As some of you know teaching memoir writing is one of my passions in life. Everywhere I go I see a potential for incorporating a new idea into my class. Sometimes it is just a new twist on an old idea. Just a few weeks ago I was in Southport, North Carolina n a wonderful gift shop. I started browsing among some books written by local authors. Soon a lady walked over and introduced herself as a writer. One of her books piqued my interest after she told me it was a memoir. She said that she had fourteen friends from childhood who kept in touch and had reunions over about fifty years. Eleven out of the fourteen contributed something to her memoir. Here was another way to construct one's memoir.
I was in the right place at the right time.
This past week-end we went to Bedford, Virginia for a family celebration. I'm a long distance member of the Bedford Museum and have wanted to tour it for a long time. The Director was not there that morning but several nice staff members guided us to the special displays. After we finished the self guided tour we went to the gift shop. The two women who had seemed to be going at the same pace as we were had arrived a few seconds ahead of us. The attendant began showing me books she thought I might be of interest to me. One was a beautiful book of paintings done along with a memoir. Another aid for my teaching!
The right place at the right time!
Then she said, "this lady did the book." It was one of the ladies we seemed to be following. We began to talk about writing in general and her book in particular. I bought a copy and she bought one of Trunk Tales. Both books are set in Bedford County.
It was the right place at the right time.
On Saturday morning we headed to the family cemetery after stopping for some flowers. As we arrived and parked behind the church, a man came out the back door. He was cordial and walked over to ask if he could help. We told him we were visiting and I was reminiscing about spending my summers in that area and attending the Church beginning as an infant. Soon it became known that he is the pastor of the Church. One thing led to another and he realized that he knew my sister and brother-in-law who run a bed and breakfast in town. He has two young grandchildren. He was delighted to get a signed "Where's the Kitty" book?
Another right place at the right time!
It seems to happen more often now. Could it have anything to do with being a senior citizen? It's possible.
Tis seems to be happening more often. Do you experience these little instances? Maybe it is God working in our lives.
ReplyDeleteEvery day, every encounter is an opportunity! Thank you for sharing these experiences...just another reminder that we do still live in a small world. :)
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