SOLSC 2022 - #1 Depleted at the start

 

It is March 2022 and time for the

 15th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge  

Every single day, for all thirty-one days of March,

writers will share stories.

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this supportive community 

of teacher-writers!

Hello, hello!

I have participated in this story challenge for many years...I believe this is my eleventh year of participation. This yearly tradition has helped me develop as a writer, introducing me to the joyful work of daily writing and the experience of writing alongside others. SOLSC is a beautiful habit. I look forward to the writing. During February, I usually do some advance planning. Although I have learned to trust that there is ALWAYS something to write about each day, I often brainstorm topics, think of themes, or some connecting thread. Last year, for example, I included a famous quote by a woman that somehow fit thematically with each slice of life. 

This year, I have no advance thinking, I simply tumble in. This year I begin 

depleted.

Ten days ago, my dear sister-in-law, my husband's younger sister, died unexpectedly. 

Tony and I were on vacation in Florida. It was February break in DC schools and our weekly babysitting of the grands was cancelled; we had pounced on this 'time off' for some fun together in the sun. We had been there exactly one day, when we received word of her death. 

The past days have been a sad, exhausting, mourning blur.

We got back home last night.

This is how the March writing challenge begins for me.

I cannot predict whether I will be able to write each day...but, it begins 

one word

one sentence 

one story

at a time. 

Here goes!