Here’s to Firsts

     I’ve always been a writer at heart.  I have considered putting my thoughts into print for years– perhaps from the very first time I read a blog.  I hope you’ll enjoy your time inside my head.

As a kid, I was intrigued by the idea of writing.  That interest began with my love of reading.  I remember learning to read, sitting in my mother’s lap.  Bless her heart.  She spent hours of her time reading I Can Read books and Dr. Seuss books to me.  She would ask me to read them back to her, and I would look her in the eye and repeat what I had memorized on each page.  That would be followed by my frustrated mother saying, “No, no, no.  You’re just memorizing.”  I’m so thankful that she didn’t give up.  However, I’m sure she was even more thankful when I was old enough to attend kindergarten and my teacher took over the educational duties.

Later, in elementary school, I was an avid reader.  I read everything.  It was as if a secret door was revealed to me, and I couldn’t get enough exploration.  I remember being allowed to attend a 3rd grade reading class when I was in the 2nd grade. That teacher had her own paperback library filled with Scholastic books of every genre a young reader could imagine.  Then, the best thing happened.  My 2nd grade teacher grew tired of my excessive talking, and began letting me spend extra time in the school library.  I remember thoroughly exploring the books meant for beginning readers, and sneaking over to the biography section.  Oh!  I couldn’t believe it!  Another new world!  I couldn’t get enough… I discovered Helen Keller, John F. Kennedy, the Roosevelts (all of them), and many others.  I just continued wanting more.

I quickly connected history and literature, and began reading old social studies textbooks.  Back then, schools didn’t adopt a new series very often, so teachers hoarded old books in their cloakrooms.  This snoopy child found the old books that were stuck back on a high shelf.  I hurried to finish my work so I could open a history book as often as possible.  I wanted to know more about U.S. Presidents, the American Revolution, the Minute Men, etc.

That was when my dear mother blessed me with the greatest gift of all– a World Book Encyclopedia set.  She didn’t just buy the books.  She bought a very nice bookcase for my encyclopedias.  An added bonus was the globe with a floor stand.  (I kept that globe until my own son was old enough to ask why there was an East and West Germany on it.)  Each year, I could hardly wait for the annual “Year Book” to arrive.  My favorite was when Elvis died.  There was a wonderful piece about the King.

No matter what kind of reading I did, I couldn’t help but think how nice it was that people cared enough to write for me.  I truly believed those wonderful stories were written with me in mind.  Well, at least for kids like me.  At every stage in my development as a reader, I experienced the same thrill whenever I discovered a new genre.  And, as I continued to find new interests and authors, I paid attention to the skill of these amazing writers.  I treasured the books and articles I read, and I appreciated the talented people who shared those stories with me.

So, now I am finally sharing my own stories.  If I am successful, you will find something in my writing that brings back memories for you.  Or maybe something that confirms what you feel or believe.  You might read about a place you would love to visit, or maybe an activity you’d like to try.  I look forward to letting you inside of my thoughts and my heart.  I hope you’ll visit often.

~Terri

 

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