid and teen years.

While searching for an appropriate diary entry to share, I noticed something interesting with the progression of my affinity for boys. So I thought I would share some quick clips of that progression from me seeing boys as the “enemy” to “more than a friend.”

3rd Grade:
“Guess who’s in Mrs. Hill’s class with me? Crummy Stanley. He’s such a baby. I wish I could hit him with a rock.”

4th Grade:
“Allen keeps chasing me around the playscape. That is not funny. When we play dodge ball I’m going to BURN him.”

6th Grade:
“Okay, I admit it. I like Mike but Diary I can’t stand that the sneaky smile. Yuk.”

7th Grade:
“I went to thing skating rink today and Scott bought me a slice a cheese pizza. It was the best thing I’ve ever eaten. I fell down once but he helped me back up. I think I love him.”

8th Grade:
“All I wanted was one boy! One boy to myself! Is that too much to ask for? Cathy knew I liked Donovan. She is such a two-faced *%^#$@!!!!!!! I hate them both!”

9th Grade:
“I went to the movies with Shawn yesterday. Well Mama dropped me off but whatever. He held my hand the whole way through. Then he kissed me. I don’t remember anything about the movie.”

It’s sort of funny seeing the progression but I do remember really *hating* boys as a young girl. I’m so not kidding. The first day of first grade I gave a boy a bloody nose because he pulled my ponytail. But as time went on, I realized that boys were not so bad after all.

Have a great weekend everyone!

This is a first of a periodic series that I’ll be featuring on the blog this year.

Since I write primarily young-adult fiction, I thought it might be fun to revisit my own life during this time period. I’ve kept a journal since I was five years old (seriously) and I’ve uncovered some interesting artifacts from high school during the recent holiday visit to my parent’s house.

It’s funny because there are some things that never change for teens. Case in point, the “getting to know you” game boys and girls play. The medium may change (paper to email to text), but the content seems timeless.

Here’s an actual letter I received from a boy when I was a freshman in high school:

“Dearest Karen

You seem like a pretty nice young lady so far. I want you to know that what Ike has told me about you has made me very interested in you. So when you write back tell me a little about yourself. But first, I’m going to tell you a little bit about myself.

I’m Joseph. Age: 16. Sign: Cancer. Favorite Hobbies: Playing basketball, playing football, riding horses, hunting, talking to beautiful ladies. Birthday: July 7th. Oh, I also like to play my saxophone.

What I see in a girl: Intelligence, a good personality, good looks. That’s about it.

So when you write back, you tell me something about yourself. And give me a picture!

Love always,

Joseph, a.k.a J-Man #20″