Cure for Clare

The summer has flown by with an early summer trip to Disney World, lots of football practice, and much summer laziness! Things definitely heated up in August, however, and not just the temperature, although that's been ridiculous here in southern Indiana.

My son went back to school this Wednesday and officially entered high school! I return to USI in a couple of weeks, but not before a vacation with my husband and friends to Cabo San Lucas. That should be pretty amazing, as I have never been to Mexico.

I have suddenly become busy with articles, with an interview to do this coming week, and an article in today's Westside. It was the article in last Friday's Westside that is the most noteworthy, however. I have written many fun articles, and even a couple that covered important charities, but the August 6th article was likely the most important I have ever written. Clare Scheller went to grade school and Mater Dei with my niece Jenn and planned to attend IU this fall. Unfortunately she was diagnosed with leukemia (ALL) this summer and has undergone some terrible medical trauma as a result. My article was about Clare, her amazing family, and the incredible support and fundraising from the west side. I have received lovely feedback from it and was really thrilled to write it and be able to help out. Good luck with everything, Clare!!

New Articles!

Wow, a semester of college went by in a flash--except for all the homework. That took forever! I am ready to enjoy some time off and am looking forward to a summer of relaxing and--finally--more writing! Along with school, I've had several articles in the last months, and some of them have been put online. I have added those links to the side and will continue to do so. Until next time, have a great summer, everyone!

January--A Successful Start to College...and a Month of Articles

I haven't posted since January 11th, when I was stressing about returning to school. I am happy to say that college is going great! I am really enjoying my classes. I love reading things I probably wouldn't read on my own and writing and hearing others' writings. It's all been so cool, and I don't feel weird back among the "college kids" at all. Thanks to everyone who commented, emailed, and Twittered their encouragement!

I have had almost no time for my own writing because, along with homework, I did every cover story for January's Westside Courier. Wow, that was a whirlwind of interviews, picture-taking, picture-sending, and, of course, writing. I had an interesting array of articles, too--a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana; a local woman who self-published a book about her mother; a woman whose sewing and embroidery hobby turned into a booming west-side business; and a west-sider who moved to bush Alaska to teach special education kids! What can I say--that job is never boring.

I have no assigned article this week, so I have been concentrating on homework. I expect I'll receive article work any day now, so I'm just hoping to end my birthday week with a little of my own writing. Yep, Friday is my birthday, which means fun with the family and, of course, a few presents!

Happy writing, everyone!

A Tale of Fear--College Life Begins Again!!

As we embark upon the new year, my newest writing venture begins--college! Today I return to school for my undergrad degree. Since it has been--ahem--19 years since I last sat in a college classroom, I am a little nervous. But I'm excited, too. I'm starting with two classes, a "ways of reading" class and a creative writing class. The more I learn, the more I realize I have to learn, so I'm looking forward to any lit or writing class.

But what I am most nervous about today--everything. I will probably be in a classroom of people 20 years younger than me. I am afraid I will feel horribly out of place. Here's an example of what I mean. My 14-year-old son went with me to the college bookstore to purchase my textbooks. At the counter, the clerk asked my son for his student ID. I could hardly keep the laughter down while he finished ringing me up, poor guy. Okay, so being too old, that's one worry. Also, what if I get in a creative writing class and suddenly feel like I can't write and don't know what I'm doing? Even though I have been writing literally since I can remember, I have that fear. Let's just add these other fears while we're at it--I won't be able to find a parking spot, I'll be dashing across campus in the cold, unable to find the right classroom, bumbling into class to take the last unoccupied seat--right in front of the professor, of course! AAAHHH! Time for deep breaths...

Truly, though all of those fears are embarrassingly real, I can hardly wait for it all to begin! I have no doubt I will come out of it all as a better writer and a more open and knowledgeable person.