The Writer in Me

Miss Watson’s Grade 3 Class: Me in the front row, far right in the blue dress, blue socks.
While we sat cross-legged on the carpet, my primary school teacher, curly red-haired Miss Watson read aloud my story to our Grade 3 class.
I was a shy, sensitive child – anxiety and quiet tears overwhelmed me when it was my turn to share my story. As Miss Watson read my words, I closed my eyes and held my breath. When I heard the children laugh at the funny parts, I opened my eyes and looked up at my teacher; she winked at me and a giggle escaped my lips. Her nodding smile, gentle encouragement and praise gave me courage to keep writing.
Throughout life, writing was the one thing I believed I was good at – on a good day.
There were many more days I doubted myself, but I kept trying. I wrote at midnight with my mind calm or whenever I had a rush of energy, idea or needed to type and be inside my head instead of talking to people.
Thirty years after I graduated from Miss Watson’s class – during the spring of 2009, I met teacher and writer, Anne Rayvals, when I took her “Creative Writing for Beginners” class.
I read aloud my first homework assignment to the class. Anne was silent when I read the last sentence. She looked up, stared at me and stated, “Mary – YOU will be PUBLISHED.”
The way she said it to me – made me believe.
Anne was right. I was awarded 3rd place for the 2009 Vancouver Courier Annual Fiction Contest that fall, where my story “Dusty High Heels” became the first short story I published. Dusty High Heels, Page 1 Dusty High Heels, Page 2
Sometimes it takes a teacher or two – over the span of a few decades to convince yourself that you’re good at something. Pursuing what you want takes guts, passion and perseverance to make you fly.

Me (pregnant) sitting with Anne Rayvals. Anne passed away May 2011, bless her soul.
That shy 8-year old girl is a part of who I am today.
I’m still working on my wings.

Thank you Miss Watson and Mrs. Rayvals for believing in me.