NaNoWriMo Madness

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

People tend to think of the month of March as March Madness in most areas of the United States, but for me, November was much more terrifying and emotional. Sure I love the Cinderella team beating the ego driven top dog any day, but NaNoWriMo, or November to non-writers, is National Write a Novel in a Month. It left me with many more upsets and memories than any college basketball game could do.

To begin, I must tell you a secret. Wait, more like two secrets. Last year I only wrote 19,000 words when the adult goal is 50,000 for the month, and wait for it…I am a pantser. I always have been but only when it comes to writing and cooking. Recipes are too cumbersome! In writing, a pantser is one who writes by the seat of her pants and allows creativity and impulse to drive me rather than an outline or pre-writing. This means I really never know what I am writing each day I sit down to type, even thought I usually have some sort of plot line in my head.

This year’s idea came from two things: an article my friend Dan posted right before Halloween, http://www.wthr.com/story/26797284/2014/10/15/teens-get-more-than-a-scare-on-ghost-hunt-at-morgan-co-cemetery, and a picture I took at a slave cemetery when I was in Georgia a few years ago. It was decrepit, and hidden, immersed in between two huge plantation style homes within a gated community. I recall asking my aunt, “Hey what’s over there in that fence?” She told me it was a cemetery for slaves and the government protected it, but there was no sign or anything. I was shocked that it existed inside this stark white world of Georgia money. My curiosity and interest took over so my uncle and I hopped the fence and roamed around. I took pictures but none really turned out well since it was foggy. The image that burns in my mind are the cement style headstones with finger painted names on them, or sticks used to write names that were misspelled. I even recall Baby being spelled like Babe. There was also one marked with the letter X. These etchings on my brain combined with research on Cry Baby Bridges across the United States gave me a stellar story idea.

I am still working on fleshing out the climax, but after writing 50K and winning NaNoWriMo, I am pleased to say this was the most challenging thing I have ever written aside from my grandma’s obituary. DREAD is told in third person and alternates between three settings: the late 1940s-early 50s, late 1970s-early 80s, and a river (which the Cry Baby Bridge covers in a small town situated in any US state, but here it is in NC). There are characters you will love, and those you will hate, even one who is an inanimate object but somehow has a soul, and a weird creature that is a mix between rooster, flamingo, and ostrich but all black. Weird, but interesting and magical. I was channeling Toni Morrison while writing, and included a few Native American traditions and cultural rites like Tony Hillman would have, who is my mother’s favorite author. Best of all, I am finding my voice amongst other inspiring writers and I am very proud. Here is an excerpt that I like. Out of 50K, there is a lot to sift through, but this one is early on from the 1950’s era and revolves around the home birth of a bastard child whose father could be one of three men.

Gathering a few jars full of herbs from a shelf nearby, Mamie went to work preparing the rattle of a snake and ripping Sumac leaves into small pieces to be turned into a tea for Eliza. Panting and bent over with pain, Eliza was carried into the small parlor where he laid her on the couch. “Sits her up,” Mamie barked, “if yas lay her down, the baby’ll never come. An’ go wash yer hands. I’se need yer help.” The man obeyed silently and emerged back in the kitchen with a towel and additional blanket. “Ma’m? What should I do with these?” Nodding, Mamie pointed to the floor beneath Eliza. “To catch ‘im,” she said briskly, wiping Eliza’s face with a cool cloth. Unsure of what was about to transpire, Eliza cringed and silently prayed that she could trust the medicines and care from this woman, and help from this ominous stranger.

I will add more as I complete and edit DREAD, as terrifying as it may be. The audience is young adults and adults alike, similar to All About Jane and my latest release, Never, but much longer of a text due to the three different settings and multitude of characters with third person point of view. Thank you for your continued support!

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Friday’s English Work

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

Instead of making checklists or assignment sheets, Mattern students will view this page for their computer tasks.

ALL students must first read before asking questions. Come to the front desk today with any questions. Ask 3 before me.

English 11

1. Type up your NANOWRIMO writing so you have a minimum 500 word excerpt. Print it as draft one. Now begin to revise it. Use your editing checklist and transition guide. If you have time, print the revision. Those who have it typed already should begin by revising after painting their first clean copy as draft one. Put in WN. I will be looking for it during the exam check.

