Always learning
Spent the better part of the day at UCSD yesterday, as a guest of my retired high school English teacher, Frank Barone, watching as he awakened the imaginations of daycampers at writing camp. I have some pictures to share with you and an awesome quote from one of his students, but first things first, we need to announce the winner of Broken Wings by Carla Stewart. Thanks to random.org, the lucky recipient is Stephany! Dear Stephany, email me at susan [at] susanlmeissner [dot] com so we chat about a mailing address. Thanks to all who commented. If you didn’t win, do get your hands on the book. Carla is a gifted storyteller. And now for the pictures.
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| Back in 1975, when he was Mr. Barone to me, Frank affirmed me as a young writer capable of being published one day. He honestly thought it was possible. Good thing I believed him. It took twenty-five years to truly take him at his word, but his remembered faith in me propelled me. Here he is addressing young writers who reminded me of me. |
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| The students are writing a poem. First, Frank held up a purple balloon and asked them what they saw. Not a purple balloon, but what the purple balloon wooed them to see. A sunset. A giant grape. A happy raindrop. |
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| Here he is coaxing creativity out of them. When he asked the students to share what poetry is like, one girl said (and I love this) “Poetry is like music. It is not a song, but it sings to you.” Love that. |
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| Writing a poem with his grandson, Charlie. Cool kid. |
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| Frank and I. Student and teacher. Mentor and mentee. Writer and writer. Friend and friend. |