In Honor of Amy

I am participating in the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. Thanks to the co-authors of              Two Writing Teachers for creating this  supportive community.

This is not the post I intended to write today, but I’ve been thinking a lot about Amy Krause Rosenthal since learning of her death yesterday. Back in 2008 I learned of a woman who posted a video listing 17 things she had made (Google “17 things I made” and you’ll find it). She then invited anyone and everyone to meet her at the Bean sculpture in Chicago on 8-8-08 at 8:08 to create an 18^th thing together. Hundreds of people showed up. What a beautiful way to celebrate creativity and beauty in the world, I thought! The woman was Amy Krause Rosenthal, but I didn’t know much about her then. It was only later, when I was introduced to her books that her name began to stick in my head. And it was only a few days ago that I made the connection and realized the woman whose video mesmerized me so many years ago was the author I came to know through her books.

Amy celebrated creativity and urged others to remember that we all have a hand, large or small, in making this world what it is. She helped us honor our talents and our worth in ways we may not have considered. And since my OLW for 2017 is “create,” I sat down to list some things I have created in my lifetime. I chose to list 13, yesterday’s date, in honor of Amy. So here they are, in no particular order:

13 Things I Made

My wedding gown

A home

My talented and creative son, Brian

My wonderful daughter, Ann, who through her work helps students realize their worth and potential

Three professional books (with Lynne Dorfman) – Mentor Texts, Nonfiction Mentor Texts, Poetry Mentor Texts

The Keystone to Reading Elementary lists of books (with other committee members) to help teachers create a love of literature with their students

Someone laugh

A friendship of over 50 years with my childhood friend, Ginny

A legacy of love with Allan (we will celebrate our 40^th anniversary in May)

The chili cooking away in the crockpot on this snowy day

The blueberry pie that will go into the oven later to celebrate Pi Day

A garden of peony bushes in my backyard

A welcome environment for bluebirds