Whatta week! Life in the Boomer Lane arrived n London on Thursday to spend the week with her daughter, grandson, and son-in-law. As if that weren’t exciting enough, LBL found out on Saturday that from 4000 entries submitted to the NPR short story contest that she entered in January, hers was one of a dozen selected as semi-finalists. There will be several more chosen and then a winner announced. Part of her story was already read aloud on the radio. LBL had posted it back in January, but here it is again:
WHY I’M HERE
My mom has a magnetic force around her. Rootless things fly through the air toward her and land at her feet. Five husbands did, one right after the other. She was fifteen years old when Number One appeared. There’s only one photo of her from back then. She’s got one foot up on the running board of an old pick up truck. She’s got a hand up like she’s trying to shield her eyes. She looks like she’s seeing something off in the distance, something that’s better than anything within reach.
The day she met Arnie, Number One, was one of those days when you swear you can reach out and grab a handful of air, all hot and thick and going nowhere. Arnie’s car broke down on the road that ran alongside the trailer park, just as Ma and her mom were coming back from the store, each carrying a bag of groceries. Arnie stood frowning into his engine, looked up as the women passed and asked the distance to the nearest gas station or garage. According to Ma, he got as far as “Hey ladies, can you tell me how far it is…” and Ma, full of too much humidity and boredom, shot back, “Too far for those fancy shoes to carry you.”
Ma watched him pull his head back and start laughing. The car got fixed, and the next thing my grandma knew was that her daughter seemed to be always getting into that car or getting out of it. Finally, my grandma signed the papers and Ma and Arnie were married. In four months, Arnie was in the Merchant Marines, halfway around the world. Ma carried all his letters in her bathrobe. She cried that she couldn’t hold onto the calls like she could the letters. After about a year, her bathrobe pockets went back to just lint and tissues and in no time at all, the divorce was finalized.
Number Two was Claude, who became the father of Ma’s first child. The others followed so fast it was like they were all lined up inside her, waiting. I belong to Number Three, although by the time I was born, Number Three was long gone. Numbers Four and Five added a few more towns and houses of their own. After awhile, I lost count of all the places we lived.
Ma left Number Five when my grandma died, came back to Cockeysville, sold the trailer and bought a pickup truck. By then, I was the last one at home. We started out for Michigan, got as far as South Bend, Indiana and stayed long enough for me to get a job at the phone company. Ma met Mel, and for the first time ever, she said she’d live with a man but not get married.
It’s a lot of years later and I’ve never left South Bend. Don’t ask me if I like living here; it’s not a question I’ve ever asked myself. It’s just where I am. I’ve been married for 15 years to the same man , and we’ve always lived in the same house. I don’t want to ever think about moving. I told my husband I chose him because he was born in South Bend. And because he’s a locksmith. His job is to make locks for houses where people want to stay put. Or he helps people who have been locked out of their house so they can get back in. I have about 20 extra keys to my house. I always want to be able to get back in.
*****
On Sunday, LBL had breakfast with Ruth, or as she likes to call her, Sunshine. Ruth is the author of the blog Sunshine in London. She makes her adventures in London sound like the most exciting thing a human being could possibly be doing. They talked non-stop for three hours, and LBL didn’t want to leave (turns out, it’s a good thing she did, because she almost made her daughter late for a baby shower). LBL feels like Ruth/Sunshine and LBL are old friends now. They’ll pick up where they left off when LBL is back at the end of June.
So far, a delicious trip in all ways delicious.
The Hipster
March 23, 2011
Wow! Congratulations, fabulous story, continue enjoying your trip, great picture of you and Sunshine (hello, Sunshine!). Here I am, celebrating all of it for you!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Thanks, Hippie! It’s been an exciting week, put into perspective by taking care of my grandson. I’m so happy to be here. Breakfast with Sunshine was great. I leave tomorrow morning. So strange that your comment came up as needing moderation. I don’t think you need any moderation at all.
The Hipster
March 23, 2011
>>I don’t think you need any moderation at all. <<
You may be the only person on the planet who is of that mindset. 🙂
All of my comments have gone to moderation this morning. I am choosing not to take it personally, hoping instead that it has something to do with WordPress being broken last night. Safe travels!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
I stand by my no-moderation opinion. Unless you start voting Republican.
