Saturday, May 31, 2008

Something I wrote is on page thirty of the summer issue of Teen Ink. A copy of the magazine arrived in the mail today, along with the pen and sticky-pad that the writers get when their work appears in it.

Earlier today I thought abotu stating this information matter-of-factly, as though to incline that I were merely pleased.

Screw modesty. I'm enormously excited. I am, in fact, jubilant, and undoubtedly thrilled.

The title is Unforgotten. If ever you feel interested, check page thirty.

~Emily

Monday, May 26, 2008

We're Off to See the Wizard ...

My mother and I followed a Wizard of Oz parade float through town today. It was a long but fun journey by foot. There was so much activity going on and I ran into some old friends while on the way; many had come out to watch the Memorial Day procession. The music from the Oz float was excurciatingly loud but I clapped to it and could hardly not dance just a little to Follow the Yellow Brick Road and the like. We followed the entire parade to the very end because we wanted to see Jack (almost eleven) and William (almost seven) on the float ... they're getting ready to do a play in June, and Jack was all dressed up in a plaid shirt and straw hat as Uncle Henry, while William wore baggy a baggy pinstriped vest and trousers and had his cheeks painted blue. He is a Tough-Guy Munchkin -- one who represents the Lollipop Guild.

I am unashamed to confess that I wanted to cry watching little William, since it was such a thrilling event and he was a part of it and he will remember it for the rest of his life ... and I know he will! My mother and I were astonished and delighted to hear one man's story of how his forty-year-old son was a Flying Monkey so many years ago.

There was a news crew there too, so we're keeping our eyes on channel ten.

Dorothy and The Cowardly Lion and The Scarecrow and The Tin Man all skipped ahead and waved to the spectators. Some of the kids on the float pelted candy at them. Being so near, I got hit more than once.

There was also a float full of people dressed as colonial figures, as well as a Democratic Party float and a Republican Party float.

I think this post may possibly sound vague or forced, but that's because Jack is watching The Even Stevens Movie at one end of the family room and William is watching Zathura at the other, and it's a small room.

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day as well!

~Emily