As I read today’s edition of the Sunday ( NY ) Times, I chanced upon the obituary of author Jane Yolen. I recognize two of her books. ” The Devil’s Arithmetic” was required reading for my children in middle school. The other is highly appropriate for today: ” Owl Moon”

The beautiful story of a father and daughter owling on a cold winter night became a Caldecott Medal winner in 1988.

Owl Moon

Me the Daughter

I think about my own father. I didn’t have him for very long (I was 15 when he suddenly passed), but I clearly remember his saintly patience. Lord knows I challenged him with my energy (both positive and negative), but he stood firm. When I came home with science projects, holiday lessons, and home ec. recipes, we took time out to create volcanoes, build miniature log cabins (in honor of Lincoln’s birthday), and bake homemade pizza. He supported me in whatever endeavor I took up. He saw that I loved watching sports. He would watch Yankees and Islanders games with me (even if he personally favored the Mets and Rangers).

Many of these attributes came clear to me when I became a mom. My patience may not be as saintly as his, but my love of learning and small adventures resonates. I wasn’t the reader he was, but that changed. The library was a regular hangout for my children and me. Nature trails and duck ponds were the quiet places to go. One experience that reminds me of him (and my mother agreed at the time) came after we watched an episode of “Dora the Explorer”. The final destination revealed a big chicken, and they celebrated by doing the chicken dance. My daughter asked if I had ever seen a chicken that big before. I said yes, then put her and her brother in the car and drove to Marietta, GA.

OK- so he’s not a real chicken, but he is historic. And the kids loved it.

My father also had a ‘dad’ sense of humor. I know he would’ve done the same thing.

Me the Budding Author

Reading Ms. Yolen’s obituary came one day after I attended the Atlanta Writers’ Club’s monthly meeting. Since school ended a month ago, I have been busy with summer school and watching writing seminars. My busyness is getting in the way of my writing and preventing me from figuring out what kind of writer I want to be.

The meeting reminded me to go with my passions and perhaps stick with one genre. In that case, I will presently stay with children’s illustrated books. But Ms. Yolen showed me that your passion can take you so many places, and it is OK to cross genres.

That is giving me hope.