2. Practice this: http://www.chompchomp.com/hotpotatoes/apostrophes01.htm

3. Research and print an article that discusses any or all of the following:

-how high school prepares/or not students for their future careers

-when one should begin career and/or college exploration

-how do you know which career is right for you

-how often ppl switch majors in college or drop out, or change schools entirely

4. Work on ACT prep at www.number2.com or help those in need at www.freerice.com while working on your vocabulary.

English 12

Print beautiful words. This can be in the form of your favorite quote, song lyrics, a phrase, or poem. Place it in your WN.

Annotated Bibliography and Works Cited pages can be created today. See this for help: OWL.

Research your topic. Begin at: googlescholar, the media center research page, or wikipedia (for sources ONLY).  Print your sources in one word .doc to keep them aligned. Be sure to get the url address and date so you have info for the Works Cited page for each source. No .coms should be implemented. Use scholarly articles and journals (PubMed, ERIC DIGESTS, Questia). Place in WN. Make a tab for research or articles. I wouldn’t read much today; save it for the weekend or Monday.

EDP work can be found here: www.careercruising.com (this is PAST DUE). Your log in first is cahs with the password, cavaliers. Then you do your 6 digit student id/bday information. Print your EDP after following the steps on the yellow checklist and completing each item. Signatures are necessary before turning in to me.

Update and revise your letter to the freshman. Add details from recent lessons. Print. Sign. Turn in both copies to me. Do not staple.

Play freerice and help those in need while working on your vocabulary.

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What they don’t tell you.

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

I am battling anxiety.

I was never one to openly talk about much, but I am better on paper, so here it goes. I hope at least one person benefits from this post, or at least doesn’t feel so alone.

As a child, I was a worrier. Also a control freak, but more on that later. I worried about everything that the grown-ups were supposed to be worrying about, and even though they told me not to, I couldn’t control my fears. And I am still trying today.

Only lately have I understood how insecurity and anxiety go hand in hand. When I became a mom 9 years ago, one would say that I was a confident person. As a teacher, girlfriend, daughter, sister, and woman, I exuded confidence. I could walk into my classroom and put on a stellar show for 45 minutes and rotate it 5 times a day. I still can, and do, but now I understand myself more. As a mother, worries intensify. You cannot begin to understand what it’s like to lay in bed thinking did I handle that situation correctly, unless you are suffering, too. I replay discussions in my mind and wonder how I came across, and if it was harsh or rude. I text people apologies for something that they can’t even recall. I worry about my children and if I used the wrong tone of voice, or what’s worse-will they remember me as a mean mother when they look back on their childhood? Will they remember me at all?

As I’m preparing for a new school year, my 12th year teaching high school English, I want to share what is helping to alleviate my anxiety, and promote confidence from within.

1. Yoga breathing, or the form of ujjay breath is used to begin thinking about your breathing. It should come from the back of your throat with your mouth closed, and is often referred to as sounding like the ocean. I do this to calm down, but also when I practice yoga at www.yogaglo.com. Another quick relaxer is to breathe this way and stick your tongue on the room of your mouth. The pressure if very comforting and brings your pulse and stress down immediately.

2. Support yourself with caring, selfless people. My family and friends know when I need to vent, and allow me to cry if need be. They do not say, “Oh, Carrie, don’t worry, you’ll be great.” Instead they say, “You are great, Carrie.” Leaving the front half off that sentence is important. I will worry no matter what.

3. Having a mantra. I prefer one my college friend shared with me so long ago. I bet she knew I had anxiety before I figured it out. Social workers know what to look for I guess. Anyway, she wrote on a mirror, “You are a confident, competent, capable woman.” I like saying this to myself as a reminder and a pick me up.

4. Eating healthy. Making good choices helps me feel better about myself. Recently I gave up coffee, coke, and beer.  I’ve only cheated twice in the last three weeks, thanks to an outrageously fun Tom Petty concert! Eating better also helps me think about still being around for my kids when I’m old and gray.

5. Writing. When I get overwhelmed, I like to vent on paper since it cannot talk back. I also  like making to do lists if I am overtly anxious for something like school just starting up in a few days. Writing helps my mind purge the worry, which leaves me momentarily stress free.

