She taught the first class of the day for me: "Themes & Research Papers". I walked in, she introduced me to the class, I said "Hi y'all" in my lingering Kentuckian accent and we got down to work. I liked her style and class so much that I added 3 more of her classes to my schedule for the rest of my senior year. Together we traversed "Death in Literature", "Poetry" and "Creative Writing". I already had a love for reading and a penchant for writing, but Mrs. Gray nurtured my interest into a passion.
I liked her style. She was everything that 17 year old girl aspired to be -- witty, knowledgeable, authoritative in her field, fair and fun. The most important lesson I took away from her classes was passion. "Life is about passion. Don't just like something -- anything -- be passionate about it. Live it, read it, write it but do it with passion."
That description from Lauretta Gray is perfect for Wednesday_Elf aka Pat. Her passion? The Great American Pastime - Baseball.
It is evident in her writing she is passionate about the subject. In her lens Crazy about Baseball her love of the game is shining through. Although I am not caught up in the game the way she is, as a reader, her writing style engaged me and I read every word. She tells personal stories, is knowledgeable about her subject and sprinkles it with a few chuckles.
The lens design is as entertaining as the subject -- fun borders, black boxes with quotes and family pictures. She masterfully inserts sales modules that add content richness rather than being distracting. She includes custom text with the items expanding her personal touch. She calls Squidoo and making lenses her hobby but her soul is that of a writer.
If you haven't run across this lens yet, pop over and have a read. I'm sure you will be impressed with her style and passion! And to my Fairy Godmother and friend, Pat, thank you for everything.
Image Credit:
Off Season's Greetings by nextfstop
Your English teacher sounds wonderfully inspiring and calls to mind somehow the teacher in Dead Poets Society. Small wonder you associated her with our 'Elf' who is herself an inspiring writer. Like you, I find her passion for baseball contagious! A lovely review and a great choice of both lens and its author.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicki! I just love Pat. Her zest for everything she does shows in her writing. She is a wonderful friend.
ReplyDeleteNow that lens is really showing some fandom! Great first review, Miss Mandee!
ReplyDeleteOh, I do love this lens of Pat's. Her passion for baseball really does shine through. I really liked the way you started your review by talking about a teacher of yours who inspired passion. And how you brought attention to the design of Pat's lens. She definitely has the whole package in this lens.
ReplyDeleteMy little 'fledgling' baby bird has spread her wings and learned to 'fly' magnificently, not only with her outstanding lenses 'to date' on Squidoo, but now as a contributing author at "Squidoo Lens Review"! Mandee, I am overwhelmed and delightfully pleased that you chose my 'Baseball Memories' lens for your very first 'review', especially as it is my most favorite lens and about my deepest passion. Thank you so very much, and I'm proud of your accomplishments. You are an asset to Squidoo!
ReplyDeleteI am not a baseball fan, but I am a fan of Pat's! She does pull you in with her writing style, and so do you! Thanks for the insight into your school years. All that moving must have been tough, and then you were blessed with a wonderful teacher. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, you are very kind. At the time, I thought my world was ending each time we moved, today I look back on it as gift. I wrote a poem that says, my parents gave me wings... and that they did!
ReplyDeleteWish I'd had an English teacher like that Mandee - I was always jealous of the other class in my year group, who had a teacher called Mrs Potter - now she WAS inspiring, but she left teaching and became an author - Joanna Trollope!
ReplyDeletePS - loved the review too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks AJ!
ReplyDelete