Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Six-word Memoir

A six-word memoir sounds simple enough, but when I was tagged several days ago by both Kathie at Sycamore Canyon and Seabrooke of The Marvelous in Nature, I had no idea how this challenge would roll around in my mind. Penned up indoors while a snowstorm raged outside—it was the much needed direction for pensive fireside evenings.
Many have participated in this meme, and the statements they’ve chosen to describe their lives are wonderful—their memoirs are creative, imaginative, succinct…honest. And, although a meme is designed to be shared and passed on to others, the exercise of assessing what one’s life represents is of great value, even if kept to one’s self.

Here are the rules:

1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you'd like.
3. Link to the person who tagged you in your post and to this original post 6-Word Memoir Meme, so we can track it as it moves across the blogosphere.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And, don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.


I can remember the routine well.
Walk home from school, run upstairs, change out of “good” clothes, have a snack--then go outside. Usually to the woods to build forts or the sand hills to explore—looking for adventure, the greater, the better. My clothes, by bedtime, muddy and covered in burs. A newly acquired “pet” (toad,…), evidence that I had found it.

And although the many different careers I’ve followed as an adult have been in medical facilities, classrooms, or public buildings, where daylight cannot follow—each day’s reward for completing my work has been the same.
Time outside, my other life.

And so, I present my memoir,
"She never outgrew her play clothes."




Are you game?
Tom of The Ohio Nature Blog, Susan of Susan Gets Native, Kathi at KatDoc's World, Lynne at Hasty Brook, and Clare at The House and Other Arctic Musings.
If not, that's okay, too!


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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

beautiful post, nina. beautiful site as well--i'll pass the url around.

Mary said...

Dear Nina! You keep getting better and better. I broke into wide smile..."She never outgrew her play clothes." (Neither did I.)

Hugs,
Mary

Beth said...

That's a good one and I suspect one that fits many of the people who enjoy your writing and pictures. Thanks for the smile

Anonymous said...

That's wonderful. I think you're giving Hemingway a run for his money.

cestoady said...

As your wonderful ,expressive picture portrays and your commentary on youthful memories reinforces, there is much truth in the wise old Chinese saying (are there any other ?) --- as the twig is bent,so the tree grows.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

I think you did a great job with your memoir. I love the picture of you as a little girl. You didn't ever out grow the darling stage either.

fiona said...

Just beautiful .. very moving :-)

RuthieJ said...

Oh Nina, that made me smile. I haven't heard the term "play clothes" for many years. I'm glad you still enjoy playing outside!
Good job!

Tom Arbour said...

Nina-

I accept the challenge!

Tom

Q said...

Dear Nina,
You are a fun lady!
I have been working on my memoir too.
A fun thing to think about.
I am so glad you never outgrew your play clothes.
Sherry

Cathy said...

The picture. The 6 words. :0)