June 6, 2010
Somehow I managed to weasel myself into this invitational summer writing institute. I’m in no way, form, or fashion of the intellectual capacity to be a member of this elite group, but I’m BSing with the best of ‘em.
My momma would be so proud.
Still, the institute has embedded within my day a time to write and I’m enjoying the journaling, editing, revising nerdiness. It’s fun to see my own handwriting again in my own notebook with scribbles and scratches polluting the pages. It’s all part of the process.
Or so they tell me.
Today we were given a picture. We studied it. We asked ourselves questions. We wondered.
“What if he found her on purpose?”
“I wonder what made those ripples in the water.”
“What if he’s lost?”
“I wonder…” “What if?”
And then, we wrote.
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June 4, 2010
Writing is one of those things that takes momentum. And time.
At least for me it does.
Honestly, I haven’t had much of either lately– I’ve been sort of stagnant. Stuck. Like water pooled in the low-lying corner of my daddy’s shop.
But just so you know, I’m fighting tooth and nail to get them back– that motion, those minutes– that give my writing voice.
And its hard.
But people keep asking me about it, telling me about it, pushing me about it.
“Emily, just write.” (Effin love you, Monda!) “If I pull up your blog one more time and don’t see something new, I’m coming after you!” (Chicago Cat at her best.) “Make it a habit. Make it your time.” (Howlie Baby’s my writing hero.) “Punkie, I check your blog 759 times a day. Ahem.” (A big hey to y’all in NOLA!)
“Earth to Emmm-a-lee! Are you still alive?!” (Fatty Munchers reign supreme. No pun intended.) “Em, I went to the county library today. Mrs. Taylor misses reading your blog.” (Yes, Mom. I’m on it— and Hey, Mrs. Taylor!)
So, I’m here. Writing.
For you.
And for me, too.
Let’s hope there’s more of it.
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February 24, 2010
“Mih Eger, you know when you had done sneezed and sumpin’ happens?”
“Um, something like what, honey? Like when someone says ‘Bless you.”?
“No, ma’am. Like when you sneeze and a lil bit o’ boo boo comes out. Cause that had happened to me right now.”
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February 22, 2010
It feels like my feet haven’t been warm at all in the last ten years. It’s raining again and I think I left my umbrella hanging on that little blue hook in the back of my classroom. My hair is flat and lifeless; my temper’s fuse is short and ever-burning.
There are dark circles under both of my eyes– looking more and more like charcoal due to the pastiness of my February flesh. That tire around my waist is growing, exponentially, I believe. Even if you can’t really tell because it’s hidden under this hand-me-down hoodie.
Spring, are we there yet?
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January 24, 2010
I have a need for silence.
Sure, I love the sound of padded puppy feet running across the tile early in the morning. And I adore the childish chatter in a third grade classroom. I love the sound of football stadiums and the roar that stays in my ears for hours after a worth-the-road-trip concert. And, yes, I’m crazy about crowded swimming pools, splashing water, and the “Mommy, watch me!”s that come along with them.
Still, I have a need.
To sit on back porches and watch the rain. To lay on the couch with a blanket, a book and a Sunday afternoon. To drive on country roads without the radio. To sit at a table and write. To walk around a yard, alive and green and mine. To take a shower in the middle of the day. To pull out old pictures and put them in stacks on the floor. To remember. To ponder. To dream.
Yes, I have a need for silence.
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January 6, 2010
Daddy said, “Well, she’s my favorite now, but I didn’t even like her at one time.” And Russ probably agrees.
Middle school kids think she’s the raddest thing ever.
Sisser sports cowboy boots and braided pigtails.
Her coach said, “Yeah, she’s fast if fast means slow.”
She’s a Camp Lake Stephens rockstar.
Sisser’ll watch three movies in one day with me and share the Diet Coke.
She fell hard once and at the end, we all cried.
Sisser’s a lover not a fighter– even if you’ve heard otherwise.
I’ve hiked across mountains with her and ridden The Underground with her and slept in too many too small beds with her.
Homegirl can make a BAD (in a good way) road trip CD.
Today, she’s a grown up– so, that’s “Miss Sisser” to you.
Happy first day of school, Sisser. Summer’ll be here in no time and we’ll be beach bound.
Luh you. Duh.
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January 5, 2010
I rounded the corner onto the third grade hall this morning and stopped. There, sitting quietly against the wall were nineteen brown faces. Each in turn looked up and smiled at me– the kind of smile that asks, “Did you miss me? Are you glad I’m back?’
I stifled a giggle and perhaps a tear or two before I opened up my arms. In three seconds flat we were one muddled hug of third grade love.
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January 3, 2010
Deep down inside of me
there lives a little girl
who dreams of books and great masked men
and adventures to unfurl.
She walks upon clouds and swims in seas
and she dances across the world.
She shouts at mountains and laughs at
mermaids and gypsies and kings.
And late at night she whispers to me,
“It’s you! It’s you, silly girl,
who dreams these wonderful things!”
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December 17, 2009
There’s something about writing that eases my mind. Something that clears the cloudiness.
And I wonder how in the world I managed to go without it for so long.
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December 16, 2009
Because of Winn Dixie is one of my all time favorite children’s books. I reckon I like it because there’s just a hint of sadness in it and a little girl who misses her mom. I can relate to that.
Then, there’s her daddy, The Preacher, that gives her a list of ten things she might want to know about the mother she had once- before she ran away. And that list well, it stops my heart every single time.
I asked my students to write a list of ten things that they might want the world to know about them. Of course, they were precious and more than hysterical.
- My granny’s collard greens give me gas. (Thank you, Michael.)
- I’m the bestest sanger ever. (Yes, Keisha, you are.)
- I can tear up some fried chicken.
- Reggie Bush ain’t got nuttin’ on my skills. (No lack of self confidence here.)
My list wasn’t exactly like the ones some of my angels wrote, but I jotted one down just the same. So, here it is. My list of ten things.
- I’d like to change the world.
- My glass is half full and just keeps on filling.
- I’d rather play in the rain.
- There truly is no place like home.
- I miss my friends.
- If I won the lottery, I’d give every dime to my Momma.
- Death doesn’t scare me.
- I’ll write a book someday.
- Everything is more fun when Sisser’s with me.
- A really good song played at just the right time can bring me to tears.
What’s on your list?
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