STRONG Response from a Teacher

A phenomenal response to Rick Perry, from a phenomenal teacher and friend.

Hey folks! I just wanted to share this with everyone. My best friend Josh filmed this today in response to Rick Perry's "Strong" campaign. His words are poignant and gracious. Please share and share alike! Lets take this baby viral! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGsoGpYfkOE

Nash Elementary Assignment

Silly pic of our group

During the semester, we were given an assignment to write for a child in fourth grade at Nash Elementary. After we wrote, we read our piece to a fourth grader and asked for them to give feedback or add to the piece. Here's what I came up with:

What do you dream of when you are awake?

So many shapes your dreams can take.

If you had to choose only one,

Would you choose the shape of the moon or the sun?

Would you ride horses, or be King of the beasts?

Would you dance in the middle of streets?

If you had no rules or cares in the world,

What would your flag look like unfurled?

Susannah and me!

When the dust has settled from all of your fun.

All the calamity of the day is done.

Which door will you slip through to find your escape?

As you arrive into slumbers dreamy landscape.

Will you float into the middle of the ocean?

Carrying along no stress or sad notion.

No worry or burden to limit your float,

No sails, no engine, not even a boat!

Just you, the sea, the moon and the fish,

In the glittery blue, is that your wish?

Gaze as the diamonds dance in the sky.

Go on, dance along, they’re not too high!

Nash group with us!

When all of your dancin’ time is done,

Here comes a train down track 31.

On it you jump without hesitation!

What’s missing? That’s right! Aviation!

In seconds you travel across the sky,

You didn’t know it, but this train can fly!

Away you go, flying through the night.

The sun approaches, the moon says “good night.”

When softly you awaken, refreshed for the day,

Another chance you have to live it your way.

Take with you no worries, sorrows, or concern,

Today is a new day, new journeys, and turns.

The shapes may change, that's ok too.

Which shape is it now, could it be a kazoo?

You are the superhero of the day,

Your mind gives you freedom in every way!

First Day of Creative Writing

I wrote this the first day of creative writing. It's still one of my favorite things I've written. 

 

your life is your life

you cannot take it as you exit

you cannot decide when it will end

choose a succulent life

you can do that

decide that each morning is your first

each evening is your last

sway your hips

dance

love

do it all with abandon

without regret

you can slip into the life of another

if you’d like

make it a good character

do things you’ve only heard of

live in a circle

not a box

nothing goes without cycle

even abrupt exits have fluidity

you can make this choice

you are allowed to-after all

do not recoil or retreat

grab life by its pulse and harness it

you can do that, too

live as if you’re dancing

each issue has a new rhythm

embrace it

change it

adapt to it

make up your own steps

or freestyle

Flash Fiction

This is a piece I wrote in class when asked to take a topic and write without being overly wordy. I believe the assignment asked for us to stay under 100 words... Here is my attempt:

He stands at the head of the class. Mumble. Mumble more. Mumble quieter. Students ask questions. Beige answer given. Eyes heavy. Visions of Mitochondria don't dance in my head. Cellular division? Why do they divide? Are they in this class? Melba toast. Some find it tasty. I find it bland and oppressive. Phagocytosis-good word! Say it again, please? Wait, I think I hear interest? Nope. Beige turned to ecru. Student asks other question. Mumble beige. Mumble Melba toast. This is all so important. Why don't the words enter my brain? They are spoken, life breathed into them, then shaken out like an etch a sketch. More words. More ecru. Eggshell. Nothing exciting. Now we experiment? What livens dry toast? Cinnamon! Nutmeg! Vanilla! NO! Too vibrant. Toast livens toast. White, dry, teeth breaking, toast. To experiment, we get to look at onion. Wow. Be-still my heart. 

Introduction-for Creative Writing Class

Hello! My name is Summer Semmens, and I’m working on this blog for my Creative Writing class. I am a 36 year old, divorced mother who has gone back to school at Tarrant County College in order to better the future myself and my son, Oscar. I look forward to graduating for the first time in May and transferring to a university to study Speech Language Pathology.

I’ve honestly never been in a class that has made me feel more at home and among friends as this one does. I’ve often thought of it as a support group of sorts. That being said, I’ve been asked to discuss why I appreciate the written word as well as what I like about writing. How to begin…

First and foremost, I love reading pieces of work from writers before me. It is an amazing feeling to read words written many moons ago that are just as inspiring, if not more so, than when they were written. Some of my favorite writers are Sylvia Plath, Charles Bukowski, Walt Whitman, Maya Angelou, Tom Robbins, David Sedaris, Jack Kerouac, and countless others. I feel it important to also mention that although these authors are important, equally important are the class members that I have gone through the semester with. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being in class with everyone as well as reading their work. What a fantastic group of individuals I’ve been lucky enough to stumble upon! Professor Tricia Barker has been one of us throughout the semester. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we gather in a circle and either write or discuss writing. Professor Barker has made a point of doing each assignment she has given us. What an inspiration she has been for all of us! Professor Barker, thank you!!! You’ve reintroduced me to amazing literature that I’ve let take a backseat in life. Thank you so much for rekindling my love of literature!

I am going to add a few pieces that I’ve written in class. Please feel free to let me know what you think! Good or bad, it’s all relative!

Thank you for reading!

Summer Semmens

Father's Day

Fathers...

I've thought a lot about father's day this year... My birth father has been in my life for almost a year and I'm so grateful. Getting to know my father, stepmother, sisters, and the rest of the pack has been a growing experience for everyone involved. I give many thanks for this and look forward to much more of it as life continues. I'd always hoped that Oscar would get to know his other grandfather, and my hope came true. It's been better than I could have imagined. I love you so much Dad.

Dad and me, Felix's birthday dinner

Dad and Oscar

Oscar and G-Diddy=<3

Thankfully, I've always had my Godfather, Paul Lewis, for a father figure and positive male role model. He's been there my entire life. He's seen me through marriage, the birth and death of my first son, the birth and life of my second son, the dissolve of my marriage, and the rebirth of my existence. On my last birthday, he told me not once, but twice how proud he is of me.Possibly one of the best gifts I could have ever received... I can't think of my Godfather without beaming with pride. I will always admire and respect him as well as be eternally grateful for his presence in my life. Oscar and I wouldn't be complete without G-Diddy. When I was little, I would stay with Uncle Paul a lot  when he lived in Fort Worth-he would let me watch Grease until I was tired of it, and then watch it some more. When I turned 20, he told me to meet him for lunch, we had reservations and couldn't be late! I drove out to Dallas to meet with Uncle Paul, Kenneth, John Paul, and Billie-quite a fun group to lunch with! We started driving toward the airport... I had no clue what was in store-but off on a plane to San Antonio we all went! It was a surprise trip that I will never forget. We've been through many up's and down's together, and having him as a constant in my life has made all the difference in the world. Uncle Paul, I appreciate and love you from the bottom of my heart. You are so important to us.

Oscar and G-Diddy, AKA Uncle Paul-my 35th Birthday

G-Diddy, Mimi, and NuNana-Oscar's 7th birthday

Thank you to all of the awesome papa's in the world... You make such a difference. To all of you mother's out there (like mine) who've acted as mother and father for your children-thank you too. Your strength and capacity to take on the world of raising children while wearing many hats is awe-inspiring. Happy Father's Day!