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Dear Reader,
Have you? Tell me you have...sent in your entry for this year's 10th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest. The deadline is Monday, August 4th. For all the contest info, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2014/index.html
You don't have to be a writer to enter, the contest is all about having fun. Tell me a story, here's one of mine...
My 7-year-old grandson, Paul, says he wants to be an artist and a 'sew-er' when he grows up. Grandmas are expected to ooh and aah over their grandchildren's artwork, because that's what Grandma's do. But Paul does have a unique way of expressing himself when he draws. He's truly amazing. A local Sarasota artist, who came to my house to paint the walls and sketch vintage designs in my sewing room, asked about Paul's artwork hanging on canvases. She was quite impressed. (Oh no, I think I'm oohing and aahing.)
Paul does love to draw. My black and white tuxedo cat Barry, was sitting on the counter (which is a no-no, but that's another story) and Paul fixated on Barry, did a rough first sketch and then drew two cats holding hands; one in a tuxedo, the other in a wedding dress and veil, and he titled the drawing: "Wedding."
Yes, my grandson loves to draw and he loves to sew, too. Paul is sewing a quilt right now. I cut the squares for him (7-years-old is too young to use my cutting wheel), but after I hand him the squares, he takes it from there. Paul winds the bobbin, threads the machine, sets the dials, pedal to the floor, and that boy sews on his own. I don't even have to be in the room to supervise him any longer.
But a 7-year-old's attention span needs variety. So the other day on a sewing break, Paul suggested we play a game of "Sorry." I suggested we crank up the volume on the old tune, "Do You Love Me?" and dance. "Do you know how to do the Twist?" I started twisting, then moved on to the Jerk, my arms swinging up and down in front of me. Paul's face was turning crimson red, and he was staring at me like I was nuts. Unfortunately I couldn't persuade Paul to dance. What a disappointment. But then when Paul suggested if he won "Sorry" he would get an ice cream cone as a prize, I saw my opening. "Okay," I told him, "but if I win the game, then you have to do the Twist with me." He agreed.
It was a slow start for Paul. My game pieces were sailing around the board. I was drawing cards in my favor, "Move 12 spaces, move 6 spaces"--great I'm on a slide area, so I get an extra free five spaces. I had moved two of my game pieces all the way around the board, tucked them safely away on my Home square, and Paul still hadn't even got one of his pieces started. My grandson was getting worried. Dancing fear was in his eyes, "Grandma, I think we should play two games to decide who wins."
But I told him no, we agreed on one game, and I assured him that things can change quickly in this game--and they did. Pretty soon, Paul and I were neck-and-neck, racing around the board to get our final game piece "Home." But Grandma WON!
Paul's a good dancer. His face turns bright red, but he's a good dancer.
Now, you tell me a story. Enter the 10th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest today, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2014/index.html
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
AUTHORBUZZ: AuthorBuzz authors are enjoying summer vacation this week, sipping lemonade and developing new story ideas. They will return next week.
* This month's Penguin Classics book THE BIRD'S NEST by Shirley Jackson. Start reading now and don't forget to enter the drawing for your chance to win a Penguin Totebag: http://www.supportlibrary.com/bc/v.cfm?L=drclassqqxqB1AFE3FA7A33&c=CLASSICS
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