6. Understanding that I cannot control much. This one is the most difficult to grasp. When I feel the need to control a situation, I pause and think to myself, is this an appropriate thing to say or necessary for me to step in? My husband and dad remind me of this often too, which directly correlates to #2.

7. Staying off social media as much as possible. Society is slowly telling us how to live our lives through comments, articles, newsfeeds, and images that are found within seconds online. Too many self-help articles have now become, “This is the correct way to do this” judgement. Taking a break from social media can be an important part to disonnecting. Not using your phone or laptop may also be helpful if you are constantly checking texts and emails. When you disconnect, you often connect deeper inside yourself, or in the lives of family and friends.

8. Finally, if you are interested in natural healing, I suggest a mix of lavender, orange, and bergamot (also found in black tea) essential oils mixed into coconut oil. Massage into hands and forearms, or put a few drops onto your pillow. It may ease your worries when you are trying your best to rest.

As tough as this blog was to write, it has helped me begin the process of communicating how I feel.  See #5. It’s my hope that readers will have other tips to share. Feel free to comment with any tricks you have found to help ease your anxiety.

 

 

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Learning through Travel

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

Paul and I are not very good at remembering to pack toys for our children when we travel. For Paul, it is not a necessity. The military planner inside him has to make sure each and every item we take is absolutely mandatory and has its own spot whether it is inside the cooler, in the tent bag, or on the hitched trailer in its own protective rain gear.  For me, I just do not think about toys.  I think about books. “Kids, do you have a book to read,” is something they will probably put on my tombstone. It is one thing I cannot live without, so obviously I think it is necessary for everyone to include in their luggage. For instance, last summer we went camping on Lake Michigan en route to visit family in MN.  The kids met friends a few tents away who had bikes, however, we forgot those at home. It was a travesty.

This summer we went to Aruba to visit their grandma for sixteen days.  I made sure we had enough clothes, goggles, and swim suits, but I completely disregarded the notion of toys. Paul made sure we were not over the 50lb weight limit on our two bags, and also that the kids didn’t have to worry about carrying stuff on the plane aside from a diaper bag, snacks, and few electronics. Needless to say, when we arrived, we were set for our half month stay.  Aside from toys, that is, to what we presumed to be the peril of both older children. Doomsday.

However, our kids astounded me.  They played.  Imagined. Swam. Played and imagined more. Pretended they were World Cup soccer players and announcers that, “Oiy yoy yoy, yoy yoy!” and “Goaaaaaaaaaaaaal!” They went on walks and hikes through the front yard hunting lizards. They climbed trees even though some may have held climbing crabs, or worse, boa constrictors, among their branches. They talked. They laughed. They argued. Discussed. Negotiated. Played balloon volleyball and balloon tennis. For 16 days, they rarely complained of boredom. They even read a little. At one point grandma did purchase a paint set for one, and Legos for another, but they had nothing of their own to play with aside from their collaborative minds.

Today I find that we try to occupy our children so much that we disregard the true idea of free play. We are so quick to hand them our iPhones, iPods, and iPads that we forget what is truly worth developing: their own imaginations. We are so quick to distract them that their behaviors become attuned to a screen. We are so quick to take a parent break that we forget what is truly important: raising children who can think, devise, strategize, plan, and create.

So throughout our travels with children we have made huge mistakes.  Forgetting diaper bags and swimsuits on a trip to the beach, forgetting shoes, and sunscreen or bug repellant, but what I am most proud of is the fact that my husband and I have forgotten toys that have taught our children how to play…better yet, we have learned that it is most important to allow them to play.  It is an instinctual activity that many parents today take away in lieu of desperately needing to breathe, to have free time, to enjoy a glass of Moscato, or a silent room.  I urge you to let your kids discover their imaginations again.  Allow them to play, to learn, to grow.  I am so grateful my children have taught Paul and I the importance of this. They have blessed us with what is truly necessary in life: making memories through play.

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For my juniors, who tend to flounder.

