Slice of Life 2026: 25 of 31- Edgy

 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. 

Over the last several weeks, I've developed a new community  at our local pickleball place. Dill Dinkers (yes, that really is its name!) has become a regular hangout for our family, as we all love to play. It's made me think about how you get to know people. T. has four kids like me, about the same ages as mine, actually closer in age than mine. #crazylikeme.  P. is a little older than I am, and her two daughters are married. One lives in town, and P. takes care of her granddaughter twice a week.  #someday! Y. is in her late thirties, and she's taking a year off from work. #howfun! J. is a retired state police officer and volunteers around the country clearing out natural disaster wreckage with chainsaws and other tools. #grateful. I could go on. 

We find out details about lives in between games and sometimes sitting around, beers in hand after play is done-- sometimes during play. #NotAGreatIdeaButStill...

I was with a few people when someone asked about the sticker on my water bottle. I have two stickers on my water bottle, one that says Dill Dinkers and one that is the cover of my new book. The DD sticker was first, and the main reason I put it on was so that I would stop confusing my water bottle with other people's. And then Maggie, my co-author, gave me a bag of book stickers as a publication present-- one had to go on the other side of my water bottle. They're so pretty, and Larkin helped design the cover, so... for now, the count is two for water bottle stickers. 

"It's the cover of my new book," I said. 

"What's your book?" they all wanted to know. 

Would we like it?

What's it about?
Where can we buy it?

In a group of non-teachers, it a little hard to explain an educational book that's about writing instruction. Maybe P. would appreciate some parts since she could develop her granddaughter's fine motor skills, but probably not a gripping read for any of them. 

I tried to explain it in non-teacher terms when they asked more questions. 

"It's a little edgy in my world of writing instruction," I said. (I'd love to talk about whether anyone who IS in the teaching world thinks this is true.)

"How does that not surprise me?" L. said. 

"Am I edgy?" I asked. 

"In all good ways," she assured me. 

I'm still wondering about that reaction. I know she likes me, so edgy must have positive connotations for her. Or maybe she thought nothing of the comment. I might ask her more about it the next time we play. 

 But, does going for low-percentage shots now and then relate to larger parts of my life? I'm competitive; is competitiveness edgy?  I'll have to think about that more. Thoughts and reflections are welcome!