The Diary of a Beginning Writer: October 2010

I don't know why I chose math as my minor! The longer I stay in my Calculus class the more I question my decision. This class has been a difficult struggle for me. I am preparing for my second test (which I will take on Monday) and I felt good about the things we had discussed in class. That is until I get home, do the homework, or try to work on practice problems. I don't understand why I am struggling so much with this class, or why I cannot retain any of the information. I am tired of crying, getting headaches, and feeling like a complete failure! I cannot wait until December and this class is over!

On a positive note, my writings are coming along! I am preparing to sumbit three pieces to Weber State's Literary Journal: Metephor. My deadline is in January, so I will be keeping my fingers crossed! This will be a small stepping stone towards my publishing dream!

Thanks for reaading!

When I was in the third grade my class was given an assignment to write letters to somebody. This assignment was to help us work on our cursive writing, sentence structure, and spelling. I remember coming home, telling my mom about this assignment, and asking if she knew anyone I could write to. Well, she thought about it, asked our family for suggestion, and came back with an answer...You can write your aunt Mutt! My aunt who? I didn't know who this person was, let alone where she lived. I remember my mom laughing and saying, "your grandpa Helm has a sister, Myrtle, who lives in Arkansas. You can write to her and get to know her." My mom got her address from my grandpa, I went back to school with it, and started writing to her.

We wrote several letters back and forth and quickly we became very close. I wrote her at least once a month (if not more) for the next few years. When I was in the fifth grade my grandparents were going back to Arkansas to visit Mutt. They knew that I wrote her often and that we had gotten close, so they invited me to come along! I was thrilled! My mom told me it would be boring and I would not enjoy it there, boy was she wrong. I remember having the time of my life. While I was there we went to a crystal mine, I was able to meet some family I didn't even know existed, we explored the forest (which is her backyard), we traveled to Kentucky to see Mutt's daughter Connie, we went up through the Smokey Mountains, saw some waterfalls, and I was also able to learn about where my grandpa grew up.

After this trip I believe I was on cloud nine! Mine and Mutt's relationship has always been special. I wish we didn't live so far away from each other; life seems to sweep us away and as I have gotten older writing letters has become difficult to do. We don't write, talk on the phone, or see each other very often now and I have truely missed her and I think of her everyday.

So, the other day when I came home from school I was a little taken back to hear that Mutt was at my grandparent's house. My mom asked if I wanted to go see her...I don't think she really needed to ask! It was so great to see her, to hear her talk and laugh, and to see her husband Don (who is just the nicest man). As I sat there listening to everyone talk, my mind kept playing over and over the memories I have from my trip to Arkansas.I hope to make it back there once I am out of school!

Who would have thought such a special relationship would have come from a third grade writing assignment?

Pictures from my Arkansas Trip about 14 years ago!

My Great-Great Aunt Lela and I. I believe out of my cousins I am the only one to have met her. She was such a neat lady; this picture is taken outside in her front yard. (Don't mind the crazy hairstyle...I don't know what I was thinking! Also, I look at this picture and cringe at the thought that kids teased me, because I was too fat. I would kill to be that thin again)