My next project

On Wednesday, I spoke to what I think will be the last group that selected my book to read this month. It was a group of retired teachers and they seem very engaged. Another highlight was speaking to the Sangamo Club Literary Circle two weeks ago. But now it's time to go on to something else.

For my next project, I had decided that I would write a historical fiction novel based on the Sangamon Ordnance Plant during World War II. My friend, Twila, had worked at the plant during the war, and I went with my mom last summer to visit what's left east of Illiopolis. The underground bunkers covered with grass really captured my imagination, but I have this niggling fear that there may not be enough material to make a book. Since Twila has gone to a nursing home, I really haven't been to see her much, and I thought that her experiences would be a good basis for a book.

Another idea came from gathering some historical material at work last week. It was really fun and I had a chance to talk to Bob Bunn. I know that my boss has suggested that I might be helpful in coordinating a museum, but my interest really lies in writing a book about the family and company history. I think that I have earned the trust of the family, so maybe this could be a good way to remain engaged with out actually being in the office.

I still don't know how much I can work while trying to draw disability benefits, so I need to find this out. Somehow I feel that God is working to provide a new path for me.

Why I mentor

On and off for the last three years I've been mentoring a child at the local school district. I started out at a school on the East side, mentoring fifth-graders. It was an old-school and had a tricky set of steps to get out before entering. I had a different girl each year that I mentored, and the last girl wanted me to go outside and watched her jump rope every time I came. I just didn't feel like it mattered much or that my visits made much of a difference.

Last year, I decided to volunteer at a different school, one closer to my work and one that I could enter without going up steps. Accessibility is very important. I kind of had the mentoring thing figured out after having done it for a couple of years. The guidance counselor at the school matched me up with a girl who the counselor felt needed the extra attention. I began to meet with the girl over her lunch hour once a week.

I have really enjoyed forming a relationship with Maddy. When I started meeting with her, she was in first grade, and it was a challenge to try to find a place to meet with her. The school is so packed, there is nowhere for the mentors to go. We met at her classroom, but I felt like her teacher needed that time to herself. We met in an empty room, in the reading lab, and even on the stage in the gym. When it was nice, we sat on a bench outside the school to eat our lunches. Slowly, I began to get to know her and she began to get to know me. Now, midway through the second year that we have been meeting, she runs up to me and gives me a hug when she sees me coming to the lunchroom. That makes it so worthwhile to me.

I admit, I'm not a very emotional person, and that has hindered me in forming relationships. But Maddy seems to be forgiving, maybe because she really needs to have people who care about her. As I was leaving today, one of the lunch ladies stopped me and said. "You know, Maddy really looks forward to you coming." I told her that I got a lot out of the meetings as well, and it was true. It was a hassle to leave work today, go out into the rain, and go over to the school. But it was worth it to sit in the empty speech room, playing Uno with Maddy, seeing that it was probably a high point in her day. Maybe in mine too.

Maddy