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

The Day We Went Outside

“Find a poem,” I asked them, “outside where it’s nice.”
They stared blankly, through sleep-filled hungry eyes,
And then a girl interrupted the crickets chirping with, “Um, Mrs. Matter-ren, like, why did you hide poems outside for us?”
I smiled knowingly, replying, “They’re actually inside each one of you,” confusing her further.

Armed with writer’s notebooks, highlighters, “Flounder” by Natasha Tretheway, sticky notes, phones, and music, we slugged outside, immediately greeted by the wind.
Most students headed for the raggedy bleachers, while others found each other, pairs underneath the shade of trees.
Traffic moving steadily was one of the only sounds, aside from the rustle of the wind.

 
It spoke volumes,
Cooling the lost soul from within the muggy, confines of a dimly lit classroom.
Freedom, it sang, as others heard annoyance, their hair whipping around blushing cheeks.
Release, it sang, and still others heard challenges, paper inside notebooks crinkling, moving as words were struggling to make it onto still frustrating blank pages.
Creativity, it sang, while many heard complaints charged with sarcasm like, “So, this is our assignment, really?”

 
Still others began to hear themselves, their own voices, loud, proud, and clear.
Something they should listen to more often.

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2014 Summer Reads

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

Every summer I compile book lists based on the every other day post from my friends begging for a new book suggestion.  With that, my top 5 will all be made into movies soon (or already may have been so look out for them on Netflix soon), while the rest are a combination of new and old reads!

The Giver by Lois Lowry: My first experience with this book was in middle school.  We didn’t read it as a class, but Ms. Pellilo, one of my favorite English teachers, recommended it to me.  I tore into the novel, mystified at the science fiction type world Lowry created all gray-scale and dull aside from Jonas; Jonas, the one who would add color to his world, or perhaps die trying. Years later re-reading this book as a young adult, I recognized the controversial issues that Lowry so poignantly discussed in such a brief novel.  Issues such as abortion, suicide, and coming of age revelations are all contained in Jonah’s world, but what may even be more intriguing is the issue of trust that Jonas must figure out all himself.  I look forward to what this film will bring, especially with a cast composed of Meryl Streep, Jeff Bridges, and Katie Holmes, but by the looks of its colorful landscape, I must remind myself that it is an adaptation of Jonas’ tale, and not the book.

Wild by Cheryl Strayed: I found this non-fiction book in an antique shop and couldn’t believe I hadn’t read it yet! Immediately I laughed aloud at the pun on the cover with the author’s name, and then read on to see that she had it legally changed. Later that evening I started reading after all the kids were tucked in, and started bawling in the first chapter.  My husband is used to this by now, but he still asked if I was ok.  Nodding, I smiled as I turned the next page, and read on. All night. To say that everyone can connect with Cheryl is an overgeneralization, but I think many women and even some men will see themselves in Cheryl’s hiking memoir.  It’s about her journey hiking alone on the Pacific Crest Trail through California and into Oregon, but it’s really about the journey of self-discovery.  It looks as if Reese Witherspoon will be portraying Cheryl in the film version due out this fall; I pray it’s not the “you’ve got a baby in a bar” Reese that I love, but will not be appropriate for how I envisioned Cheryl. Regardless, a must read this summer.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand This comes from an earlier post, last spring: Having the hubs around this whole pregnancy has been nothing short of amazing. He recently received this non-fiction recommendation from a professor, and purchased this book for me when I finished my last read. He told me it was about running, and similar to Born to Run, and that is all he had to say. I was smitten. And then, then I realized, this was a war story. An Olympic runner turned soldier turned slave. As I sobbed my way through this story, I kept telling the hubs about each new aspect of World War II that I was learning. Little did I realize, World War II was not necessarily compartmentalized into two categories that I held in my head- the attack on Pearl Harbor and Nazi Germany. An entire war happened in POW camps that I am quite embarrassed to admit that I had very little knowledge about. It is a compelling non-fiction read that captivated and even compelled this non-history buff to research further. This fall it will arrive on the big screen. I am looking forward to it!

Re-read all the Gillian Flynn novels: Here is a piece of my post from last summer about Gone Girl:

I heard this author on NPR speaking about her story and immediately read the first three chapters on NPR’s first read website.

