Growing is Forever

Eyes Wide Open: First Memory

I am in preschool and my first boyfriend is Craig.  Later, I heard he became a druggie, but at three and a half, with a blonde floppy bowl cut, he is the dreamiest boy at Fair Oaks Parent Participation Co-Op Preschool.  

This is my first set of memories: We play house together.  Debbie and Paul, my best friend and her curly brown-haired boyfriend pretend they are the auntie and uncle and Craig and I are the mommy and daddy of the baby dolls we push in toy strollers and shopping cars along the cemented paths outside the house converted into a school.  We pass the weird kid who sang and cried and talked to himself as he sat alone in a wagon underneath the huge smiling rainbow painted on the side of the house.  He was one of the only boys who did not have a girlfriend, though he preferred to play with mostly girls. 

            One day Craig pushes me on the swings and tells me he likes my socks. They have turquoise cotton balls sewn on to the back of the ankle that peek out the top of the back of my shoes. I’m sure the rest of my outfit is perfectly pressed in turquoise and white knowing how my young mother loves to shop and dress me in only the best Izod preschool attire, charging up her credit cards to balances she and my dad will be paying well into my teen years.

Student Voices

I am always amazed by the quality of conversation when I give the floor to my students to take over.  Today in class, our discussion of Lucy Grealy's "Mirrorings" was incredible.  So many supported their thoughts by referring back to the text.  We questioned each other respectfully, we agreed, we disagreed, and we sought to understand.  I was most intrigued by the conversation about the "quest to be deep," and valued the openness and honesty that came out of the conversation. I want to thank Sarah for sharing something that was very difficult and the class for offering her a safety zone to say the things she was feeling.

Tonight, my friends, write write write your autobiography of YOUR face.

Autobiography of a Face

Today's reading was a challenge for some.  Some were challenged because I simply asked them to read during 4th period.  But for others the challenge came from the content.  I started with a piece that cut right through the fluff and hit a lot of what it means to be human.  We all fear.  We all hurt.  We all need to belong.  We all need to feel loved.  I look forward to hearing how each of you respond to this piece.  If you're interested in reading about Lucy Grealy through the eyes of her best friend, check out this.  If you still want more, I encourage you to get your hands on Autobiography of a Face, Grealy's memoir.  Follow it up with her best friend's memoir about their friendship, Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett.

On Gratitude

There are lots of reasons to be grateful everyday.  At this moment, I am grateful for the sun, my cute shoes, forgiveness, grace, and my students.  I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest girl in the world today.

CNF: A Love Story

The Days of Miracle and Wonder

These are the days of miracle and wonder
This is the long distance call
The way the camera follows us in slo-mo
The way we look to us all
The way we look to a distant constellation that is dying in the corner of the sky
These are the days of miracle and wonder and
Don't cry baby, don't cry don't cry don't cry.

--From "Boy in the Bubble" by Paul Simon