Her Story
Question from a 4th grade history quiz: Why did Washington cross the Delaware?
Answer I filled in the blank with: To get to the other side.
I was terrible at history. I could not tell a Roman Republic
from a Roman Empire—apparently this is very
important and, yes, I flunked this quiz also.
Yet I was able to imagine history. Not like an abstract timeline,
but the story in history.
I could close my eyes and see the cave-dark origins of the
Neanderthal, see the women walking on the prairie behind wagons into canyons of
deep unknown. I saw the Little House on the Prairie! I played with Laura and
Mary—and prayed with them when Jack their dog went missing. I was with
Hemingway in the Italian Alps fighting and falling in love, over and over
again, in Paris and Pamplona,
Cuba and Key West.
I can tell you stories. Right now I’m working on a revision
of a YA historical novel where I’m trying to make it as authentic as possible.
Hang in there with me as I’ve been slow these past months on
posting at the blog.
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