One of the writing challenges I am participating in this month is a challenge in the Teach Write Facebook group to write “minute memoirs.” I am not doing this every day, because I am focusing on slicing, but I do love the chance to sit and think for just a quick minute about some memories.
Today, I wrote about going to used bookstores with my grandparents. They were both voracious readers and they loved it that I was too. We would spend time combing through the shelves and looking for our favorite treasures. My grandma was a big fan of mysteries and my grandpa loved history books and anything about the Civil War. I went through many different phases in what I looked for throughout the years, but I mostly remember looking for Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books.
This memory reminded me of another slice I wrote years ago (2013)! I resurrected it and revised it here:
When I Was Young
I drank cocoa on a dark and stormy night with Meg and Charles Wallace,
spent summer afternoons sluething with Nancy and Trixie,
and pestered Beezus with Ramona.
I fell off the rooftop and into the Cuthbert’s hearts with Anne,
created a business with Claudia, Mary Anne, Stacey, Kristy and Dawn,
and traveled the Orient Express with Poirot.
I cried until my eyes could cry no more with Scarlett,
played a game to win an inheritance with Turtle,
and tormented Peter with Fudge.
I explored the big woods and the prairie with Laura,
fell off the end of the sidewalk,
and shrank with Treehorn.
I hoped that god was there with Margaret,
grieved for Beth with Jo,
and hid in a small space with Anne Frank.
And I did it all without leaving the couch.
This post is a part of the 14th annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. After a few years away, I am challenging myself to write every day in March this year, along with an amazing community of other bloggers. You can find our writing linked up on the Two Writing Teachers blog.
I love your 2013 slice, and it was fun to identify many of your references, though I think the ones that eluded me are because you are younger than me, so have a different collection of classics to remember. I’m glad you’re back among the slicers.
I also have a few pretty obscure books in here that were not the most popular so it could just be that for some of them 😊
I love that your minute memoir writing inspired your slicing — I’ve had that happen at least twice now! I also love that you brought back an old writing and I have to say it was a great read. My favorite part was your last line “And I did it all without leaving the couch.”
I can’t say I had grandparents that took me to bookstores like yours did — but clearly it was special to you and one of those moments that have stuck. I’m glad you sliced about it today.
I think those minute memoirs are going to continue to inspire slices and possibly more!
Andrea, I love bookstores! Your poem brings back so many memories of my favorite books and characters. Thank you for this journey down memory lane. I loved your poem.