Remember the days we had charm bracelets? I was looking through my jewelry box the other day for missing earrings when I came across this. How convenient that it showed up since my 50th reunion is on the horizon for next year. Mostly it’s a visual trip through the senior year and I suspect each one of these charms could be a prompt for a future story.
The drunk hanging on the street lamp at the corner of State and Madison streetlamp may have been added a few years later when we honeymooned in Chicago.
Yarn with knitting needles and scissors with the thimble represent hobbies. I made most of my own clothes.
Not so sure about the orange ball but I think has something to do with bowling.
Typewriter – yes I learned to type on a manual typewriter and my first job was typing address labels of all the private airports in the states. I think it was busy work given to me by a friend of my dads.
Faith, hope and charity – I am a preacher’s kid.
Not so sure about the corn cob – the trip through miles of corn fields from Michigan to California.
Diploma – obviously I graduated. Probably a gift from mom and dad.
The crutch – a little tobogganing mishap and a perfect excuse to skip P.E., my least favorite class.
Expo 67 – my senior trip.
What’s on your charm bracelet? Do you still have it?
There’s Mt. Whitney dirt buried beneath the layer of dust on these boots. Nearly twenty years after the journey they remain under the nightstand, waiting for the next trek. I had planned to hike the trail again but the reality of that is improbable. Now I see the boots and bandana as trophies of past adventures – checks off the bucket list of goals.
I reflect on that elation I once felt at the top of this world. The photo proof of accomplishment feeds my mind with encouragement, staving off the inner critic as I work on my current goal to finish the memoir, one switchback at a time.
The process of writing the memoir is like climbing that mountain. We begin at the bottom, working on the arc of the story – the path to the top and then down again. I set the milestones.
Permits – getting permission
Training – learning the best way
Advice – finding a coach who has been there
Mirror Lake – reflecting on the memories
Trailside Meadows – feeling the effects but pushing on
Trail Camp – regenerating
97 Switchbacks – penning the points in the arc
Trail Crest – seeing the other side
Summit – the first draft
97 Switchbacks – editing, cutting back
Return to the Portal – exhausted but exhilarated
Buying the “I Climbed Mt Whitney T-Shirt” – the reward
I am at Trailside Meadows. Where are you in your journey?
If we were having coffee right now, I would tell you about the people at my church. Since I suggested that people might want to watch Dogtown Redemption, it seems there are people now who are interested. They come up and talk to me after church. Mark sent me an email and asked what he could do to help. Marilyn called me earlier this week and we talked for quite some time. She knows Jason. She has grandchildren coming this summer and maybe they can meet JJ. She greeted me with a big hug today. Don brought me a copy of Remember to Remember, only because I got to know him last week at the deacon’s luncheon and he found out we live in the same city. The author lives in our city, right down the street from me. Louise gave me a knowing look as she walked by with the offering plate. Rich called me an “author.” Chris talked to me during coffee hour offering a suggestion that at some point I must determine the memoir is done. No more editing. Trust it is what it is meant to be.
If we were having coffee right now, I would tell you that I spent most of the afternoon reading Remember to Remember. I kept falling asleep. Exhausted. I feel like I need to read the book. Not put it on the shelf where it will stay at the bottom of the to be read pile for months, maybe years. It’s the first time I’ve read a real book in years. Instead I’ve read my way through three generations of Kindles. Somehow it feels right to be holding a book. A good thing since I have that stack of real books sitting on the shelf calling to me.
If we were having coffee right now, I would tell you how addicted I have become to listening to podcasts. Mostly podcasts about writing or publishing. That’s what I do when I develop an interest in something new. Not that writing is new but it is brought to the forefront as I consider the commitment that my memoir would be finished by the end of summer. My last interest was photography. Every day I took a photo and posted it on Project 365. I kept at it for almost two years. Then I got bored with it. But in the meantime I tried to learn everything I could about photography. I took online courses. I watched YouTube videos. Did I mention that I am taking online courses in writing now? What will be my next phase or interest I wonder.
If we were having coffee right now, I would tell you about writing 20 minutes a day and how it is changing my behavior. At least for 20 minutes a day it is. I am wondering if it is another distraction to keep me from working on the memoir. You see, it’s not about working 20 minutes a day on the memoir. It’s about writing 20 minutes a day with a topic that is sent to me by email as part of an online course. It’s only a 20 day course so it will be complete by the time I begin a 20 minute a day practice with Len Leatherwood. Yes, that is another course I’m taking through Story Circle. What I like about the idea is that it builds a consistency habit. It holds me accountable when I sign up for something like that. I guess you might say it’s because I seem to do well when I have challenges, my form of goal setting.
If we were having coffee right now, I would have to confess I am drinking tea. I only did the coffee thing because it was a writing prompt. I prefer to drink tea this time of day. Green tea, usually from Trader Joes. It’s an afternoon pick me up. Since I slept a good portion of the afternoon, it is a necessity. A wake up call.
Since I am drinking tea right now, I’m going to tell you that each paragraph in this exercise was supposed to begin with “If we were having coffee right now.” See what a rebel I have become? Is it cheating to change this paragraph or is it just creativity?
If we were having coffee right now, what would you tell me?
I can’t promise that I won’t mention this important film again. The reason – everyone needs to watch it. The Independent Film version of Dogtown Redemption can be streamed until August 15th here. Even better, you can purchase a copy of the full version here . It will change your outlook about recycling, the homeless and addiction. Okay, so I may be a bit biased since one of the characters happens to be my homeless son (more about that if you scroll down to my previous posts).
My son had the courage to share his life in the hope of making the world a better place. I am building courage to publish my memoir with the same hope. Sometimes we learn our greatest lessons from our children.
Watch the film. Host a screening. Share the story. Make a difference!
Last week I posted an article about my homeless son that I wrote for The Street Spirit. Today I encourage everyone to put this on your calendar: Dogtown Redemption will premier on PBS Independent Lens Monday, May 16, 2016. Please check your local PBS channel and tune in to this thought provoking documentary. If you miss the show, the DVD is available on the Dogtown Redemption website.
But let’s back up for a moment to an era before the tough times began. The year was 1984. My son, Jason, was only 10 years old, a robust, likeable young man with the determination to earn his Junior Black Belt. He studied the art since he was 7 years old and met his goal in September 1984. He continues to study the art – the one consistency in his life for the last four decades. This is the dream that keeps him alive today.
I watched his life become a broken dream. Not his broken dream but my broken dream. He struggles with the consequences of his addictions but he does the best he can and holds his head high. I bow my head with the loss of this beautiful boy and what he could have been.
It is said the writing of a memoir can be a healing experience and I am finding this to be true. It’s not about what might end up in the actual book; it’s all about the process.
When Amir Soltani was working on Dogtown Redemption he shared his wisdom with us. Many times he said, “It will be a healing film.” While it is a difficult film for me to watch, as I share it with the public I see the profound effect it has on the audience.
It is with Amir’s encouragement that I strive to write a purposeful memoir of experience, strength and hope. One that will make a difference.
There’s Mt. Whitney dirt buried beneath the layer of dust on these boots. Nearly twenty years after the journey they remain under the nightstand, waiting for the next trek. I had planned to hike the trail again but the reality of that is improbable. Now I see the boots and bandana as trophies of past adventures – checks 
off the bucket list of goals.
WittBits 