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/14/152289627/exclusive-first-read-gone-girl-by-gillian-flynn

All I can give you are a few words because you have to read this one for yourself: unreliable narrator, unbelievable suspense, and irony that can be found within every marriage or partnership. It reminds me of something a friend of mine once said, “We all have our gray areas, but we must draw the line somewhere.”

I have read both additional novels by Flynn, pre-Gone Girl, and Sharp Objects, is also very, very good so far. A little like Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. I’ve heard all 3 books will become movies later this year!

Viral Bound by Dan Waltz: Another previous post, but a MUST READ If you are a fan of the Walking Dead (graphic novel and/or AMC television series), chances are high that you will thoroughly enjoy Waltz’s, Viral Bound. Unlike Dead, Waltz provides a reason for the zombie outbreak, but it’s unclear at first to the average reader. The quickness of the outbreak is realistically tragic. It reminded me of films such as 1995?s Outbreak, and the more recently, Contagion, which both illustrate the severity of pathogens and air borne viruses. Likewise Waltz respectfully crosses the Dead line by placing his readers in situations where the television series has only shown us with the character Sophia. Many of Waltz’s situations involve children who have turned; including a scene where Steve, our adult protagonist, stumbles upon an entire school that has been afflicted. What happens to the still-human children on the bus is almost as tragic that what has happened to all the children who were not able to escape the lockdown of their safe, secure school. These images resonate with this reader who tends to read nightly. Overall this novel is a captivating read for any fan that enjoys the flesh-eaters known only as ‘zoms’ in Waltz’s tale.

Portrait of the Artist as an Addict by Bill Clegg: I read this earlier in the year during SR time with my students. Beautifully written, this memoir follows the downfall of a promising literary agent. Meshed into the world of crack and heroin are flashbacks to the author’s self as an anxious child, troubled by many things including using the bathroom.  A poignant tale that had me gasping aloud and crying while my students were reading their choice books in class.

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer: Another fiction recommendation from my husband who heard a piece on the radio discussing how this author uses dialogue so effectively.  He bought it for me, and I read the following weekend. I think at some point we’ve all experienced a summer camp of sorts, and forged immediate friendships there that still may be existent today.  This group of kids creates a bond that ultimately lasts the trials and tribulations of adolescence through adulthood. It allowed me to forward think about decisions we make now for our children, and how they may affect them later in life.

1984 by George Orwell: 2+2=5 and since Edward Snowden’s leaks last summer, this book has been a hot item flying off the shelves yet again!  This resurgence prompted my teaching it to seniors this year.  We tend to forget that Orwell wrote it in the forties since much of the issue seems more current now than ever.  If you still are unfamiliar with the book, it follows Winston, our protagonist into a world where everyone is watched and even the Thought Police regulate one’s own thinking…or perhaps it is all a lie. Winston is not sure of the difference between reality and truth until he is locked up in room 101 where he is tortured with his greatest fear. A must read if you are into current events or politics.

And finally, if you liked my young adult novella, All About Jane, chances are you NEED to read Jane’s Melody by Ryan Winfield, author of the Park Service Trilogy!  Jane’s Melody shares a tale similar to mine, told from the mother’s point of view.  It begs the question to all mothers, or all those who have lost someone to suicide, how far would you go to get answers?  Winfield’s others books also serve as good summer reads if you are looking for a light, enjoyable writing style!

My friends in the library also recommend:

Destiny Disrupted by Mir Tamim Ansary

Life after Life by Kate Akinson

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

Teacher Man (audio version) by Frank McCourt

Let me know what you suggest in the comments, and feel free to check out my latest work for kids, The Magician’s Daughter, online and in bookstores today!

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Is that a scratch?

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

I just read a piece online called, “Jupiter’s Dot and Mine. Why Life is Unfair.” I saw it on my Twitter feed, then later, Facebook, so I clicked.  I actually read it (see NY Times article, Faking Cultural Literacy for more on that issue). It was profoundly sad.  And relative to my youngest daughter.

“Did she get a scratch,” is one of the typical questions people ask my husband or I when they first meet our baby.  It’s quite common actually. I’d say we hear it at least weekly.  Smiling politely, I tend to say no or shake my head, and quickly reply, “It’s a birthmark,” instead of screaming at the top of my lungs, “What’s it matter to you, ya big jerk? Would you ask her this in a few years to her face, or are you just asking because you know she can’t understand? Why do you even care? Why do you think you can ask about my baby’s face when yours isn’t anything special?”  And then I breathe. Think to myself. That is WHY.  She is special.  She is unique.  They are curious.

