To begin...

Where does the story of my love of stories begin? I am really not sure. Recently, I was talking with a friend of mine and told her the two main reasons I read so much when I was a child. One -- I wanted to escape my world and two -- I wanted to find other kids who had not-so-average lives so I felt not so alone. Looking at his statement, I see how much it framed my life; from my choice of career to my choices in snack food. [I always wanted to try Turkish Delight because Edmund ate it in Narnia. A student brought me some and we shared it. It was squishy and strange, but a great experience.] As a teacher, I hope to help students examine the moments in their lives, savor their lives and make considerate, wise choices. If I can help them add depth to just one experience, I am thrilled.
One of the first books I remember loving is Bread and Jam for Frances. The kids [badgers?] in that book had the coolest little lunches to bring to school. Cloth napkins, vases of flowers -- awesome. I stuck a small green vase and some Lilies of the Valley in my school bag and put them on the table at lunch. It was not well received. Had these people never read the series of Frances books? I was embarrassed and sad. I spent much of my childhood striving to be wonderfully average and Frances didn't seem to be helping.