Slice of Life 2026: 5 of 31- March 4 is a Command

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. 

Words and language intrigue me. Years ago, someone mentioned to me how much they love March 4 because it is the only day of the year that is a command. (Apologies to readers since I write posts a day ahead! You can pretend that today is March 4 and think about the command in spirit.) Ever since learning about the dual meaning of the date, I've made it my business to do things on March 4... maybe give myself a nudge that I might not give myself on other days. 

So, today I: 

• Followed up on emails I sent several weeks ago.
• Called the friend back from a few days ago. 
• Checked in with another friend. 
• Finished and submit a presentation that is due on Friday. 
• Shared a couple of things on social media. 

For whatever reason, these tasks have been looming for me. I'm a list-maker, and I love to cross things off. These tasks are the ones that have kept those lists around. Or they've been the tasks that keep showing up on lists. 

Today is March 4. I'm getting &*^%$^ done. 

Slice of Life 2026: 4 of 31- A Nostalgic Moment

 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 was already percolating a post about last night's shuttle ride when I read Jess Carey's post about ambushed moments, and then I knew I should write about the ride. 

When we got to the designated shuttle pick-up place, so did many other people. When the first shuttle pulled in, there was predictable jockeying and maneuvering to try and get on. (Perhaps more defendable than usual since it was late and many of us were coming in from warm places and Connecticut was... cold!) Garth and I opted out of the elbowing and waited for the next one. And then the next one. 

As I pointed out to him, "There's no rush. Clare's getting the car." 

The stakes were lower for us when it came to getting the car because our adult daughter had landed serendipitously fifteen minutes ahead of us, gotten her bag, and was on her way to claim the car with a photograph of the ticket I'd sent her way. (You may very well read about this moment in time on Clare's blog.)

Garth and I lucked out when the third shuttle pulled up right in front of us, and we were able to get seats while others continued the who's-getting-on game in the line. A family caught my eye and my concern. It was eleven, so late for me, and really late for the two little girls in matching pajama pants and messy ponytails. 

Please let them get on this shuttle, I said out loud. 

If they don't get on, I'm getting off, I didn't say out loud. I wasn't sure how I'd be able to make that happen or if it would be worth it since there were four of them and only two of us. (I'd have made Garth get off, too.)

Luckily, they were the last people on, With only two available seats, the dad wrapped one arm around each girl, and scooped them into his lap, one of each knee. Since they were directly across from me, I could watch them lean into him, lean on each other, and squeeze their plush stuffed animals. 

"Good kids," I said, and Mom smiled. 

I almost said, but didn't have to, to cherish those moments, those feet that didn't quite touch the shuttle floor, those toothless smiles. And I also thought, how lucky am I? My daughter flew in just ahead of us and is claiming the car and driving home with us, and she would probably remember moments like those. Just with a couple of extra daughters. 

In Jess's post, she shares Tracey's comment that every age gets better and better, and, mostly, it has. Every now and then, though, like Jess, a nostalgic moment sneaks in. Matching pajamas, toothless smiles, and sleep-mussed ponytails can do that for me. 

Slice of Life 2026: 3 of 31- Fighting the Gray

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. 

Larkin sent me a funny text last week:

Part of me wanting to respond with a denial. 

What makes you think I've started greying, Larkin? 

My hair is still natural. 

Why, just a few days ago. 

Another part of me wanted to ask about her spelling of that word. Isn't it "graying"?  A quick google search led to the answer that either spelling is acceptable, but one is more English and the other is more common in England, Canada, and Australia. 

And one more part of me was worried. Larkin's closing in on thirty. Has she found a gray (yes, gray with an "a") hair? Redheads are notorious for early graying. 

I gave her a call, and don't worry. The colorless culprit was not from Larkin's head. Apparently, one of her friends is in danger of several sprouting from the one she'd plucked. 

What I will tell her when she needs it, and to all of you who are reading this and DO need it, I've just discovered WOW hair color. Am I the last graying person to know that there's a product to touch up roots when you've pushed the time in between hair salon visits a little too far? 

For some of you, perhaps this slice is worth the read. 

Slice of Life 2026: 2 of 31- Scalloped Toilet Paper

Every 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. 

As this year's SOLSC has launched, I am visiting my aunt and uncle in South Carolina. My aunt is a retired teacher who loved teaching writng, and she is fascinated with the Challenge. (It helps that three of my four daughter who she knows and loves are slicing alongside me throughout the month.)

Today, she has spent the day pointing out possible slices. We saw a sunning alligator... slice of life. She missed a putt... slice of life. I put her club in the wrong place... you guessed it. 

