Memory Lane
- Posted on September 13, 2016
Last night I was involved in a project that led to a stroll down memory lane. I have been working on a story for a couple of months now and I am currently working on a chapter that incorporates a memory from my 6th grade social studies project. This project involved some sort of writing and then a piece of art work to compliment it. I don’t still have a copy of the writing portion but I knew I had the piece of art somewhere in my trunk. I began to dig for it, hoping that the find would help inspire some writing.
Along the treasure hunt path I found many artifacts from my childhood, including class pictures, report cards, little keepsakes and do-dads, and notes my friends and I passed in class from high school. And then I found it! The picture I drew in 6th grade! My mother was an artist and helped me with my project. She gave me a Learn to Draw book by Jon Gnagy. She patiently worked on each step with me, making sure I had the technique down. I was not a natural artist and drawing was difficult for me. The final picture looked overwhelming to produce and I didn’t think I could accomplish it. But she showed me how the book broke the big picture down in small steps and encouraged me that I could handle it.
We proceeded even with my lack of faith, but as the drawing progressed I saw it coming together. I realized the tiny intricacies all formed the big complicated picture one step at a time. I was amazed at the result! I did this! I was proud of myself and mom was proud of me too.
I was so excited to hand it in. I was sure to get a good grade. I remember the picture complementing whatever it was that I wrote very well. But when the teacher handed it back to me, the grade was an F. I was incredulous. I welled up with tears. She said to stay after class so she could speak to me. I was sick to my stomach. She thought I cheated. She didn’t believe that I drew the picture! I told her my mother showed me how but she insisted that my mother must have drawn it for me. She was going to call her but as it turns out she was bluffing. I don’t really remember much after. It was an end of year project so I didn’t really have that teacher again and she never apologized for basically calling me a liar. I don’t think I ever picked up a pencil again.
Last night I was involved in a project that led to a stroll down memory lane. I have been working on a story for a couple of months now and I am currently working on a chapter that incorporates a memory from my 6th grade social studies project. This project involved some sort of writing…