Motto

Empowerment through Language...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

I Have Always Adored Signage

The other morning I decided to initiate the practice of daily writing prompts. I had to look something up in the fabulous collection of writing exercises compiled by Behn and Twichell, The Practice of Poetry the day before. I have referenced particular exercises in the book many times and I have it as a recommendation to teachers but I have not approached it as a writer in a long time and certainly not a daily practice. So I decided to go through it and endeavor to complete each exercise while maintaining a daily discipline.

The first exercise in the book is from Ann Lauterbach, called "First Words." Here is the result of that morning's response, quoted verbatim, no edits, just out of the brain:

I remember that I was thrilled to be learning to read. I was barely 5 years old and it made sense to me - the decoding process. The letters were sound symbols and I was deciphering those legends to make patterns that translated into thought and understanding. It was incredible.

I was driving with Daddy out Teall Avenue from the Rugby Apartments in his little maroon bubble of a 1960 vintage Saab with the gray scratchy wool covered bucket seats. I loved my dad. My mom had married him when I was 4 and it was so much fun to have a dad who laughed and hugged, so completely different from the austere, demanding chisel of stone my mother had divorced. So we were off somewhere together, just the two of us in the little bubble car, turning from Teall Avenue onto the cut-over street towards GM Circle when I saw approximately five words on a billboard that opened up to my young mind like a treasure chest. I read them out loud like a chant. Daddy was so surprised. So was I...and thrilled. I understood that something was very different in my life. I had discovered a form of freedom I had never known. It was so marvelous. I tried another billboard, the names of businesses on the buildings we passed. I don't know if he was being driven nuts by my verbal outbursts or if he was amused. Perhaps he was somewhat overwhelmed by bearing witness to this unfolding miracle that the capacity of my brain was expressing. He was very new to fatherhood, having now an infant and a child ready for kindergarten at the same time. I bet he felt overwhelmed by it all.

I also figure that his love was so strong that the fear was overridden by joy for the family he now had, the family to which he was responsible. One small reward, driving with a curly headed laughing girl blurting out the words of each billboard like they were scripture...and this was his alone to witness.

My father would be 85 years old this August 22nd, were he still with us. Vladimir Popoff was a man of simple needs and tremendous intellect. He was also very funny, deeply loving, and totally honest. I am honored to carry his name and to have been his daughter.

25 comments:

  1. Many thanks to you for support. I should. [url=http://cgi1.ebay.fr/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=acheter_levitra_ici_1euro&acheter-levitra]achat levitra[/url] I consider, that you are mistaken. Write to me in PM.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Excuse me... buy clomid 5 mg http://wiki.answers.com/Q/User:Med-help buy clomid overnight delivery Good luck!

    Good evening! clomid buy online clomid buy online
    buy clomid and nolvadex Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't seen you for weeks. order zithromax single dose uk http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_zithromax_en-us.html order zithromax online Please, thank your sister for me. p

    Hallo! order zithromax without prescription order zithromax 1g oral suspension pack
    order without a prescription zithromax azithromycin A merry Christmas! l

    ReplyDelete
  4. How do you do? order uk diflucan http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_zyrtec_en-us.html order diflucan You're not in a hurry, are you? x

    I would like to speak to you. order uk diflucan order online diflucan
    order diflucan pal pay I'm very much obliged to you. z

    ReplyDelete
  5. on peut combler la lacune ? http://lettresdudroit.com acheter viagra en ligne [url=http://lettresdudroit.com]viagra sur le net[/url]

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry for interrupting you... valtrex cost 150 tablets http://www.asianave.com/valtrex-cost/ valtrex cost cheap online 35009 Good luck!

    Can I have a word with you? valtrex cost cheap online valtrex cost dreampharm from
    valtrex cost cheap ultram Come back soon.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Are you very busy at the moment? valtrex cost http://www.stumbleupon.com/url/tentology.net/buy_valtrex_en-us.html valtrex cost My congratulations to you!

    Can I have a word with you? valtrex cost valtrex cost valtrex cost Come back soon.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm all right. buy clomid http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12526097155 buy clomid Thank you very much.

    Hi! buy clomid buy clomid
    buy clomid So long!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Excuse me...
    buy lasix http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12530350595 buy lasix Thank you very much.

    How's your family?
    buy lasix buy lasix
    buy lasix
    I've enjoyed seeing you

    Sorry for interrupting you...
    buy zithromax http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12529890051 buy zirhromax Here's to you!

    How's your family?
    buy zithromax buy zithromax
    buy zithromax
    All the best!

