It’s day one of the Freedom to Marry blog carnival at the OTHER mother, and
Me at 10
I have three items for today’s theme of something old.
The first is this photo on the left, taken 38 years ago, at the age I was when I wrote the following poem. When I was ten I used to write poems and slip them into my teacher’s desk drawer. Two years later, when he saw the for-sale sign up at my house, Mr. Wheeler typed up my poems and gave them to me in a bound spiral. My first (and only, to date) collection!
My second something-old is this poem. I used to think, up until I was in high school, that poems always had to rhyme.
You might notice a misspelled word in the poem, which apparently my teacher didn’t catch when he typed it… . I’ve always been a terrible speller, which I attribute to being a Gestalt learner, but I’m just making excuses.
This third picture is a drawing my sister made of my husband and me for our wedding invitations. We’ve been married 21 years, so that’s how old the drawing is. One reason why we’ve been married for over two decades is because we have children. Children need stable homes, and a legal, binding marriage can help create that stability when times are tough. The marriage also gives children a better chance for financial support should the parents decide to split up. All children deserve parents with a strong commitment to work together to provide a good home. It doesn’t make sense to deprive someone of that right simply because of the parent’s gender. Let’s support everyone’s right to marry whomever they please.
Balanced On the Edge 
Great post! I’m stopping by as I read everyone’s Something Old posts today.
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Thanks Andy. Carnivals are fun, aren’t they? Nice to meet you.
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i love that picture of you! my 10-year-old self wants to be friends with your 10-year-old self. 🙂
i also really enjoy reading about your poetry past. i have little left of mine. i remember writing a rhyming poem about rainbows when i was in 2nd grade. that’s it. maybe there was a leprechaun in it. hmmm. but the poem is nowhere around. and i remember nothing about writing poetry again until college.
what a gift it was that your teacher gave you!
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What a gift and tribute your teacher gave you in typing up those poems of yours. A tribute to the impression your budding poet spirit made on him I would think. I wonder how many teachers hang on to their students work years after they’re gone. And your sister’s sketch is a joy to behold. Such tenderness and intimacy.
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Hi Christine – stopping by as part of the carnival. Thanks for sharing that drawing and your thoughts – I’m touched. And love the photo!
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Yes, it’s so you, you’re so pretty. I love this piece. It says so much, so well. But why didn’t it show up in my googley reader?
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Wow, I am absolutely amazed you still have that poem after all these years! Great post! Happy Freedom to Marry Week!!!
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I love what you have shared. So real. So personal and dear. What a lovely teacher.
You are an inspiration!
I might “borrow” your idea. 🙂 Although I have no poem fragments from my teenage years. They inadvertently got left at an exes house, and are probably ashes long gone.
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My 10-year-old self also wants to be friends with your 10-year-old self – and Carolee’s 10-year-old self and Jo’s 1o-year-old self and Deb’s 10-year-old-self!
What a cutie. Look at that smile, those shining eyes and gorgeous long straight hair.
And I love your poem, your sister’s sketch – and the post.
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Glad you guys liked the pics. My ten year old self is already friends with all of you. I really haven’t changed all that much. I still like to wear pajamas to the drive-in whenever I can.
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love this post! how sweet of your teacher to type your poems. and what a beautiful and talented 10-year old you were/are! thanks for sharing.
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A beautiful natural photo of you as a vibrant ten-yearold, full of promise. Obviously your teacher had the wisdom to support the promise you showed early as a poet. Precious memory! The drawing of you and your husband shows a couple delighted with each other so it really is a timeless image. i loved this sharing! G
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🙂
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I love everything about this post. 🙂 It makes me want to trade “photos of ten year-old selves” and “first poems from childhood” with you. Love this photo, love your poem, love its charming misspelling (I’m hoping my son has a lot of charming misspellings in his future before he nails down all the standards). The drawing your sister did is so, so beautiful and your words about this right, so true.
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Wow what a lovely drawing of you and your husband! So happy, tender, and in love!
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