Elly Lou
March 23, 2011
I’m so excited for you I could piddle! You’re a super star! You’re a force of nature. You’re my new hero! And your ass looks great in those jeans, bee tee dubs.
lifeitheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
I could piddle too, although I could piddle anytime night or day. And sometimes I do. But I am thrilled to hear your remarks because you might be one of the funniest people on the planet, so I’m i awe of you. Re the ass thing: I have none, which is the bane of my existence. I could rent out the seat of my jeans.
writerwoman61
March 23, 2011
I’ll send you some of mine, Renée…I have lots of extra! I’m unsure what to write on the customs declaration sticker though…maybe “lard”?
Congrats on making the semi-finals!
I’m so glad you got to meet Sunshine!
Hugs,
Wendy
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
I should do a post about what it’s like to be a woman without a butt, but (nice sound repetition here) it would be too tragic.
Elly Lou
March 25, 2011
Holy crap I’m swooning. And printing this out. And doing the running man because you. complete. me.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
I’ve never had anyone so excited about my having no ass.
Amanda Hoving
March 23, 2011
Congratulations on your story — so exciting! And, it sounds like you are having a wonderful time. Safe travels~
lifeitheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Thanks, Amanda! Yes, it’s been a great visit.
Kathryn McCullough
March 23, 2011
Wow, Renee–this is amazing news! I am so damn excited for you, my friend! The story is fabulous. I remember reading it.
Good God–you must be beside yourself!
Cheering you on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And wondering if there is a vote that we can cast for you?
Hugs,
Kathy
lifeitheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
I don’t know how they choose a winner, but I’m thinking it’s just done by whoever chose the finalists. I have a zillion comments, but they are all mostly people yelling at each other, rather than making comments about my story. Which is pretty darn funny.
planejaner
March 23, 2011
Renee–
wowswer! How exciting and congratulations…and I can see why it was chosen!
SO glad you got to meet and spend time with Sunshine–I love the thought of the two of you yammering on together for hours.
blessings
and best of luck!
jane
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Thanks, Jane! That breakfast makes me want to meet a bunch of wonderful, amazing bloggers who I have been following. Ah, what a great time we would all have!
jacquelincangro
March 23, 2011
I followed Sunshine’s link to your site and was happy to come across this post.
Congratulations on being one of the NPR finalists. Clearly it is well deserved – this excerpt is wonderful! Good luck!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Thanks for visiting Life in the Boomer Lane and for your comments!
omawarisan
March 23, 2011
Congrats! That story belongs at the top of the heap. I went to the NPR site and listened to Susan Stamberg read the excerpt. Hope they let you know when it was going on the air.
I have a question about the photo of you and Sunshine. There’s a squggly line in the road behind you; are cars and trucks required to follow that? If so, I’m going to have to move London farther down on my must see list.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Gosh, thanks! If you read all the comments, it’s really hilarious. Very few people actually address my story. Mostly they are arguing with each other over the definition of “humor” or “joke.” Hilarious comment about the squiggly lines on the street. My son-in-law tells me it’s to say “no parking.” But it must also really f–k with drunks.
Susanna Hartigan
March 25, 2011
You should take a look at some of the Facebook comments – a lot of bickering back and forth, and nitpicking. I feel sorry for some of them, really. Writing is such a freedom; criticism is such a constraint.
Congrats again! I think they are announcing the winner this weekend.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
I’ve read some of them (Reading all would be mind-numbing for me). I think I’ll do a post about that next week. Like you, I do feel sorry for some of those folks. They sort of miss the whole point of what constitutes critique. Instead of focusing on the story, they just focus on each other.
TexasTrailerParkTrash
March 23, 2011
Congratulations on being chosen as a semi-finalist–maybe the universe is trying to make up for your colonoscopy experience!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 23, 2011
Thanks, TTPT. Could be. Wouldn’t that be great if the universe actually did tings like that?
territerri
March 23, 2011
Congrats on being selected as a semi-finalist! Your story is fantastic!
Enjoy your visit!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Thanks, Terri! I’m back now. I think the winner is chosen this weekend (or so someone said) but really, being a semi-finalist is thrill enough.
merrilymarylee
March 24, 2011
WOW! That is so terrific! Well, the NPR honor and the visit with Sunshine!
