On Writing and Words

As early as fourth grade, I began to love words. My teacher often held our faded yellow grammar book with her keys bumping against it as she talked of words. I loved that book, and I loved my teacher’s grammar talks.

One day my sixth grade teacher gave our class a creative writing assignment. We were to pick a phrase from a list of options and then write a story. I chose the phrase: “It rained like cats and dogs.” I interpreted the phrase literally and wrote a funny story about what would happen if the sky filled with raindrops, which were actually cats and dogs. I think he liked the story. I know I loved writing it.

And then my parents, an English professor and a librarian, surrounded me with words. I thought it was normal for families to quote Shakespeare under their breath when faced with a challenge or great joy.

Now that I’m all grown-up, I find myself remembering my childhood love of words and wanting to nurture that love of words in children just as my teachers and parents did for me. Maybe one day someone will say to me, “I am a writer because you helped me love words.”