The way it should be

"Am I in the story Gramma?" That's the first question my grandchildren ask when they see me at the computer, or when I get "Tidbits of Time" out at night to read them a true bedtime story from it.

We all want to be center stage!

If we are read to as a young child, we are more cognizant of the importance of the main character. Especially if we identify with that character. It's great fun to be in Gramma's story, but how much more fun, if the child writes a story in which they are that main character. It gives them that wonderful feeling of being somebody special.

My very first recollection of writing a story was coming back to school after summer vacation and my third grade teacher asked us to write about what we did that summer.

As if it was yesterday I remember I wrote about a week at Camp Comfort, up in the soft mountains of Ventura County. I'm nearly eighty now, but because I wrote about that event the details are sharp and clear in my mind. I recorded it for posterity. It is forever etched in the recesses of my brain, to be re-called into any time or space. That week gave me a lifelong love for camping, exploring and tasting the great outdoors.

The Soft sights and smells still linger. An open campfire, marshmallow's roasting on a wire clothes-hanger. The smell of coffee brewing in the morning and the sizzle of bacon frying in a big, black iron skillet. These soft sights and soft sounds are, for the most part, lost to this generation where we use microwave ovens and Mr. Coffee.

When a child writes about themselves and their family, it gives them great feelings of pride and a sense of value. Their self-esteem goes up. I am important. I am loved. I am cared for. Or I was bad and I was sorry. Or, my dog loved me unconditionally. It's not important what it's about, but that it is about them. It is the story of their life and they are unique.

And that is just life, the feelings of children. do you remember your first love? The first love ever? Your first love that you actually loved? Remember that candle light dinner? Or the time you tried dating services? The candle light dinner was it romantic? Or a Candle light dinner from hell?