Brief Intro? Define “brief”
Growing up, I always had this fantasy; I would be with a group of people and I would say “you wanna know what I think?” and they would stop talking and actually listen to me. I would say something interesting or funny and they would react appropriately with nods of agreement or laughter. It was like a scene from a movie, or an after-school special that would play out in my head. In reality, I was the quiet one, too afraid to speak up for fear I would sound stupid. Even when I tried to join conversations, people would talk over me, because I lacked the confidence to make myself heard. To know me now, it’s hard to believe that I was ever shy, but I was. Maybe that is why I developed a love of books, and drawing, because I could lose myself in my own little world. I was about 11 when I really became addicted to books. It was “Flowers in the Attic” by VC Andrews that got me hooked. I don’t know how I got my hands on that book, but I knew that I was not supposed to be reading what my grandparents referred to as “that filth.” I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s house, and they were very strict religious people. For me, reading was my escape, and my little act of defiance.
Fast forward to today, here I am, in my second semester at Chico State as a Junior, and loving it! I commute from Redding which might seem like a pain, but I actually enjoy the hour and a half of “me time.” My husband of 23 years, Mike, encourages me and supports me in all that I do. We have two daughters, Katie and Megan, who are 19 and 15, and they are my joy. I’m getting my degree in English Education because I plan on teaching high school English. I want to help kids find their voice, and become life long readers and writers. I can’t wait to have my own classroom and hack it the way I want it; floor to ceiling bookshelves, big comfy chairs, and an espresso maker. Okay, that might be pushing it, but a girl can dream.
Once upon a time in a far-away land….uh, no
This is not that kind of story
Yes, they have certain things in common
That is to say, they’re all pretty gory
Which story am I? I’ll tell you which ones I’m not
My Cinderella doesn’t wear the skin of a donkey or a cat
I mean, come on, what is up with that?
No over-bearing mother trying to run her son’s life
No sick, perverted father who wanted his daughter for his wife
No cave people, no fish bones, no sushi on a plate
No cook in the way of an impudent slut’s fate
2 Replies to “Brief Intro? Define “brief””
Hello Cheryl!
Sorry I kept trying to message you on here but my browser was rebooting every time I tried to send! Anyway I really enjoyed your post! You have a way with words!! I really enjoyed your poem, it was great and rhymed and everything! So I also read the flowers in the attic and I enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed reading as a child and I can relate to what you said about escaping in a way! I think I read because I liked being a part of the world in the book and kind of feeling like I was a character in the book! Well I am looking forward to getting to know you this semester, as it seems we have some things in common lol.
So was your fairy tale Lin Lan? I hope I was right? It is hard guessing there are so many of them! We’ll talk to you soon
Tiffany Richardson
Hi Tiffany,
Um, I think my riddle was the Grimm one, I know, they all start to get mixed up, I’ve already kind of forgot! It was fun doing the riddle though. Oh, I agree with you about feeling like a character in the book, that is another thing I liked about reading too. Well, it’s late, I better get to sleep. Talk to you soon!