    ReplyDelete
  10. viagra 100 mg pppnkbnkzw mvozwisoww [url=http://csalamanca.com]la viagra [/url] kbgryybybt fzmpqiaccm comprar viagra pjixbavxnf wdvevjckup

    ReplyDelete
  11. bvcsqq http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379 generic lexapro lyahgt generic lexapro
    jjpqqy [url=http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379]generic lexapro
    [/url] rvnxyt [url]http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389379[/url] generic lexapro


    bpxxvb http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635 cheap levitra vfigvk cheap levitra
    cyhiri [url=http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635]cheap levitra
    [/url] yhaprg [url]http://www.playlist.com/blog/entry/12644389635[/url] cheap levitra

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bravo, votre idГ©e sera utile http://runfr.com/tag/cialis-generique cialis generique cialis

    ReplyDelete
  13. [url=http://italtubi.com/tag/levitra-10-mg/ ]levitra compra [/url] iqLet's Talk su questo argomento. generico

    ReplyDelete
  14. curieusement, mais l'analogue est ? cialis 20mg http://runfr.com/tag/tadalafil acheter cialis en ligne achat cialis

    ReplyDelete
  15. cause http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~buyzithromaxonline buy zithromax online horse buy zithromax online
    rain [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~buyzithromaxonline]buy zithromax online
    [/url] brought

    while http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~orderzithromaxonline order zithromax online children order zithromax online
    plane [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~orderzithromaxonline]order zithromax online
    [/url] help

    ReplyDelete
  16. just http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxforsale/ zithromax for sale book zithromax for sale
    girl [url=http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxforsale/]zithromax for sale
    [/url] large

    world http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxprice zithromax price check zithromax price
    wind [url=http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/zithromaxprice]zithromax price
    [/url] box

    ReplyDelete
  17. river http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale zithromax for sale dog zithromax for sale
    order [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale]zithromax for sale
    [/url] wonder

    hand http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice zithromax price ground zithromax price
    earth [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice]zithromax price
    [/url] pound

    ReplyDelete
  18. sit http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale zithromax for sale black zithromax for sale
    sit [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxforsale]zithromax for sale
    [/url] hour

    example http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice zithromax price often zithromax price
    minute [url=http://wiki.openqa.org/display/~zithromaxprice]zithromax price
    [/url] east

    ReplyDelete
  19. [url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Buy-CEFUROXIME/]Order Online Ceftin Cheap
    Buy Ceftin Cheapest
    best price for ceftin 50ml
    Buy Ceftin Pay Cod
    Ceftin Drug No Prescription
    Online pharmacy Ceftin price
    Buy Generic Ceftin No Prescription
    Order Ceftin Generic
    Buy Ceftin Without A Rx
    Online pharmacy Ceftin price
    Ceftin Min Price
    Buy Ceftin Canada Pharmacy Online
    Buy Cheap Ceftin On Line
    No Rx Ceftin
    Purchase Ceftin Uk Delivery
    [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  20. [url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Buy-CEFUROXIME/]Generic Ceftin Uk
    No Prescriptions Needed For Ceftin
    Buy No Prescription Ceftin
    order Ceftin overnight
    Take No Prescription Ceftin
    Buy Generic Ceftin No Prescription
    Prescription Ceftin
    Cheap Ceftin Usa
    Ceftin discount
    Ceftin Free Overnight Fedex Delivery
    online pharmacy ceftin
    Order Ceftin Without Prescription From Us Pharmacy
    Ceftin Free Saturday Delivery
    what is ceftin prescribed for
    Ceftin Prescription From Doctors Online
    [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  21. gorgeous college lesbians angelina jolie lesbian gia clip lesbian asslicking videos lesbian chic cikita lesbian french lesbian tubes barely legal lesbian

    ReplyDelete
  22. [url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Buy-CEFUROXIME/]Ceftin Prescription
    Buy Ceftin Online No Membership
    Non Prescription Cheap Ceftin
    Where Buy Ceftin
    Purchase Ceftin No Prescription
    expired ceftin dangers
    Buy No Prescription Ceftin
    Genaric Buy Ceftin Online
    Ceftin Non Prescription For Next Day Delivery
    Ceftin Pharmacy Store
    Buy Ceftin Sales Online
    Ceftin By Cod
    spectrum ceftin
    picture of ceftin tablet
    Ceftin Doctor
    [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  23. [url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Buy-CEFUROXIME/]Buy Overnight Delivery Cheap Ceftin
    Buy Generic Ceftin No Prescription
    Buy Brand Ceftin Usa Online Pharmacy
    Tablets Buy Ceftin
    ear ceftin otitis media
    El Ceftin Generico
    Order Online Ceftin Cheap
    cheap Ceftin online
    Ceftin pharmacy
    gemfibrozil and ceftin
    Ceftin Cheap Mexican
    information on the drug ceftin
    Order Cheap Ceftin Online
    order Ceftin online
    Purchase Cheap Ceftin Online
    [/url]

    ReplyDelete
  24. A mio parere, si sono errati. Io propongo di discuterne. Scrivere a me in PM. [url=http://lacasadicavour.com/tag/cialis/ ]cialis acquisto [/url]Congratulazioni, la tua idea brillantemente vendita cialis online Mi dispiace, ma, a mio parere, si fanno errori. Dobbiamo discutere. Scrivere a me in PM.

    ReplyDelete
  25. http://forum.wanitajelita.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14988&p=20522
    http://www.revivegamers.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=88805&p=118958
    http://www.q8warez.net/wrz/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46460&p=58567

    ReplyDelete

Please share your thoughts and reflections. To avoid spam, I moderate all comments and will only post relevant comments by humans who read this blog.