Writing

Then and Now: 50 Memories That Still Shine

Posted by lenleatherwood on

Family & Parenting

  1. Having all three of my babies at home with a midwife, my best friend, Patricia, and Ray.
  2. Watching my daughters graduate from USC and UCLA.
  3. Seeing Sarah graduate from medical school and her residency program.
  4. Seeing Liz graduate from law school.
  5. Seeing Rachael graduate with a Master’s in English Literature.
  6. Watching my granddaughters Luna and Lyla born as well as my grandson, Ethan.
  7. Seeing baby Nico immediately after Sarah’s C-section.
  8. Watching Sarah and Elizabeth marry men they love, Gregorio and Ron, and seeing how devoted Rachael is to her life partner, Andrew.
  9. Talking with my mother.
  10. Spending time with my grandkids in Pasadena and Ojai, or when the family is together in Utah or Mexico.

Childhood & Youthful Memories

  1. Riding my big red tricycle up and down the sidewalk on East 9th Street.
  2. Snuggling with my mom in bed, reading.
  3. Riding with my dad in the pickup to feed the cows.
  4. Falling in love for the first time with my high school sweetheart.
  5. Being a member of a Sweepstakes band in high school.
  6. Winning a slot as a twirler as a senior in high school and being part of a twirling trio that went all the way to State and won all 1s.
  7. Sneaking out with my girlfriends in high school and riding around town in my VW.
  8. Pouring out my heart to my beloved Lorene, our housekeeper, and my extra mother.

Education & Career

  1. Being part of the “Free Curriculum” program at the University of Utah and designing my own college curriculum.
  2. Working as a psychotherapist on a psych unit and at a community mental health center.
  3. Running the PTA parent education program for the Beverly Hills School District for 15 years and receiving the highest award in PTA for running those parenting programs.
  4. Becoming part of Story Circle Network back in 2008 and serving as the president of the board for four years.
  5. Presenting workshops at the Story Circle Network national writing conferences.
  6. Becoming the online writing classes coordinator for Story Circle Network and also teaching hundreds of wonderful students through SCN.
  7. Working with my private writing students to win regional and national writing awards through the Scholastic Artists and Writers Contest and/or helping them get into their first-choice colleges and graduate schools.

Writing & Creativity

  1. Writing over 50 memoir pieces for Nerdnosh and reconnecting with old friends from my hometown.
  2. Having my memoir pieces and short stories published in literary journals and anthologies.
  3. Having one of my short stories and one of my personal essays nominated for a Pushcart Prize (the best of the small presses).
  4. Being a member of John Rechy’s weekly Masterclass in writing.
  5. Starting my 20 Minutes a Day blog back in 2012.
  6. Being honored at Carnegie Hall as a writing teacher through the Alliance of Artists and Writers.

Music & Singing

  1. Singing hymns at church on the back row with my friends at Holy Trinity, Bonham.
  2. Singing with the St. Thomas the Apostle choir.
  3. Singing with the Los Angeles Camarata at Carnegie Hall.

Faith & Service

  1. Serving as Rector’s Warden, on the Vestry, and as an acolyte at St. Thomas the Apostle, Hollywood.
  2. Cooking breakfast for the homeless for over 20 years.

Adventures & Travel

  1. Traveling in Europe alone for a month when I was 19 after spending time with brothers Sam and John in Italy.
  2. Living and working in Italy with my friend Nick for a year when I was 22-23 and spending time with my brother John.
  3. Vacationing in Paris, London, and Barcelona with Ray and my family.
  4. Leading three international writing workshops and sightseeing trips to Italy with 40+ people each.
  5. Discovering the joys of hiking and camping with my sister Leslie and her family while in college in Utah.

Home, Heritage & Restoration

  1. Spending time at our orange grove in Ojai.
  2. Being part of three Victorian house restorations headed by Ray and enjoying those beautiful homes.

Business & Entrepreneurship

  1. Selling antique décor to the Chili’s chain.
  2. Buying and selling antiques at Canton, Dallas Fair Park, and Brimfield, Mass.

Love & Marriage

  1. Marrying Ray Beaty.
  2. Celebrating 44 years of marriage with a man who is my best friend.

Life’s Challenges & Deep Connections

  1. Moving to Los Angeles to be near my brother Jim through his dying process.
  2. Visiting and laughing with close family and friends.
  3. Being awarded the Crucis Cross at Camp Crucis (Episcopal church camp) when I was 12 after spending that camp session with my brother George.

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Published by lenleatherwood

I am a native Texan who has lived for the past 30 years in Southern California. I am a published author of both short memoir and fiction, a two-time Pushcart nominee, a nationally award-winning writing coach, an editor, as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. In addition, I am the mother of three grown daughters of whom I am extremely proud, a grandmother of four darling children and the wife of a man I still love after 44 years.

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