You had me at “Mina, with her red hair and rusty bicycle” ! I hope many high school kids read this… it’s educational in an entertaining way about applying for scholarships and loans for college. And Oh to be young and have a friendship, and maybe blossoming romance?, like that…
I wasn’t very adept at the blossoming romance experience 😅😂 In one of your YA books to come, yay!!, you can use my dating fiascos as embarrassing fodder 🙈😂
(I meant, painful as the subject matter is 🤦♀️) But writing is usually cathartic, so maybe I will write out my embarrassing tales.😅 I know you’ll write absolutely amazing YA books, as well as everything else you write. “Back in my day”, the popular books all young girls read were Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden 😂
And it is not just scholarships I am talking about. ha ha ha. I think that last message applies to us all, John, especially to blossoming new writers on Substack. We always ask ourselves how can I move forward?
whoohoo ! Prime Cut Stuff ms Bassano.. got heart n soul all over itself .. & desire another read.. yes I do.. put on a tune.. might lend me some ‘right sense of it.. cuz it’s quite the delight.. refreshing storytell.. or memory
(but the literary rebel without a cause.. buried inside o me.. just itches to go ‘back channel’ with you re ‘word editing this gem..)
What a totally awesome gear shift.. a literary manoeuvre lurks there too.. and you ‘stuck the landing’ .. ! RAD ! 🦎🏴☠️
haha.. love it.. haha ‘extoll it .. i keep underestimating you.. with a smile.. and no idea why.. ‘Refreshing is Everything to me.. ! 🦎🏴☠️
I love it! Only problem with her plan is that will he have learned to be self-motivated enough to keep his career momentum going? With her as his mate, he'll at least get a boost now and then.
Excellent question, Sue. In my experience, the artistic mind is not a business mind, just by it's very nature. Polar opposites. Artists may be self-motivated to keep the ART going, but they will need someone to manage them, to represent them, keep their finances in order, handle marketing, sales, etc. Less so, I suppose in graphic arts if one is working for a firm. In this case, Jackson and Mina are kids with dreams. He needed someone to organize him. Who knows what their futures will hold?
You had me at “Mina, with her red hair and rusty bicycle” ! I hope many high school kids read this… it’s educational in an entertaining way about applying for scholarships and loans for college. And Oh to be young and have a friendship, and maybe blossoming romance?, like that…
Ah, yes, the blossoming romance. And as many as possible. I remember it well, Karen.
I wasn’t very adept at the blossoming romance experience 😅😂 In one of your YA books to come, yay!!, you can use my dating fiascos as embarrassing fodder 🙈😂
Karen, I am confident you can write that story yourself!
You’re right, I will try - painful as it is 😂
(I meant, painful as the subject matter is 🤦♀️) But writing is usually cathartic, so maybe I will write out my embarrassing tales.😅 I know you’ll write absolutely amazing YA books, as well as everything else you write. “Back in my day”, the popular books all young girls read were Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden 😂
Nancy Drew! Hadn't thought about those in ages.
Well. that sounds like you. )) And still no glasses. How do you read through a dozen libraries and still no glasses? Cute pic ))
I wore glasses from the age of 13, Kate. Cataract surgery a few years back got rid of them for me.
A lovely story! Very true about all those scholarships just waiting to be found.
And, yeah, I hear Cal Tech has a pretty decent physics program too.😂
And it is not just scholarships I am talking about. ha ha ha. I think that last message applies to us all, John, especially to blossoming new writers on Substack. We always ask ourselves how can I move forward?
whoohoo ! Prime Cut Stuff ms Bassano.. got heart n soul all over itself .. & desire another read.. yes I do.. put on a tune.. might lend me some ‘right sense of it.. cuz it’s quite the delight.. refreshing storytell.. or memory
(but the literary rebel without a cause.. buried inside o me.. just itches to go ‘back channel’ with you re ‘word editing this gem..)
What a totally awesome gear shift.. a literary manoeuvre lurks there too.. and you ‘stuck the landing’ .. ! RAD ! 🦎🏴☠️
haha.. love it.. haha ‘extoll it .. i keep underestimating you.. with a smile.. and no idea why.. ‘Refreshing is Everything to me.. ! 🦎🏴☠️
Thanks, Timber, glad you liked this. A rather thinly-disguised exhortation for planning one's future, I know. My first attempt at a Young Adult story.
i’ve referred often here (re inspiration.. or confidence supporter haha.. whatever !)
.. to ‘True North’ re my ‘Turks Gambit’ endeavours .. yes.. Young Adult - Adventure writing !
You’re in Luck ! There’s a kid in every one of us.. 🦎🏴☠️
Some one said. “Behind every successful man there’s a woman.” You proved that in this story.
Hah! It may be true.
Dairy Queen? Peanut-Busters? Now you're talking. Mina is pretty sharp. Lucky for Jackson!
I knew I liked you, James Ron. Not many people would recognize a reference to Peanut Busters. We are of the same tribe.
: )
I love your uplifting stories… this one is a winner.
Thank you, Wade. You are a good friend.
Love stories like this. And you did a wonderful job with these young voices! Thank you for sharing. Nice to see your face today, too!
Thanks, Meg. My first shaky attempt at YA.
I love it! Only problem with her plan is that will he have learned to be self-motivated enough to keep his career momentum going? With her as his mate, he'll at least get a boost now and then.
Excellent question, Sue. In my experience, the artistic mind is not a business mind, just by it's very nature. Polar opposites. Artists may be self-motivated to keep the ART going, but they will need someone to manage them, to represent them, keep their finances in order, handle marketing, sales, etc. Less so, I suppose in graphic arts if one is working for a firm. In this case, Jackson and Mina are kids with dreams. He needed someone to organize him. Who knows what their futures will hold?
Hi Sharron, What a great story. It brings back so many memories. I was 12 when I met Dan and he was always the one. I love your new picture.
Thank you, Janice. Glad you liked it!
Good one, Sharron. It proves my theory that the smartest thing a man can do is find a smart woman and then listen to her. Love the new picture!
Thanks,Jim. I am thinking the teacher may have had a llittle to do with the match up... not sure. In any case, she ran with it.
Made me think of all the ‘what if’s’ and a reminder of encouraging and sharing information of opportunities.
I agree - and of course, not just in the context of academic help. Just sharing what you know , in general, with those who need it. KINDNESS!
What an optimistic piece! Wish everyone’s hidden talent is discovered soon enough!
Thank you, Yael. Optimism, yes. I am prone to a great sadness, at times, and have to seek balance. Thanks for reading my Leaves. I appreciate you.
Something is telling me Ms. Bassano would have been one of my favorite teachers. What a great picture of you!
Ahem.... yes, that old ( old) picture. I figure this is not Tinder, so I can be any age I like.
He could steal her heart with some WD-40 and some 00 steel wool.
Good idea, Switter!
Oh wow, I'm duly revivified, Sharron! That last paragraph is EVERYTHING!!!!
Loved this part too, of course - it made my heart shout 'you GO, girl!!!!!' ⬇️
"I asked myself, ‘Mina what’s the worst thing that could happen?’ and then I thought, what the fuck? I don’t care. I just like you.”
😊
Hah! Thanks, Hen-Girl