Mackinaw Sunset

Mackinaw Sunset
Originally uploaded by hickstro.

Sunset over the Straits of Mackinaw

Of the many place that I have witnessed sunsets, one of the most spectacular is over the Straits of Mackinaw. Through the hard work and dedication of my in-laws, we are able to spend many summer weekends at their cottage “up north,” looking out over the straits and enjoying campfires at sunset. They have worked hard over the course of decades to provide a comfortable space, a way to escape the every day pressures of life, and to simply enjoy time in a semi-solitary space with family.

This place holds special memories for my wife, who spent nearly every moment of her childhood summers up here. Now, we come to this place with a slightly different mindset, considering all that is going on in our lives. So, as I think about this picture, and the idea of a place to relax, a place of sanctuary, I am hoping that you all might address a few questions that I have to further my writing.

1. What kind of story would make the most sense to tell? I am interested in talking to my wife about a particular moment that she remembers growing up (a campfire, a hike, playing with friends). What would you most want to know about?
2. Would it make sense to focus in just on the idea of sunset, the changing of days, the passing of time? I don’t know if I can do that (emotionally and mentally) in a skillful manner, but if it seems like something that isn’t cliché and overdone, I would be interested in trying it.

Thanks in advance for your feedback and for continuing to work on this digital writing marathon. As we move into the second week, we will begin thinking about collaborative writing spaces where we can read, respond to, and revise one piece that you want to bring to publication, all together in one program. I am looking forward to working more with all of you.

Responding to Each Others' Writing

Thanks for sharing some initial responses to each others' work through commenting on the blogs. And, although these are somewhat specific to responding to student writing (and using something like Word in the first example), there are a couple of tips in here and here that we might find useful to be reminded of as we give feedback to one another through blog comments.

Remember, it often helps if you, as the writer, ask for specific feedback, too. I have tried to model this with my sunset post.

Please try to give everyone some feedback this weekend if you get a chance between hot dogs, fireworks, and trips to the beach!

Star Wars Room Story: "I Am Your Father"

Ho… Hah.

Deep, dark breathing.

Ho… Hah.

Looking up, I could see the mirrored eyes above me. Peering, leering, as if to prove to me they were alive.

Ho… Hah.

And, then, in the back of my mind, a voice.

“Luke, I am your faaather…”

And, that did it. Although I felt I was as brave as any Jedi knight, the subconscious – or, perhaps, hyperactive – part of my seven-year-old mind soon got the best of me. As I stared above my head, behind the backboard of my bed, those eyes, that mask, looked down on me, a hundred times over. The new Star Wars wallpaper in my room featured many wonderful scenes, including Darth Vader in his full, terrifying glory.

Like many a child, and adult, in the late seventies and early eighties, I too was fascinated by all things Star Wars. My friends and I would pool our collections of action figures, plastic beasts, and galactic starships to reenact the numerous and harrowing adventures of our Star Wars heros. While I was told that I did, in fact, see Star Wars in the theatre at age 3, I definitely remember going to see Empire at seven and, the amazing sights and sounds of everyone’s favorite sci fi epic. Amongst those in attendance that night, mostly my friends and their fathers, there was no bigger fan there than my own dad.

Before my room was remodeled, I was fortunate enough to experience what history has now dubbed the “Star Wars” Christmas. When I went to bed Christmas Eve, I had dreamed of star fighters and light sabers. When I awoke Christmas morning, my dream had come true. And, not only had it come true under yards of ribbon and wrapping paper, but instead as an intergalactic battle – every toy already adultly assembled, every figure out of his box and weapon in hand – taking place under the Chirstmas tree, on the mantle of the fireplace, and throughout the living room. Were there such a thing as the Star Wars Christmas jackpot, my father had spent the entire night before snapping tab As into slot Bs, peeling, placing (and replacing) decals, and making sure that every detail was in order. As he sat in his chair, sipping coffee, I was too excited to see the slight smile on his face, and the shocked expressions coming from my mom and grandparents.

“By golly, he did stay up all night…” they mumbled, but I was too busy to hear.

Of course, the toys were great, but the piece de resistance was the fact that I would soon have my room remodeled in a great Star Wars theme. And, in true dad fashion, there would be no simple border strip of wallpaper over a fresh coat of paint to simply announce my allegiance to the ways of the force. No, there would be, indeed, an entire design to the room. He chose three interplanetary colors – orange, green, and silver – that would be painted in bands around my room, culminating in a gigantic S, shaped in classic Star Wars font. The carpet? Out with the shag, and in with a gray that matched the deck of an imperial starship. Finally, one wall devoted entirely to repeating patterns of Darth Vader, Han Solo and Princess Leia, a skyscape of Cloud City, and other iconic images.

The planning alone must have taken him hours, and the production – with masking tape to mark the lines of paint, tons of wallpaper paste, and many hours of moving plastic armies in and out – must have taken ten times that. Yet, when it was done, I felt as though I was walking into the cockpit of an X-wing, all my figures having a place to call there own as much as I did.

There was something that Obi Wan never told me about my father. Something that I am just now coming to learn as a father myself. When it comes to making one’s children feel special, to feel wanted, and comforted, then you will do anything. And, even though Vader gave me the creeps sometimes, I enjoyed the long hours in that room playing with my empire when my dad couldn’t be there, away on business or tending to other aspects of owning a home and being a good husband. Now, I understand why he spent so much time putting that room together, and why Star Wars meant so much to him.

As Yoda might say, “Because so much to you it means, so much to me it means as well.”

Mission Control: My Star Wars Room

Troy (7 years) and Barry (4 months)
Originally uploaded by hickstro.

As I think about places from my childhood, I remember my room being one of the spots that I enjoyed spending the most time. The Star Wars motif, inspired by my love of the movies (or, was it more my Dad's love of the movies) was from a long time ago, but stayed with me for many, many years.

More soon...

Welcome to RCWP’s 2006 Digital Writing Marathon. This blog will be one of my spaces for writing during the marathon and, as we have many, many workshops this summer, reflecting on those, too.

So, if you found your way here from my email, that’s great. Make a comment, if you like, and please know that you will hear more from me soon.