Vintage Woman

Because being older does not mean having no value

Posts tagged writing

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Why does a museum show a cluster of four aluminum boxes as art? What gives value of any kind to a painting which is nothing more than a white or black surface? Léger’s people look like boilers; where has he seen such people? Why do the Cubists chop up guitars, tables, newspapers and bottles and put them back together all wrong? The usual responses, going back at least sixty years to the New York Armory Show, are that the artists are crazy. It is fairly standard for people to react to newness with nervous hostility. It is also possible, however, that the artists are sane and that the world they are painting is crazy.
American designer George Nelson, author of “How To See”

Filed under writing art

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Goodbye

My shirt is absolutely soaked from crying because of a scene I made up in my mind. I have a young son, and he has found me dying. He cries and asks me not to leave him. I tell him he’ll be all right, that all he has to do is remember everything I taught him. He hugs me and sobs. I become still. He raises up and holds my hand. He says Thank you, Mommy. Thank you. You’re the best mommy ever. You raised me to think for myself. I’ll be OK. I’ll live with Daddy or Uncle and I’ll be OK. Some people come in the room where I am. Where are you taking her, my son asks through his tears. We have to take her away now. They guide my son outside. Goodbye mommy, he says.

Filed under prose writing

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People are not abstractions

Sometimes these political campaigns really seem like the old wolf and sheepdog cartoons where they detonate explosives at each other all day, but then when the 5 o’clock bell rings they smile & wave at each other and say “see you tomorrow”. I’m not sure I could ever be so detached, because I hear one in particular them talking about “those people”, he is talking about ME.

Filed under abstract concept who am i writing politics

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Thank You Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco. I love this book, and I cry every time I read it. I’ll never forget how it feels to be ridiculed because of something about yourself you can’t help. I know the loneliness at recess. I also know that not enough of us take the time to befriend the misfit child, especially when their peers value conformity. The child who is different needs to be embraced, not scorned, the way the teacher embraced young Trisha. If you read this with your child, maybe impress on her to be kind to a classmate who is struggling. It can make all the difference.

Thank You Mr. Falker, by Patricia Polacco. I love this book, and I cry every time I read it. I’ll never forget how it feels to be ridiculed because of something about yourself you can’t help. I know the loneliness at recess. I also know that not enough of us take the time to befriend the misfit child, especially when their peers value conformity. The child who is different needs to be embraced, not scorned, the way the teacher embraced young Trisha. If you read this with your child, maybe impress on her to be kind to a classmate who is struggling. It can make all the difference.

Filed under books writing reading misfits love kindness

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Sometimes all it takes is for someone to believe in you more than you believe in yourself. In the book, young Trisha found a saviour, a teacher who didn’t believe what the bullies were saying she was, and proved it by opening up a world she thought was forever closed to her. We need more Mr. Falkers in the world to ease our children’s pain.

Sometimes all it takes is for someone to believe in you more than you believe in yourself. In the book, young Trisha found a saviour, a teacher who didn’t believe what the bullies were saying she was, and proved it by opening up a world she thought was forever closed to her. We need more Mr. Falkers in the world to ease our children’s pain.

Filed under books writing reading

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Imagine being a kid everyone makes fun of because every time you go to the blackboard it’s a disaster. A bully calls you dumb so many times you start to believe it yourself. You feel alone and friendless. You just want to hide instead of joining the kids at recess. Can you relate? Patricia Polacco wrote “Thank You Mr. Falker” as a shout-out to all the misunderstood kids and to the teachers who don’t believe the hype.

Imagine being a kid everyone makes fun of because every time you go to the blackboard it’s a disaster. A bully calls you dumb so many times you start to believe it yourself. You feel alone and friendless. You just want to hide instead of joining the kids at recess. Can you relate? Patricia Polacco wrote “Thank You Mr. Falker” as a shout-out to all the misunderstood kids and to the teachers who don’t believe the hype.

Filed under writing books reading love misfits

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Two of my favorite authors: Dr. Maya Angelou and Terry McMillan. I wish either or both of these stories, All God’s Children Wear Traveling Shoes and Mama, would have been made into motion picture films! Do something, Tyler!

Two of my favorite authors: Dr. Maya Angelou and Terry McMillan. I wish either or both of these stories, All God’s Children Wear Traveling Shoes and Mama, would have been made into motion picture films! Do something, Tyler!

Filed under books writing authors

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Writing Short Stories - Start as close to the end as possible.

Who is your protagonist, and what does he/ she want?

My protagonist is Sherrelle, and she’d like nothing better than to go the hell home and not have to go to her hated aunt’s funeral.

What unexpected consequences ramp up the emotional energy?

Well, the funeral home has delivered the aunt’s casket to Grandmother’s front porch, to the surprise of everybody, especially the kids.

Filed under writing coming-of-age story