Slice of Life 2026: 15 of 31- Old friends and shared wavelengths

In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

After a catch-up walk, we sat down at the restaurant. We'd met earlier than planned because we both had afternoon commitments that bordered our long-standing date, and I was proud of us for both holding firm with the carved out time. As we had walked, we'd realized that it had been over a year since we'd seen each other, and K is one of my dearest and oldest friends. In an earlier post, I reflected on time. No, time isn't fast, and it isn't slow. It's always the same. It's the pace of my life that makes it feel different. 

In any case, I glanced at the menu and made a quick decision. I was hungry, and a burger sounded great. K. muttered something about a salad, and we went back to life catch up. We had a lot to cover. Even though we don't talk as much as we should, time and distance haven't gotten in the way of our wavelengths. Our lives have so many parallels, and it's joyful to spend time together. Old friends have a way of picking right up from wherever we left off. 

The waiter came over. "We have a few specials," he said. 

As he went through the shrimp soup, quiche of the day, and omelette ingredients, I stayed true to my burger plan. And then he described the salmon burger. 

"I'll have that," I said. 

"Me, too," K. said. 

Of course she would. 

Old friends and shared wavelengths. 

Slice of Life 2026: 14 of 31- Late Night Pickleball

 In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

"How about one more game?" Lexi asked. "I'm rounding up the Meehan girls."

 It was after ten on a Friday night, and Lexi and I had just finished playing one last game. Clare and Cecily were hanging out with other team members, shoes off, ready to go home. I stayed on the court as Lexi approached them with her charm. I knew they wouldn't be able to resist. Lexi is a few years older than they are, and she has especially taken Cecily under her wing. She's Cecily's favorite person to play with. 

"They're in," Lexi said. "They're lacing back up. We're taking them on."

The match started, and Lexi and I surged off to a hefty start. On the other side of the court, Clare and Cecily weren't smiling. In fact, they might have been frowning and rolling their eyes. 

"Are they okay?" Lexi asked. "They look like they're going to kill each other." 

I wondered if Lexi had a sister. 

"They're fine," I said. 

We won another point. 

The storm clouds got lower and grayer on the other side. 

"Should we just call this?" Lexi asked. "We don't have to play."

"Nah," I said. "They'll work it out." 

When we changed sides, Lexi and I were ahead 11-6, needing to get to 21. 

"Let's finish this off," she said to me. 

On the other side of the court, the girls were conferring. I didn't need to ask them what they were saying. Have I mentioned that Lexi is a VERY good pickleball player. 

Play Mom, I could almost hear them saying. All balls go to Mom. 

For the next several points, a lot of balls came to me, and a lot of points went to them. #wellplayed

The mood got a little lighter, even though the time got a little later. 

And at the end of the match, they were on the winning side.

"One more match?" I joked. 

NO way. 

As a mom, I'm proud of these women. If I'm going to lose to anyone, I love losing to them. 

Slice of Life 2026: 13 of 31- Degree Appreciation

In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

I had already done the "what did I forget" inventory and noted a couple of key things (cash and business cards... I could live without them), but I didn't realize I'd forgotten deodorant until I went to get dressed. What an imperfect thing to forget given the fact that I was presenting in the afternoon. I'd definitely need some. 

At the front desk, I asked the woman where the nearest store was where I could buy some deodorant. 

"I got you, honey," she said, handing me a small container of Degree. 

Crisis averted. 

Then, I headed across the street to the convention center. The stream of people were a 50/50 split of men and women, and everyone was in business casual- first clue that I wasn't in the right place. And then the banners were touting a pharmaceutical company. Clue #2. 

I looked around for someone who worked there. Worker #1 didn't seem to speak English. Worker #2 had no idea where the Plain Talk teacher conference was. 

Thank goodness for that hotel lady and Degree. 

I called Dan, the only person I knew at this conference. 

"Where is this?" I asked. 

He laughed and explained where I had to go. It turns out that the New Orleans Convention Center is really big, and it hosts several conferences at a time. Noted. 

The rest of the day went without Degree-testing moments, and I was happy to toast the day with Patty McGee who arrived around five after a much more harrowing travel experience than I'd had. 

Slice of Life 2026: 12 of 31- Airport Anxiety

 In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

Travel days have a way of heightening any anxiety I may already be feeling. #airportanxiety

Cecily drove me to the airport, and I spent the first few miles mentally reviewing what I'd packed and what I'd forgotten for quick trip to New Orleans. I'm presenting on my new book, and guess what I forgot? A copy of my new book. That's okay. Corwin will be there. I can get a copy. And this conference allows ZERO self-promotion any way. I also forgot cash. That's okay. Venmo covers tips these days, and I shouldn't really need any cash. It's sort of a security blanket these days. 

Still that naggy forgetting feeling... 

I arrived at the airport with plenty of time since my mother had been sharing dire reports about long lines at security. I whizzed through the TSA line, and I even knew to let them know about my titanium knee, so we didn't waste time with me setting off the walk-through alarm. I went straight to the spinny thing and placed my feet in the yellow footprints. 

Once inside the airport, I debated wine or coffee. Wine sounded great, but I had a lot of work to do. I got coffee and treated myself to an iced lemon cake since I'd made the better decision. 