Society has conditioned us to question differences rather than embrace them, especially when it comes to appearance. Even in early American literature Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a piece aptly titled, “The Birthmark” where the husband, a devout man of science, desperately pleads with his gorgeous wife, Georgianna, to let him try and remove the birthmark on her cheek.  The results are disastrous. Additionally the boy with the ‘mulberry mark’ on his face in Lord of the Flies was identified throughout the book with no name. Solely the birthmark. The mark of birth. The single identifier.

The article about Jupiter’s lone red dot fading was a metaphor for the author who is still waiting for his birthmark mole to fade, or even as his hope dims, for it to completely disappear.  I wonder if my baby will hope for the same.  In infants, chances are high that by age 4, most strawberry birthmarks disappear.  Our eldest had one on her hip, and now it’s gone.  She asks about it all the time.  It was a piece of her that is no longer there.  She even rubs the spot where it was to see if there is any leftover.  All she feels now is smooth skin.  No traces of her past reside.  If our youngest loses hers, I wonder if she will miss it.  If the birthmark stays, I hope that she learns early on that there are many ways to respond to these questions.  With her emerging personality, I’m sure it will be something clever. Our culture is a curious one, and she, well; she is special, with or without the mark. That’s how I will answer from now on.

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Snake Eyes

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Carrie Mattern

Recently my son came home with a stuffed snake that he and his auntie bought at a garage sale while visiting family in MN. His snake was wrapped around his waist while he slept in the car, and upon arrival in the middle of the night, stayed with him into his bed while daddy effortlessly maneuvered his ever-changing 6 year old frame up into his bunk bed. When he awoke, still clutching the snake, he realized it was school so he feigned sleep, this revealed to us much later that evening. The day passed playing, napping, and cleaning. He was tucked in the following night, and looked for his dear snake amongst the Skylander blankets, Star Wars and Mo Willems books, Mine Craft light, and at least thirty stuffed animals. Upon finding his new treasure, he noticed that an eye had fallen off his creature. He ran into our bedroom, bawling, “My snake lost his eye. I can’t sleep. It’s all I can think about.” Humongous tears splayed his red face and he shook with real grief. I held him tight, rocked him as I used to years ago, and promising to take him to the fabric store the following day for a new eye, was able to calm him down. Daddy offered a googly eye from the basement craft supply, but my son said he would wait, and once more, daddy tucked him into bed.

As my husband and I talked, I made light of the situation, using the phrase Snake Eyes, from my own childhood GI Joe and ninja memories. My son is very compassionate, and I knew he was also tired, so after making a few jokes, we snuggled into the latest episode of Mad Men. It wasn’t until my yoga practice the next day that I realized what was causing my son to feel the way he did. It dawned on me that he has a similar emotional state that I have when it comes to helping others, or fixing things. Because he couldn’t fix his snake, it was really tough for him to deal with emotionally. Because his snake was missing an important part of his character, a piece that my son knew he could take care of somehow, he was visibly upset. As a teacher, I deal with this on a daily basis. I cannot fix all my students’ problems, and it hurts. It hurts so badly that sometimes that I want to run to my parents and cry, just like my son did, hoping they have the means to fix it and make it better. But I know better. Society has conditioned us that showing emotion is not ok, and I’m glad my son has not learned that yet. In fact, I hope he fights that lesson for as long as he can. It hurts so badly that sometimes that I just want to keep driving along I-75 toward Birch Run and shop at the outlet stores all day rather than take the Corunna Rd. Exit to Carman-Ainsworth high school. But my students need me. And my son’s snake, well, he needed help, too. So after school we stopped at the fabric store, picked out new eyes, then while my son played outside, I proudly and carefully popped in a new eye to one very old, but very precious, garage sale snake. I think he’s rightly earned his namesake, Snake Eyes.

 

 

Carrie Mattern has published a recent children’s story, “The Magician’s Daughter,” available online. Contact her for more information regarding speaking engagements, book signings, her other children’s books, and YA novella, All About Jane.

