The Rest is Still Unwritten

Recently, I have been taking writing more seriously than in the past. I have been writing as long as I can remember. As a small child, I remember putting pencil to paper and writing short stories inspired by works like Anne of Green Gables and Nancy Drew.

I was a voracious reader. I can recall my 4th grade teacher having a conference with my parents, where she told them that she had tested my vocabulary, reading comprehension, etc. and had determined that I was reading at a college level. She encouraged them to continue provide me with plenty of books, but advised that I would benefit from a more challenging array of material.

I remember my parents being overjoyed at hearing this bit of information. Mrs. Menzinger was more supportive than any teacher I had had before her. I was having a problem making and keeping friends, as I was a painfully shy child. If given a choice, I would spend my recess time secluding myself away from the other kids, reading whatever book I was engrossed in at the time. It was then that I developed a love for Reader's Digest, and as an accompaniment, the Reader's Digest Vocabulary Builder.

Mrs. Menzinger would frequently allow me to stay in the classroom and read books, or help her clean the blackboard. I had a lot of difficulties relating to my classmates, and the kids bestowed upon me the nickname "teacher's pet". For me, it wasn't about being a brown noser, but it was more about feeling understood and accepted, which was something I only found in the company of adults.

My difficulties continued through the rest of my school career. I now know that I had ADHD and am possibly on the spectrum, which makes total sense given what I know now.

My solace has always lain in reading and writing. Nowadays, I have a very hard time reading an entire book, and have turned to listening to audio books. But writing still comes naturally.

My mother was a poet, and was quite good, even though she lacked the chutzpah to submit her work for publication. My middle brother was also blessed with the ability to write, and is an award winning journalist.

I have developed a knack for writing about my own experiences, and had a popular blog for quite a long time, in past incantations. I took a break for a very long time due to overwhelming life circumstances. When I decided to circle back to it as a form of stress relief, I was met with stark discouragement by my former roommate, who voiced quite frequently that writing was a waste of precious time and energy.

One day, I decided enough was enough, and I picked it back up again, choosing to buck my former friend's dejection of my own creative expression. I came to understand that she was coming from a place of her own ADHD pathological need to keep busy AT ALL TIMES. Hobbies and interests were a frivolous pursuit in her eyes. She made a point to voice her opinion frequently, and I was left to pick up the pieces after more than a few tirades that she unleashed on me.

Something clicked a two to three months ago, and it was like a light switch being flipped on. Suddenly, I found myself driven to write, and a few ideas came flooding into my mind. I am writing a book based on my experiences with the paranormal, but will provide a perspective that I have only seen less than a handful of times.

I have been told many times throughout the years that I should write a book. Most people suggest a memoir of sorts, based on my careers in radio and teaching, including my accounts of meetings with musicians and actors. It would be a fun opportunity to talk about my own encounters, but I am finding that I actually prefer to talk about things I am passionate about, which includes, but is not limited to, my travels, and my accounts of the places I have been, and the people I've met along the way.

I think about Mrs. Menzinger now and again, and wish I could thank her for instilling and encouraging my love of reading and writing. Trust that she will be mentioned in my acknowledgements in my first book.