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Sunday, March 15, 2015

#sol15 March 15 Me: The Truth Is Strange

One of the great benefits of the SOL Challenge is the mentor texts we read.  Michelle's post last week spurred this one:slice containing strange facts about me and the lessons I have learned from those experiences!  These are things you might not know even if you know me! 

Newhouse I1) I met my husband in a library!  Seriously, we both studied in this little library at the top of  University Avenue because our dorm rooms were more conducive to partying. I guess the message  is you can get more than good grades at the library!  I'm glad I studied. 

2) I dream of a little house (or condo) at the beach where I could write, read, listen to the sounds of the ocean, and consume fresh seafood every day! In my dreams, my family is frolicking in the sand. One problem with this dream is that I can never hear what anyone is saying because the ocean is just too loud! I guess the message to be careful what you wish for; it might be noisy!  I'm keeping the dream alive, anyway.

       3) I live in Stormville.  There is not much in Stormville besides a gas station near the interstate, a pizza parlor, and a post office.  Our claim to fame is a flea market at the long-abandoned airport where gliders once landed.  Around here people think it was named as the location where "storms" seem to take turn from rain into ice and snow.  It is where the temperatures are colder, the fog is thicker, the wind is stronger, and the snow is deeper.  Yet, amazingly, Stormville is not named for its infamous weather!  It's named for the Storm family who settled here long ago.  I guess the message is that your name can influence who/what you become! 
4) I defended my dissertation at the end of the busiest month of my life. It was September, you know what that means for teachers (new kids, open houses)  I was teaching at Fordham in addition to my job a a literacy specialist. My parents were recovering from a head on accident (one had a C1,C2 cervical spinal fracture and the other a fractured pelvis). We put our house on the market right after Labor Day when my husband found his dream-fixer-upper house (while I was writing Chapter 5). I went along with the idea 1) because I was tired; 2) because I assured myself we all need to follow our dreams.  My former babysitter-turned-real-estate-mogul sold our house the day it was listed while I was hosting a baby shower at my house! We packed and moved everything ourselves into a fixer-upper just a few miles away.  I'm still looking for things I will never find! The message is that we find super-human energy when we really need it
4) 

12 comments:

Lisa Corbett said...

Oh dear! What a month. It does seem, sometimes, that life piles up. Glad you found your way out of it. I think meeting in a library is great! Much better than meeting in a bar. :)

Melanie Meehan said...

I love your list, as well as the insights that come with them. Isn't it true that if you want something done, you ask the busiest person? Sometimes, we look back at times in our lives and it's overwhelming to think about what got done. September, especially, for you. Wow.

Melanie Meehan said...

I love your list, as well as the insights that come with them. Isn't it true that if you want something done, you ask the busiest person? Sometimes, we look back at times in our lives and it's overwhelming to think about what got done. September, especially, for you. Wow.

Amy Rudd said...

Very interesting facts!! Your busyness during dissertation defend would have driven me over the edge!! God bless you for accomplishing that!

Terje said...

I like the idea of adding messages to the snippets of information. Your examples show how interesting, unexpected and powerful a person's life can be. Thank you for sharing.

Linda B said...

I love your list & the learning from each one, Anita. The library one is so special and fun to hear. My dream too is to live on the beach. We go every summer for a few weeks, but it is calling to me. I never thought it might be noisy sometimes. And finally, hard to believe, probably for you, too, but you did it, finished it, with all those other things going on. Superwoman-at least sometimes, right?

Loralee said...

Enjoyed the list!

Loralee said...

I love how you met at the library!

Glenda Funk said...

Love the slice of Americana in your post. The history of your town is fascinating. When I was an undergrad at a small liberal arts college, the library offered lots of hiding places for those looking for a little action they couldn't find in the stacks or study rooms!

Amy Warntz said...

Wow! You are one busy gal! Congrats on wrapping up your dissertation.

Becky Leff said...

A great collection! Congratulations on completing your doctorate! It does seem like everything happens at once, like your month. Hopefully that is followed by nothing happening for awhile. I think the additional message about meeting your husband in a library is that we meet the people we come to love in the places we love. I met my husband in a band.

Red Emma said...

what an interesting collection of facts. I like that you met your husband at the library -- maybe that will get people to go to the library more often. And it's nice to know that Stormville wasn't named after storms but after Storms. And that month of September; whew! Sometimes you get the most done when you have the most to do.