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A Summer of Sunsets

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Carrie Mattern

Wearing dress pants to work today solidified it: summer is over. The end for you may have been Labor Day, your first day without kids at home, the last ‘hot’ one, or even your last boat ride. For me, though, it was the pants today, topped with the jean jacket even thought I had a sweater and button-up on underneath. As I made my way to my vehicle the dew tickled my ankles beneath the pants. My heels just covered the crease between pant and skin, so I was without hose. It reminded me of putting my feet in the ocean this summer. Ice cold at first, but warmer the further you walked out to sea. Lake Michigan was the same, as the kids seemed to have no problem getting ‘used’ to each time we caught a wave. The one memorable moment for me this summer was watching a sunset. Completely. For the very first time. In all my year, I never recall sitting still long enough to watch a sun set. This summer, I saw four. Two were in Aruba and two in Manistee. I vow to watch more this year, and next summer, as it truly made me feel complete in living my day.

I am one who rarely slows down. Teaching, writing, mothering…I love being on the go! If I do pause, it is to eat and watch bad TV, or Breaking Bad, which is literally bad TV, but not bad content like I enjoy. Mindless TV suits me. It’s a break from the daily teaching where I make so many split decisions each day! It is nice not to have to decide anything and zone out for a moment. What was much better this summer were the mindless sunsets. In Aruba, my husband, family, and I were able to just relax and discuss our day as the sun fell into the ocean. This was on my birthday and it was unforgettable. The next evening my husband and I did the same. Mindless, yes, but thought provoking. How much more meaning can we attach to our day if we sit together the last two hours and revisit what we did, reflect on what we learned, and just enjoy each other’s company?

On Lake Michigan, in Manistee, people start flocking to the beach as soon as their campfire dinner is over. They take chairs, drinks, a friend. My family and I sat together, twice, and just watched. It was gorgeous. We were a part of something bigger than ‘camping.’ When I reflect now, we rarely set down together and watch anything. We try to, but it’s tough. Not everyone agrees on movies, and not everyone can sit still for two hours. Me included! Dinner seems to be the only time we pause with one another. This year I vow for more pauses. More sunsets. Take the time to reflect on your day, aloud, alone, or in front of the sun. It will allow you peace with what you accomplished, and joy at what is yet to come.

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All Aboard!

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Carrie Mattern


We began our journey to Thomas in the early morning, which was a great idea for our early risers! The train suggests an arrival a half-hour before departure time, and we did, so we were able to board immediately without waiting in any line. While on the train we were able to take pics, talk about the water tower, and look at the nature surrounding us; it was terrific family time and the half-hour seemed to fly by! As soon as our conductor came over the PA, we knew Thomas was ready to pull our train on a forty minute ride through Genesee, past Crossroads village onlookers all waving happily, over a bridge, and even right past Mott Lake where we saw my parents stand-up paddleboarding! The ride was smooth and put my kids, and husband, into a tranquility near sleep. The story of Thomas (read over the PA) almost felt like a bed-time story as we rolled through the green landscape. It was enjoyed by all! There were also opportune times to take pictures of Thomas chugging us along the track. What a sight!

After the ride we decided on the Magic Show. It was hysterical and the kids loved it. So much that one of them wants the magician to come to her birthday party next spring! Our favorite trick was the Siri trick that had the magician’s assistant talking to Siri through the entire routine. You can imagine the humor in “banana” and “bandana” since they sound similar when spoken. Overall there was crowd interaction, family fun, and even an iPad given away…but I will save that joke for when you go this weekend (Fri-Sun there are still tickets available).

We also played at the Inflatables station and rode the Ferris Wheel (as a family for the first time!). I could go on and on about our adventures, but I have pictures to share so I will say this to keep it short: this was one of my favorite days of our summer and our summer has encompassed a lot (MN, Aruba, WI, MI). If you are considering A Day Out With Thomas at Crossroads, just do it. Sure there are a lot of people, but everything is so well organized and spread out, the only time it is busy is when you get off/on the train. Sure it may be a pricey ticket for your family, but look at all it covers! You will not be disappointed and will leave with many memories. Here is a photo reel that speaks for itself.

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