PROMPT/LIFE LINE

“You Did It, Girl!”

A Moment of success

When students penned their problems to “Abby” they were really writing to me.

My first success on my never-ending quest to write and publish and share my views was to be chosen the local ‘dear Abby’ for my middle school so many years ago.

“Little, skinny me”, too tall, thin and awkward, all elbows and knees,

I had discovered a way to stay invisible but let my words shine through:

I had been chosen to be the voice of the school columnist.

I learned to listen to others, to their words they voiced and the undercurrent of words still hidden and then I responded.

“Dear Abby” for middle school dealt with problems of braces, changing friends or schools, new clubs to join, which person to date, why can’t I get a date? typical problems so trivial, but so very pressing for a thirteen year old

And the title had been passed to me.

I smile when I remember my skinny self typing away to solve the world’s problems. All anonymous, of course. My first real accomplishment.

It helped me to believe I had something to offer.