My favorite was when she walked out of her bathroom with a piece of toilet paper. 

"It's a slice of life," she said. "Look, there are scalloped edges on the toilet paper. Who has ever had scalloped edges on the toilet paper before?" 

I can't say I have ever paid attention to the edges of my toilet paper, although my family does have its favorites. #charmin. 

"I couldn't even break it easily," she said. "It doesn't break in a straight line. It's a curved line."

For the rest of the day, any time I had to use the bathroom, I found myself noticing how the toilet paper tore... or didn't. And now, anyone who is reading this post, might pay attention to how their toilet paper tears... or doesn't. 

Slices really do appear throughout the day when you are paying attention and looking for them. 

Gotta love March. 

Slice of Life 2026: 1 of 31- Prepping for March

Every 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. 

Stepping into the space of March 2026, there have been no shortage of slicing moments in February. For the last few weeks, I've been prepping for this month, snapping pictures of moments to remember and fuel my slicing life in case March has a a story draught. 

Living in Connecticut, snow has pounded us; I haven't seen piles this high since I was ten. 

We've had a lot to celebrate as a family. Many of you might know about my book, but its birthday was the same day that one of my girls received acceptance into a competitive doctoral program. 

Competitive pickleball is new to me, and I'm especially grateful to be able to play since last year, my one little word was "heal" , and at this time, I had just gotten a full knee replacement. This year, my one little word is "laugh." I'm looking forward to writing a slice or two about that one! 

My mom's beloved and young dog is having a medical issue. I hope I don't have much to write about that this month. 

Students have won contests, colleagues have reached out, friends have planned milestone birthdays, daughters have debated favorite headshots. The Patriots made it to the Superbowl, and the UConn basketball world continues to dominate (exceot when my husband and daughter go to the game!) Random emails have arrived in my inbox that have made me smile. 

Life is full of memorable moments. I've lost track of how many years it's been since I've documented moments in March. Fifteen? Sixteen? I'm looking forward to the daily pause to pinpoint a moment to relive and share, connecting with a practice and a community that has braided themselves into my life. 

Onward. I'm happy to be here. 

Slice of Life- Olympic Moments as Writing Inspiration

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

  

During the two weeks of the Olympics, I'm a fan. Therefore, I was pretty excited when one of the students I tutor suggested wanting to write about some Olympic moments. How hard could that be? 

I gathered up some clips, and I started giving it a go. What I realized quickly was that capturing a moment in an athlete's life was tricky, especially when I didn't really know some of the key vocabulary. I started with a more complex skiing run, and dialed myself back to the more manageable ski jump, and I decided to write about Paige Jones. In full disclosure, I had to pause the video several times to zoom in on her form and body positioning. I also had to do some on-the-fly (pun intended) research to give some background information about her. 

A group of us have been Zoom-meeting on Thursday evenings in the spirit of being teachers who write. (All are welcome, and if this is something that interests you, send me an email or mention it in the comments. meehanmelanie@gmail.com) I was the "leader" last week, so I gave Olympic writing as an option, and we all agreed that it was hard to do, and great practice for close reading, careful word selection, and expanding a small moment. Anita, Giovanna, and Ana have generously agreed to share their samples. 

So maybe my morning slice will inspire you to bring some Olympic moments into your classroom. If you do, I'd love to hear how it goes! 

Slice of Life- How Lucky am I?

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

  

All four of my daughters share the endearing habit of calling when they are walking somewhere. Or driving. Or experiencing a few moments of nothingness. I will never not be grateful for the random call and the voice on the other end telling me "just checking in and saying hi." And also, I'm not sure that I will ever not worry until  I hear that line and know that all is okay. It really is a check-in. 

Tonight I had to laugh when Cecily, the youngest, checked in on her way home from classes. She has a fifty-minute commute a couple times a week, so someone is sure to hear from her. I was a little surprised to get her call, though, because I'd had a lengthy chat with her earlier in the day on her way to school. 

"You okay?" I asked before I said much else. 

"Oh yes, yes," she assured me. "I just tried a lot of other people first, and no one else could talk or would pick up." 

"Cecily," I said. "Did you really just say that? Way to make a mom feel loved and special."

"No, no," she said, realizing the error of her ways. "I didn't mean it that way."

We laughed. She went on to tell me about her classes and the books her professor was having her read for several miles. I think I got her through a few towns, and who knows... maybe someone else higher on the call ladder was ready to talk to her by then. 

But how lucky am I to have daughters who check in and even feel comfortable enough to admit my standing on the call ladder.

 I'll take it.