Junior High (Middle School) through College the first time

   Writing speeches continued to be an important part of my life. There was not one year from 8th grade

through high school that I did not write a campaign speech for student government.  I always said that

my future was in government. When John Engler heard me speak in 1989, he asked if he could meet

with me to discuss my future in government.   I choose raising children and am so glad that I did.

    One speech did bring a trophy to dust in my old age. I competed in the 1973 Miss Teen Age

Michigan pagent. In my interview speech, they decided that I was the most excited about my leadership

positions. (It was the longest list) So my speech won the Miss Teen Age Leadership award.

Writing and Presenting Speeches: A Sanguine finds the world of writing speeches.

Dale Carnegie's teachings were an important part of my high school and college years!


      From an early age I was expected to attend endless events where my Father was the guest

speaker.  Through hours of wiggling and half listening, I learned that you could make a difference

in the world if you could speak so people really listened to your ideas.

    My first speech has been relived through my friend's voices for years. It was emotional for me but

now I sense it was emotional for them since it is locked in their memories. (sorry to say) We were in

Mr. Schinderle's class at Kellogg Elementary ending our 6th grade year. Next year we would move

onto junior high,  we were long overdue to learn how to give a book report according to Mr.

Schinderle.




           My friends and I were so self-conscious in those years. It was an important time,  we were

each learning about boys, love songs and going steady (for a day if that long). None of us had kissed

a boy but it was all we talked about at slummer parties.

    Mr. Schinderle announced to the class, "Whoever goes first today will get an automatic A!" The only

thing I heard was A! 6th grade book report 1969  To my surprise he called on me. My whole body was

trembling and my mind was racing. With my parent's advice, I had practiced my speech in the

bathroom mirror at least a 100 times. This was different. Mike Earl and Mike Battson, the cutest boys in

the whole 6th grade, were sitting in the front.   I slowly walked to the front of the room. By the looks

on my friend's faces they were waiting with

nervous

tension for their turn. To this day I do not think anyone heard a word I said due to nerves. Of course

Mr. Schinderle was listening and paying attention.  With poise and fake confidence I raced through

my report. As I was nearing my conclusion, the emotions were building inside my mind. Just before the

last sentence, I burst into tears. Sobbing, I finished and went to my seat. But I did get an A!!!

    My 6th grade book report was on the following book.

                                                                   

Seventeenth Summer                          

by Maureen Daly

College-bound Angie Morrow falls in love for the first time in the perennially popular Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly (1942), written while the author was still in college herself. Diary-like entries depict the trials and tribulations of adolescent amour. Ages 12-17

     Years later that book report speech has continuously  haughted me. Two of my friends, Ella Jane

Bell-Greemam and Julie Lawrence Weingartner have repeated the story for every new boy that came

into my life. My husband and children have heard it so many  times and love to use it to put me in my

place.

SURROUNDED BY AMAZING INDIVIDUALS MY ENTIRE LIFE! MY BEGINNINGS!

Amazing individuals in my life!

The Editor Mom

Skylar graduates from Berklee Music School of Boston! 

May I add that she was a self-taught musician no prior training!!!

Dr. Kelli Collins and her proud parents!

    Life as a Mom takes on so many different hats. My life as an editor was continuous and important.

As my children progressed, it seemed that most of the job took place late at night. "Mom, will you look

at my 10 page paper and edit it?" Kelli would say at 11:00 pm.  With only 5 children at home at that 

time, late night was becoming busy. Everyone stayed up later and later. My position as editor moved to

a third shift job. I loved every moment. 

    My favorite part of parenting an writer was during the brainstorming time. Looking back it was some

of my favorite moments, I loved to hear their ideas and watch a simple idea blossom.  What a joy to 

type up the project at about 1:00 am.!!! I was following in my Mother's footsteps only with a computer 

not a typewriter. Those moments added to my appreciation for my Mom's giving so much to my

education!

    Big moments were critiquing Kelli and Sky's college applications. Kelli was going to a small 

California Liberal Arts College in Montecito. The application had at least three essays. The college only

admitted about 400 students with thousands applying. After graduating from Westmont college, Kelli

decided to apply to medical schools.  Wow! That adds an enormous amount of pressure to the editor's

 job!

    Skylar has a way with words. Since a young age, we were all amazed at her vocabulary skills.

The editing job was always a job with Skylar. Many times I had to have my dictionary prepared before

I looked at her paper.  As a sound engineer at Bell's Brewery, she does not spend much time writing

papers. I wish I could go back and edit more of her papers. I would probably advance my vocabulary

no doubt.