- January 22, 2009
- 14 Comments
- Alter-ego, Artsy Fartsy, Delusions of Grandeur, General, Skillz
A letter about my skills as a blooming writer and illustrator.
I can’t top what my teacher had to say about me in the early 80′s… just read for yourself:
It’s true. I do have a penchant for creative storytelling… And just for the heck of it, I’d like to mention there is a big difference between telling a story CREATIVELY and LYING. Just wanted to point that out. *ahem*
Now, I don’t expect you to believe the note from my teacher without giving you proof. Here is a story that proves I have always been a muse of the pen… dated November 1981:
I find only one flaw with the letter my teacher wrote to my parents. She failed to mention my stellar printing! If all 9 year olds wrote as lovely as I did at I am certain there would be better handwriting throughout American schools today…
However, she did acknowledge my innate talent for illustration. And after looking through some of my work, I must agree… and…. apparently, my alterego (J-Bling) has had a hand in my self-perception since I was very young:
One thing though. I’ve always struggled with spelling… “angele” Whatever, young Jennyonthespot… In fact, I totally bombed out in the 5th grade at the spelling bee because I forgot about the “T” in “kitchen”. I was also so nervous I could have been another sun for all the hot I felt on that stage…
Guess what was on the back of that picture above… this:
While I felt confident in my angelic status, for some reason I felt it necessary to communicate what I was not. And for the record, I am STILL an Angel… and am still neither a fish nor and animal. Just to be clear.
P.S. I am still a fabulous illustrator as well. True, I have set the crayons aside. I it’s the 2000′s… crayons are a thing of the past. I edit photos. Also, and again…… I am still an ANGEL. The only difference is have traded my halo for a crown, and nixed the Dorothy Hamill haircut.
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14 Responses to “A letter about my skills as a blooming writer and illustrator.”
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You’ll always be MY angele.
But if you WERE a fish….what kind of fish would you be?
My fifth grade spelling bee demise was “thermometer.” I think I got lost amongs the m’s – and the nervousness didn’t help!
How perfectly adorable is that letter from your teacher? You were one of those good kids…me too. Not sure where I went wrong…
Did you have some kind of special connection with turkeys when you were young? Just curious as to why you chose that particular animal for your story…
I think you’re absolutely right about God’s love for the turkey. In fact, I bet in the first drafts of the Bible, Scripture didn’t even talk about fishes and loaves, but turkey and mashed potatoes, and that? That is why God is good!
Jenn (with 2 ns) – I hope I would be a fish that didn’t smell like a fish. Have you smelled a fish. Nasty creatures!
Jen – You did better than me. I might have choked to death on all them letters!
Kathleen – With age comes wisdom, with wisdom comes… Hmmm. I need a cookie. You want a cookie?
Dumblond – Prolly cuzza them feathers. Before my obsession with glitter, I think I had a crush on feathers
Fadkog – Bwahahahaaahahaaaa!!!
At least you’re not an angle.
But if you were you’d be acute angle.
Oh, you’re an animal all right…A PARTY ANIMAL!
It is neat to look back at things you did as a kid, unfortunately, my mom didn’t keep that stuff around. I know I couldn’t draw but I was okay at spelling. My son, in grade 5, just won his school spelling bee and is off to provincials. I wasn’t THAT good at spelling so he didn’t get it from me! Sigh.. another sign he is growing up, too fast! Your kids must think it is neat to see your work from when you were a kid!
i am not a jellyfish
My son has a similar spelling bee experience. He was so nervous he misspelled “collage”. He’s been beating himself up ever since (yesterday). I guess he’ll never forget….
Crayons will never be out of style!
You are so lucky to still have these things. What great memories (and handwriting).