I’m going to say it. Here goes. Ready…? My Dad was right. Did you hear that Dad? (I can hear him chortling hundreds of miles away). But what is he right about you ask? Well… When I was 15 I decided what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I know, most of you are laughing and asking ‘and how many times did you change your mind after that’? But no, really. I have known from the time I was 15 that I wanted to teach English. I distinctly remember a day, sitting in the living room with my dad, toward the end of my sophomore year in high school. We talked at length about jobs and making money versus being fulfilled in your career. We talked about what jobs would always be in demand, and what jobs were more transient. We talked about what jobs would give life meaning and which would make you seem powerful. Up until that time, when people had asked what I wanted to be when I grew I had answered glibly “a lawyer”. It was something that seemed cool and I knew they made a lot of money, and having grown up without much money that seemed like a good idea. Looking back now, I suspect my dad started that conversation in the living room because he was worried about my soul. He didn’t think lawyer was the job for me, and he wanted to get out in front of it. From where I sit now, 30 years later, I’m glad of it. He was right. Not that I couldn’t have been a lawyer, because I think I could have, but because that wouldn’t have brought the same value and joy to my life that teaching has. But that isn’t even the thing I’m thinking of my dad being right about (oh jeez, I can hear him now…”you mean I was right about two things!”)...
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I am a people person. I derive enjoyment, relaxation, and most importantly, plot ideas, from being around people. In fact, I think my students have begun to find it sort of a game to see if they can suggest ideas that I like enough to write down in my ‘possible story ideas’ notebook (I have one of those…do you? If not you definitely should). And I have gotten some great ideas from students. I have also gotten great ideas from my friends as we sit around at lunch, or as we talk on the long drive to and from high school camp. I also get story ideas from other books or movies, and lately, you guessed it…real life. Nothing gets the creative literary juices flowing like worldwide disaster. Now wait. Don’t get all indignant. I mean that with as much reverence as possible. Let me explain… Short Stories from Becker Country: |
Wendy Picard GorhamWendy lives and works in the midst of words everyday--English teacher by profession, and writer by passion! Archives
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