MFA: First Assignment

A few days ago, Vermont College of Fine Arts sent out our first assignment to be completed tomorrow for our new student orientation. Excitement moved through my body in anticipation only to stop in its tracks and switch to fear. We were asked to think about our favorite childhood book and remember what it felt like reading it. I will remind all of you who read these musings, I loved 40 years before knowing that I have ADHD. When I reflect on my childhood, it’s obvious to me. I was either daydreaming or in motion. Most of my days outside of school were spent roaming through the fields in my backyard or running, biking, jumping, and playing around my neighborhood. Having to go inside for bed was the literally the worst part of my day. Even after a full day, falling asleep was restless. I don’t remember having a book of my own. I don’t remember going to the library. In fact, I was terrified of every school librarian I ever had. Books were simply not a part of my my childhood. It’s ok though, Iove books now and have been swimming in them for the past sixteen years and longer if you could school reading assignments. Needless to say, when I received my very first assignment for the program I’ve been wanting to do for as long as I can remember, I freaked out. The Missing Piece kept coming into my mind but I couldn’t remember when I read it for the first time. So, stewed in my embarrassment and shame for a day or so and then I decided that it’s ok that I can’t remember when I read The Missing Piece but I was somewhere in my childhood when I read it and its message has stuck with me all these years. The book itself actually goes along with my reaction to the assignment, our exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement were unexpectedly and oddly similar. :-)