I found myself an end seat in the airport with a plug next to it, and I placed my backpack strategically next to me to discourage anyone from sitting too close to me. (Apologies if you're reading this and wanted that seat!) Then, I finished the reports I had to do, wrote a bunch of emails, scheduled some slice calls... thanks Starbucks! (A better choice, right?)

Anxiety diminished until a lady with a cough sat down next to my backpack. Traveling. Tough to have a relaxing travel day. 

Slice of Life 2026: 11 of 31- Dinner...Delivered

 n March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

I'm not very good at saying no. 

On Tuesdays, I have a pretty full tutoring line-up. I have a 2:30 student, a 3:30 student, a 4:30 student, and a 5:45 student, all in person. When I made that schedule, I figured I could use the bathroom at 5:35. So far, that is working out for me. 

Every other Tuesday, I have a California client. It might be late for me, but for her, 7 ET is the perfect starting time, so Tuesdays, as planned finish up around 8. 

Except when I get an unexpected text from a parent. 

Remember, I'm not very good at saying no. And I also love these twin girls. 

Garth was already on dinner-making duty, planning to have a burger ready for me when I got home late. I texted him. 

I wasn't positive about his meaning with Ok, and I didn't have time to clarify it. Was it "Ok" to being late? Or "Ok" to bringing me dinner. My office is 18 minutes away, so it's not a small request. Just as I was finishing up with my California girl, he walked in and set a plate down on my table. (I should have snapped a picture for a slice, but I think I was too hungry at that point.) 

Luckily, Garth isn't good at saying no either. :)

Slice of Life 2026: 10 of 31- An early publishing explanation

In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

Perhaps this slice will help some things make sense to some readers... 

As planned, I made it to the car service place only two minutes late. I knew I'd packed in a lot for the morning, so I was pretty proud of myself for my almost-timeliness. Then, I made sure to gather everything I'd need for my 60-90 minute wait. I had a list of all I'd accompllish during that time. With the car checked in, I found myself a seat, pulled out my laptop, and logged in using the dealership's wifi. I was feeling pretty competent. 

First on the list... getting the calls for slices written up and scheduled for the remainder of my hosting days. (There's a fair amount that goes on behind the scenes, and I did not want to be the reason anything goes less than smoothly!) I checked the calendar to make sure I knew how many days. Got it. 

Then I started going through the posting checklist. Fonts set? Yes. All components included? Yes. Featured image? Hmm-hmmm. Blurb, title, reread... done, done, done. Time to schedule for publish. 

When I went to do that, I hit publish, expecting the calendar to set the date and time. 

Post published, the screen read. Your post is now live. 

*&^%$%^.    *&^%$%^.        *&^%$%^!!!

You can all be impressed that the last line I wrote representing the words I was saying stayed as inside voices. I might have startled some people. 

I scrambled with the post and the keyboard, wrestling through the correct screens and magic formulas to haul that post back into draft form and get it scheduled for 12:01 am TOMORROW. 

And... my inbox merrily let me know about a new TWT post, as did a few other messages, calls, and emails since. So yes, my slice for the day. Sorry everyone!! 

Slice of Life 2026: 9 of 31- A Book Giveaway

In March, Two Writing Teachers hosts the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Everyone is welcome to share writing and comment on others in this special community. 

On Saturday morning, I arrived at the Lansing Convention Center, excited and ready to present at the Michigan Reading Association Conference. Way back when, when I'd agreed to head to Lansing, March 7 felt like a long way away. Time is like that. 

I'd promised myself that I'd remember to take pictures. I didn't do a very good job, and this is the only one I took. When I thought about it more, I realized that I have always presented with other people. We take pictures of the group of us together. It was strange to present by myself. 

Throughout the presentation, I worried about the time. An hour goes by fast when you're trying to fit everything in, and you know there's too much for the number of minutes. Again time is like that. It takes forever when you're waiting for something special to happen, and it flies by when there aren't enough minutes. How is that one minute is the same amount of time regardless of what is happening? 

Since I knew that my new book would not be available to purchase at the conference, I brought a copy with me. After I finished the session, a few people stayed to ask questions and talk about practices. One woman pulled up a picture of her 3 year-old daughter. 

"What do I say to her teacher?" the one whose name I wish I knew asked. 

The teacher had sent a picture of several children hard at work tracing sight words. 

This woman's daughter held a pen in a fist grip. "She has no idea what she's writing," the woman said. "I wish there was more fun happening."

We talked about how hard it can be to be an educator and send your children to school. Of course, there are things you'd do differently or that you wished weren't happening, and yes, tracing words before a grip is mastered could be one of those wish-they-weren't-doings. 

"Your daughter will be fine," I said. "She has you." 

But we both expressed some worries for some of the children who don't have a knowledgeable parent. 

"What can I say to her?" she asked. "Without coming across as the parent who knows everything."

I'd brought one copy of our book, and on an impulse, I handed it to her. 

"Take this," I said. "Tell her you were at a conference, and the presenter gave you a book, and you're sharing it. All true. Maybe she'll find ideas that will benefit your daughter and also other children in the class."

"You're giving this to me?" she asked. 

"I am," I said. 

She gave me a hug and headed off to lunch. Maybe someday I'll know her name.