To Be Harper Lee
What am I thinking? How do I make a dream so big, come true? It's not like I woke up one morning and made the decision that I want to write. I have always "written," well, everyone has "written,” right? But have they wanted to live and be known as a writer?
I have written fictional stories since I was old enough to climb into an over-sized computer chair, cross my legs to give me a few inches closer to the keypad. You know, the grey keypad with the bulging keys? I even somewhat remember what I would write about. Even though I began writing at seven or eight years old, my brain knew imagery and wanted to express it somehow. Anything I wrote, my mama loved. She loves reading anything I write now. She is why I still have confidence in myself today.
I have written fictional stories since I was old enough to climb into an over-sized computer chair, cross my legs to give me a few inches closer to the keypad. You know, the grey keypad with the bulging keys? I even somewhat remember what I would write about. Even though I began writing at seven or eight years old, my brain knew imagery and wanted to express it somehow. Anything I wrote, my mama loved. She loves reading anything I write now. She is why I still have confidence in myself today.
Back in grade school, I would have my notebooks taken from me for not paying attention because I was too into my own world of stories. I didn’t care to see how fast I could do multiplication tables against my other classmates. But what they did not realize is that I was "paying attention" to something.. just not the teacher, who I actually adore to this day, might I add. Sitting at an elementary school desk, I realized that short stories, books, poems, or movies can be better than reality.
Most children in the 90's, early 2000's grew up on Disney movies and that yellow cleaning sponge who was best friends with a starfish... I grew up watching classic movies with meaning. The first movie I remember watching was in black and white -- "To Kill A Mockingbird".. My sweet Granny reminded me that I called it "To Kill A Hummingbird" for the longest time as a child. I visited my Great Aunt Gloria on the coast every summer for weeks at a time. My cousins and I would mount the beams of her bed frame and take a huge jump to get the top half of our bodies on the bed. We'd squirm and wiggle our legs and arms to successfully make our way onto the bed. We would always laugh because my Great Aunt Gloria was in her late 40's, early 50's then, and she had to do the same routine to get into her own bed. We would snuggle together under her hometown woven quilt, have a few snacks and watch that old black and white movie. If I had to choose anyone who inspired me to want to write, I would say Harper Lee.. and my Great Aunt Gloria, too.
To be Harper Lee..
Most children in the 90's, early 2000's grew up on Disney movies and that yellow cleaning sponge who was best friends with a starfish... I grew up watching classic movies with meaning. The first movie I remember watching was in black and white -- "To Kill A Mockingbird".. My sweet Granny reminded me that I called it "To Kill A Hummingbird" for the longest time as a child. I visited my Great Aunt Gloria on the coast every summer for weeks at a time. My cousins and I would mount the beams of her bed frame and take a huge jump to get the top half of our bodies on the bed. We'd squirm and wiggle our legs and arms to successfully make our way onto the bed. We would always laugh because my Great Aunt Gloria was in her late 40's, early 50's then, and she had to do the same routine to get into her own bed. We would snuggle together under her hometown woven quilt, have a few snacks and watch that old black and white movie. If I had to choose anyone who inspired me to want to write, I would say Harper Lee.. and my Great Aunt Gloria, too.
To be Harper Lee..
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