Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 Day 16

Today, March 16th, 2020, I’m participating in Two Writing Teachers’ Slice of Life Story Challenge.

I closed the glass-paneled door gently behind me and started down toward the water.  A slight breeze reminded me that I might be underdressed.  “Yes,” it said, “it is a clear sunny day, but don’t forget. . . it is March.”  Oh well, this time outside would be short, I thought.  Just a short walk to the water, a short break from the kids.  I’ll be fine.

I held my phone close to my ear and slowly meandered toward the lazy river that runs behind my house.  On the other end of the line, I listened as one of my oldest and dearest friends recounted stories, catching me up on his life: As a principal, he will still go to work, even though his school is closed.  His daughter remains in Europe, and this worries him.  Stockpiling toilet paper is an issue. And other things. I caught him up a little on my life, too.

Standing on my dock now, I gazed out at the dark water slowly flowing by.  It reminded me of time.  Barely moving. Hard to discern the passage.  I thought about how long it had been since I had spoken with my friend.  Weeks?  Months?  How is that possible?  We live on opposite coasts, but still . . .

Turning my back on the water, I slowly made my way back toward the house.  It felt good to connect with an old friend.  Even if only for a short bit.  It felt good.

Author: Lanny Ball

For more than 29 years, Lanny has taught, coached, presented, staff developed, and consulted within the exciting and enigmatic world of literacy. With unyielding passion and belief in the possibility of workshop teaching, Lanny has worked to support students, teachers, and school administrators around the country in outgrowing themselves as both writers and readers. Working first as a classroom teacher, then as a coach and TCRWP Staff Developer, Lanny is now a literacy specialist, working and living in the great state of Connecticut. Outside of literacy, he enjoys raising his three ambitious young daughters with his wife, and playing the piano. Find him on this blog, as well as on Twitter @LannyBall. Lanny is also a former co-author of a blog dedicated to supporting writing teachers and coaches that maintain classroom writing workshops, twowritingteachers.org.

8 thoughts on “Slice of Life Story Challenge 2020 Day 16”

  1. I also heard from an old friend this weekend. She called to hear my voice and make sure I was still okay, since she’d read that our PA county was on lock down. So, there are some positives to come out of all this uncertainty.

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  3. Like your metaphor of the river to describe time flowing – although it often feels more like a torrential current than a slow meander. Keep going – over halfway there! 🙂

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  5. I was supposed to catch up with old friends this week, our spring break, but those plans are changing rapidly due to social distancing. I will miss those face to face talks, but imagine phone calls will happen instead. Thankful for the technology and infrastructure that exists, allowing us to maintain contact.

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