By Charlotte K. Jarmy
The “One” in the title refers to the column I wrote ahead while it was still March, bad habit! Now, because April itself brings other events, I scrapped “April Number One.” Hey - writing is good for the mind and heart, so it’s never a waste.
It seems everyone wears more than one hat. Mine are varied and colorful, used mainly during aqua-aerobics to protect my skin. The ones I really wear with jaunty self-confidence are the teacher’s hat, the writer’s hat and the “esposa” hat as the wife of a student of Spanish and fellow author.
The teacher’s hat pops on when I long to correct the medical staff that tells me to “lay down” or the literary person who confuses “fewer” with “less than.” Happily, I am learning to be more gracious when even college-educated writers use “alright” instead of “all right.” Who knows, my fading memory of teaching days may allow me to overlook “alot,” adored by so many students?
The writer’s hat, sometimes a skullcap, surfaces when I fall back on my less than erudite Yiddish vocabulary.
Howard and I attended a full-day Jack London Writers Conference early in April, but spent the night before in the hotel, considering it a mini vacation.
We saw all the tables in the main dining area and realized we would share the space with approximately 300 others who yearn to become authors as compared to other people who do graphics or play games on their computers. We let it sink in that writing seminars and conferences happen all over the world; the chance that lightning will strike and bring glory to us became a far-off dream. Yet, I think more positively; someone has to win all those lotteries, right? We have a far worthier ambition to use our imagination and amaze readers with our creativity. Uh, huh.
The conference was like a goodie bag, full of the advice and experience of the pros, many successful authors as well as the tantalizing possibilities of a one-on-one with an agent. We lined up eagerly, networking with others, and greeting writers we knew from other meetings.
I had the pleasure of attending a fiction workshop where novelist Ellen Sussman of Los Altos Hills was the instructor. Besides the welcome knowledge she offered, our group was able to share our own experiences and even do some writing. Ellen’s new book, “On a Night Like This,” became her focus as she shared her path to publication.
Another author and prime storyteller, Joel ben Izzy, captured our minds and our hearts with his wonderful comic talent. I bought his signed book and congratulated him on his personal miracle of a recovery from a serious illness.
When the day, filled with knowledge, hope and physical weariness, came to an end, we drove down Highway 101 with much to talk about.
Passover arrives in a few more days. Several years ago, I wrote that I was giving up the overwhelming job of preparing the food and gathering the items for the ritual. However, I discovered last year that we all felt it necessary to continue the tradition and enjoy the spirit of family and friends. We bless the opportunity to be together on this special day in the lives of all of us who value the Ten Commandments.
My third hat? Vaya con Dios.
