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Monday, March 15, 2021

SLICE #15: An Invitation to a Party, "Depending On When You Met Me…"


So today I hit one of those slicing walls, when I really had nothing to say. Yesterday and today, I dug piles and piles of snow. And read essays and worried about the state proficiency exams, which my kids are supposed to take the second week in April. And fought with my son, who thinks it should be no big deal for me to replace his car, which was stolen last week, when he left it running in front of a convenience store…

Then, this morning, Leigh Ann invited slicers to a party (ID required, but I definitely don't have to worry about that. And so I'm taking her up on her 

Depending on when you met me, I might have been: the oldest of three sisters, who always sat in the middle of the back seat to play referee, the kid who read a book a day under her desk, the horseback riding middle schooler, the uber responsible high schooler who had three car accidents before her 19th birthday, the homesick college student,  the cleaning lady who vacuumed 20 courtrooms a night, the Alpha Phi, the Dale's Tasty House waitress, the first year teacher living in her own apartment; the Marie Callender's Pie Kitchen waitress; the Young Life leader, the master's student doing all nighters fighting her dot matrix printer to write papers for grad school; the heartbroken, lovelorn, biological-clock ticking almost thirty-year-old; the trailblazer moving cross-country to start a new chapter as a doctoral student; the mourner crossing the Ph.D. stage without her dad there to cheer her on, the district literacy specialist with the office just down the hall from the superintendent's; the assistant principal; the adoptive mom; the literacy coach; the team mom eight years running for football and basketball, teams;  the empty nester, the full nester, the mom of the schizophrenic, the Spanish learner,  the puppy mom; the 35 years in the same book club member,  the one still working when all her friends have retired...

Thanks, Leigh Ann, for the invitation. It was fun!

8 comments:

Carol Varsalona said...

Carol. I like the way you described yourself for readers to get to know you better. Your credentials will certainly get you into the party. Enjoy who you are!

JudyK /J Koval said...

I love your descriptions of yourself; they tell so much about you with just a few words. Beautiful. :-)
I haven't seen Leigh Anne's invitation....I'll have to go look for it!
Thanks for sharing. :-) ~JudyK

Ramona said...

The one still working and every time I read a slice from your classroom I'm so glad you're still there. And my favorites - puppy mom, Spanish learner (you go, girl!), and 35 years in the same book club (that's a record for sure)!

Vanessa Vaile said...

"Invitation to a party" much appreciated -- just back from Leigh Anne Eck's blog and filing this splendid prompt where I can find it in a slicing emergency.

Unknown said...

I waited for Leigh Annes's invitation. The ID writing seems a bit challenging for me right now. I probably need more examples from others. I am thankful you share your ID.

Elisabeth Ellington said...

I just knew that prompt was going to inspire some powerful writing! I loved reading this description of the many lives you've led. And I'm definitely filing this one away myself for the day I need it. (Though it actually seems like it will take a little time to write and craft!)

Leigh Anne Eck said...

I am so glad you are joining the party. I will say I was nervous about this one, but I love how everyone is crafting their ID slices! It has been fun reading them!

A Marie Callender's Pie Kitchen - I didn't know there was such a thing. What a fun job that had to have been! I think you are the first Alpha Phi slicer I have "met"!! I honestly don't know if I have even sliced about that, so maybe there are more out there. Might have to write one about that. I am headed back to add you to the guest list!

Elisa said...

Love this post. Your life has been and continues to be full. Here's to embracing all of the parts of who we are.