Guest Editor? Yes!

Well, today is the day I write about my six picks as GUEST EDITOR at AOL journals... this is that special entry I've been hinting at these past few days.

Thank you.... thank you very much!

                         

I was pleasantly surprised when I read Journals Editor Jeff’s email about two weeks ago…. He invited me to be a guest editor for aol journals this week. I felt honored to have this much attention put on my journal, but then the reality of what he was asking me to do sank in. I would have to pick six journals to feature in my guest editor entry.

Just six? I have at least 25 on my journal alerts. How would I narrow it down to six?

I’m not one to seek the spotlight, but I’m facing my fear by saying “yes” to the Guest Editor opportunity. Thanks for asking me, Jeff!

I’m supposed to write something about me… Uh, I’ve been writing about me for over a year now…. Do you want me to bore them to tears with a repeat of all that?

For those of you who are new to this journal, I am an Exceptional Children’s teacher, in my eighth year of teaching. I was 46 years old when I started teaching. This year I had made the decision to change what I do and how I do it, so I put in for a transfer to another school. In the same school system.

There is the excitement of starting over, like I felt seven years ago: meeting new people, learning something new, treading in untrod (by me) territory, and getting to know the students.

At myage, that feeling is one to treasure. I highly recommend it (starting over) to anyone over fifty. I want to learn more about my profession by teaching with others who have different backgrounds, by learning new methods, and sharing what I have learned in my seven years as a Special Education teacher. I have learned from the best these past seven years, and want to continue that path in a new environment. Likewise, I hope to bring the best of what I do into my new classrooms.

I’m married to and in love with the man who pursued me thirty-one years ago when I was a senior at the University of Georgia. He he was in the Air Force. I loved Air Force men, grew up with one all my life: my dad.

Then the third man in my life was born a few years later, my son. Now, he is in Pharmacy school at UNC-CH, but I don’t write much about him because I respect his privacy. I am very proud of his work and commitment to excellence in his profession, and especially with the dedication he shows toward community involvement. He organized a fundraiser last year, the First Annual Aging In Stride 5K, to raise money for a local senior citizens center in Orange County (NC). I participated, but not as a runner. I’m a walker. It was so successful that they are going to have it again this year. I'll be there.

My contribution to the event last year (beside walking fast and paying the $15 entry fee) was telling him to make sure that next time there are some strategically placed bathrooms for us older women. He laughed, but I was serious.

I have two mini-schnauzers, Max and Misty who keep my laughing and give me something to do when I'm home. I know, they need grooming. They'll have to wait until I have some unclaimed time.

                           

Enough about me. I want to get my editor picks in. They are not in any particular order.

http://journals.aol.com/jcgeorgiapeach/ThePeachPages/ Tara is on to something really big. I mean BIG! You can’t read her entries quickly and then leave without feeling something is touching you inside, prompting you to think again about something you thought you understood. Her writing will either surprise and delight you, anger you, or, as she has admitted, it has turned some away. But that doesn’t stop her. She has some serious work to do through her writing.

http://journals.aol.com/caromarls/ANewAdventure/ I picked Caroline because she is relatively new to aol.journals. She began about a month ago, and is learning fast the technical aspects of journaling. She is a teacher from South Africa who dearly loves our country and wants to live here permanently. Caroline has a deep capacity for loving and taking risks, and if you talk to her for ten minutes, you will find that her source of happiness is in the Lord. Her story unfolds in her journal.

http://outmavarin.blogspot.com/  I’ve directed readers to Karen’s journal several times throughout the year because I’ve been fascinated with her experiences and stories about the writing process, as well as the stories themselves. If you are interested in reading her fantasy fiction, you can start here with Part 1 of The Jace Letters. I’ve have read the first three chapters of Heirs of Mavarin, and I’m completely charmed by her characters and the story plot. But if you just want to check out her daily journal/blog, OutPost Mavarin (pronounced Mayvarin), you will learn about “Mages of Mavarin“, her newest volume which, I believe, is in the rewrite/edit phase.

I found Patrick one day while visiting another journal. He‘d left a comment there. I have since come to know him through his daily journal,  http://journals.aol.com/daddyleer/CaregivinglyYours/  where he generally reflects on his life as a Caregiver. His wife has MS. He has to modify their lives so that hers is as comfortable and active asthey can possibly be … most of us take for granted what we can do without thinking about it. His outlook is positive, humorous, and helpful. When you read his journal, you learn something about how to modify and adapt to life with someone who needs 24/7 care. He reminds us that someday we (either you or your spouse) may be the Caregiver, or the one needing the care of one.

http://journals.aol.com/siennastarr/Hopefloats/  Jackie has been through hell and back. The name of her journal speaks to her courage and vision of her future. She is on the road to a new life that even she is not sure where that will take her. She does not give in to the darkest of nights. She has a story to tell, but you won’t find out that story in one sitting. You’ll have to read it over time to hear the story this woman has to tell. Hope does float!

Natalie at Interface has always been a favorite of mine. http://journals.aol.com/lurkynat/Interface/  I think what drawsme to her journal are her brief entries about global issues and controversies. I usually avoid these topics in my journal, not wanting to think about some of the ones she brings up. Yet, they do make me search for more information so I can think about them. She also writes poems. She wrote one about me once! How flattering that was! Even so, she is very modest about her talents.

I’d like to say hello to some of my other favorites:

Kate, who lives in Scotland, is living an interesting life, with her two beautiful kids and husband, as an archaeologist and author. She writes about places in the world I‘ve never been. I think she has a wonderful life. I learn ancient history when I read her journal.

David in Sunshine Colorado is retired and living with his family in the mountains. He walks his dog and raises the school flag every morning. There is something quaint and comfortable about him, his life, and his journal.

A big hello to Michelle and Jackie, EC teachers. I like to visit their journals to see how they’re handling their classrooms, although they also write about their families and other areas of interest.

Hi also to Lori (Fitzzer) and Lori (Helmswondermom), Liz (Bethjunebug ) , Robin, and Gwynn, Donna, Penny, Gayla, Becky, Barbara, Sugar, Donna, and Marti. Oh, and Detective Dave who makes me chuckle.

Thanks for visiting and reading about my picks. I hope you find someone you would like to visit.

Bea