When I was four I took onion skin paper and traced the letters (as in mail) my mother received from friends. I didn't know the alphabet. I didn't know how to read, but I remember having knowledge that this cursive writing was important. I loved the look of it. It was a secret I wanted to know about.
No, no, no. Long-distance learning is not the answer. We can't look into each other's faces. I can't show you my world famous shimmy. I don't want to sit at home and read papers. I want to HEAR you read. I want to comment and laugh.
What if I taught a seminar in May in SLC about autobiographical writing: Memoir and the Imagination. I set up a week down in the social room of my apartment building and we would
write about our lives and read to each other and occasionally break into song.
Would you be willing to pay for such a five day class? I'm willing to teach it. Let me know which of you are serious about writing down the bones with Louise Plummer,
Are newborns allowed...?
ReplyDeleteI would come from rexburg, Idaho for that. But I might have to bring my newborn, too.
ReplyDeleteOH yes yes. This is just the sort of think I've been looking for.
ReplyDeleteI would do it. There would be the issue of leaving my family for a week...but I live for excuses to leave the family for a week. Maybe a long weekend would be better for me. Would that be an option?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would hold newborns if there's a need. I love holding other people's newborns.
ReplyDeleteCan I sleep in your bathtub? I would come from Iowa. I am thinking...thinking...why not? The whole point of having kids who finally graduated high school is so I can do fun things like spend a week in Louise's SLC apartment. Would fresh cookies be involved? I will do all kinds of amazing things for the right motivation. (Chocolate and nuts, no raisins please.)Lets talk schedules and for the record, I don't care if babies come. I am just so glad they aren't mine that no baby bothers me.
ReplyDeleteAs for becoming literate, I was in 3rd grade. Late bloomer, but when I caught the vision, I was on fire. I skipped picture books and went straight to chapter books, went straight from writing my name to writing stories.
My all time favorite children's book is Old Hat, New Hat. I loved it when I was a kid and it still cracks me up. Who doesn't love a hat with a water spigot?
Count me in. And let the babies abound. I've seen that famous shimmy and wouldn't want to miss it for the world. Of course, then I'd know where you live and the stalking would commence.
ReplyDeleteilima,
ReplyDeleteThat is just plain funny.
I want to come. I can't remember becoming literate, I'm not always sure I am even now. However, I do think when kids start writing their names on things like furniture then at least they identify their stuff. It doesn't necissarily make me happy.
ReplyDeleteEmily, my newborn would be five months. Would you still hold him? I would come if we still live in Utah.
ReplyDeleteIn Kindergarten our teacher had parent volunteers come in and write stories we dictated to them on pieces of paper shaped to match the theme of the story we were supposed to create. I remember wanting to write my own story and not just draw the pictures accompanying the tidy words at the top of the page.
Of course I'd hold a five-month-old. I'm the baby whisperer.
DeleteImpressive!
DeleteI don't have a newborn but have no problem with their being there. I would come all the way from Canada bearing some of the best candy in the world. I would pay. My son goes to the LTM on May 30th so perfect timing.
ReplyDeleteI would pay. I wouldn't mind babies in the room. My son goes to the MTC May 30th so timing is perfect. And I would come all the way from Canada. Though I'm thinking we should bring you up here for a week and teach us a thing or two. Tom could take a bazillion pictures of the mountains and horses and you could shimmy with your cowboots!
ReplyDeleteI would come too. I would pay. I too would bring canadian candy - chocolate specifically! I would hold babies and love it. I am longing for grandchildren just waiting for my two oldest to find Mrs. Right, no rush, meanwhile I am content to cuddle other peoples babies.
ReplyDeleteI don't know when I became literate and somedays wonder if I am now in decline, but my mother was a high school english teacher and I remember I was also a late bloomer (almost drove her over the edge). I became a collector of storybooks. Please say you'll do it.
I want to come. I could pay (not like thousands, but less than that). Deirdre Paulsen can vouch for me not being a creeper. That way I can stalk you with permission.
ReplyDeleteDo not tease me to leave my life in NY, abandon my children and hop on a flight. If you can get Tom to teach a photography class for 10 year olds at the same time, I have a student for him with a D700 and a kick ass lens I might let him keep if he makes my Tom teacher's pet.
ReplyDeleteWould love to... except I live in Washington DC. :(
ReplyDeleteYes! I took your husband's memoir and the imagination class at BYU spring 2009. It took me all term to get the whole "keep it in scene" thing. I need more practice.
ReplyDeleteI will pay! Would you be willing to consider the class during evenings? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteMake it June and I'll send Rian.
ReplyDeleteI would pay for that. It would be a blast!
ReplyDeleteYes! my birthday is in May and I could ask for this as a present! I'd come from Colorado! Yay!
ReplyDeleteIf it's taught by Louise, and Kristen and Robin are going, then I better sign up and buy my ticket ALL THE WAY FROM OHIO! :)
ReplyDeleteIf it helps to let you know how much we blog commenters are paying attention, I thought you'd enjoy knowing I just finished watching the complete Netflix library of Midsomer's Murders. All 12 seasons, 73 episodes. Thanks for mentioning it while you were working on walking again. I completely enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to participate.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, yes, yes. Oh yes. Yes. Definitely yes.
ReplyDeletePS: I don't remember becoming literate. My parents used a book called Teach Your Baby to Read. I was reading by age 2. They were smart, those parents. I did all the reading to the 6 other children who followed. I read like I breathe. Although it's getting harder now that I have to wear bifocals. Ugh. It's made me much more sympathetic with people who don't read easily.
ReplyDeleteHi Louise :) I pulled my copy of "The Romantic Obsessions & Humiliations of Annie Sehlmeier" out today to read it yet again. It was a favorite when I was younger and it's been too long since I read it last. I'm glad to have found you! -B
ReplyDeleteThe spirit is willing. The timing and the finances may not cooperate, what with postgraduate graduations in two different states. But it sounds heavenly.
ReplyDeleteMy memory is vivid: I told our neighbor, Mrs. Thompson, that D-O-G spelled dog, and she countered with, "And what does G-O-D spell?" That was a light bulb moment for me.
ReplyDeleteThis may be the first time in my life that I wished I lived in Utah. And now I'm not even within driving/cheap flight distance. Boo.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's a smashing success.
Do it after June 10th, and I'm so there. You can shimmy and I'll do the running man and a toe-touch:)
ReplyDelete