Have a great time!
I think I’ll do a cartwheel in your honor. Call 911 if you haven’t heard from me in a few days.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Oh, that is really funny. I’d have an attack just thinking about doing a cartwheel.
Lunar Euphoria
March 24, 2011
Congratulations! That’s very exciting. And what a fabulous story. 🙂
lifeintheboomerlane
March 24, 2011
Thanks, Lunar!
Archie Harders
March 24, 2011
Many congratulations and heartiest best wishes as the competition continues!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Thanks, Arch. And congratulations to you on the Long & Foster Award.
hannahjustbreathe
March 24, 2011
Ahh!!! First of all, I’m SOOO jealous you’re in London!! Second of all, HOLY CRAP! Congratulations on your story being selected as one of the top finalists! Wow! That’s so freaking exciting!
Thirdly, sorry for the excessive use of exclamation points…
lifeintheboomerlane
March 24, 2011
I’m back! Just returned about an hour ago. Thanks, Hannah. Hey, I love exclamation points! Sometimes every sentence in my emails ends with an exclamation point!
Tori Nelson
March 24, 2011
YAY! I loved that story when you shared it on Boomer Lane!
Also, you and Sunshine. Together. In all your Funny Glory.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 24, 2011
Thanks, Tori. It was an amazing week, all around!
Walker
March 24, 2011
How exciting! I can only imagine the thrill at being chosen. I remember the story from earlier, but enjoyed reading it again. It does seem that you’re having a fabulous week. Congratulations.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 24, 2011
Thanks, Walker. It’s been an amazing week. But it’s easy not to get all carried away with myself when I’m taking care of a toddler all day and cooking and cleaning. I am EXHAUSTED. My daughter is having a bit of a rough pregnancy, so I was happy to be her mommy all week. Now I’m back.
sunshineinlondon
March 24, 2011
So I had breakfast with not only a new friend, but a famous new friend too! It was so lovely to meet you, Renee – and congratulations on your wonderful success. So well deserved.
See you again in June!
Sunshine xx
lifeintheboomerlane
March 24, 2011
Thanks, Sunshine. I just got back. While I was still there, we looked for flights for end of June, return last week in July. They have already gone up a lot. Grrrr. But that will be the time frame. I’m already looking forward to our next meeting! And by the way, I did ask my daughter what her perception was of Brits vs Americans. She really likes all the Brits she works with and has become friends with. She said Brits do tend to be more reserved about sharing their feelings about things and about their personal lives (as opposed to Americans who share everything pretty easily) and do have that “stiff upper lip” quality about them (as opposed to Americans who are more apt to go into therapy or take meds). And they use humor to deflect talking about personal things. Whew. I’m finished.
athursdayschild has a long way to go and much to be thankful for.
March 25, 2011
No wonder you got chosen, incredible story, incredible writing!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Thanks so much for visiting Life in the Boomer Lane, Thursday’s Child, and for your comment. The title of your blog brought back such memories for me. When I was little, I took that rhyme very seriously. I was born on a Monday, so that meant I was fair of face. Much as I loved that, I also would have loved Tuesday, the full of grace day. Because I wanted to be a ballerina, I thought “grace” meant dancing grace. Either way, I was always happy to have avoided Wenesday. I haven’t really thought of all that until I saw your blog title.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Wow, thanks. I really appreciate the feedback!
Carole
March 25, 2011
How do I get to vote? Reading that was the best five minutes of my day. Thanks.
lifeintheboomerlane
March 25, 2011
Wow, thanks Carole! I don’t know how they choose a winner, but I’m thinking the same people who chose the semi-finalists do that.
Allison
March 28, 2011
Congratulations on the well-deserved story honor.
And thanks for posting the picture– I like to have faces to go with the names 🙂
lifeintheboomerlane
March 28, 2011
Thanks, Allison. Wouldn’t it be a total kick if we could all meet?
Emily Jane
March 29, 2011
Huge congratulations, so very well deserved!!
Sounds like a fabulous trip!
lifeintheboomerlane
March 30, 2011
Thanks, Emily Jane! Yes, a great week all around.