As a countdown to my 30th birthday on March 18, I’ve committed to offering 30 people, things and experiences I want to celebrate from the last 30 years. Grab a piece of cake and enjoy reading!
The first 30 years were, predictably, dominated by formal education. I started with pre-school in 1984 and wrapped up college in 2002. In those 18 years, there are some definite highlights:
- Latin
- Constitutional Law
- Racquetball
- History in Film
But Mrs. Arbo’s 2nd grade had me at hello.
Perhaps the most inventive teacher I ever had, Mrs. Arbo managed to create that unique alchemy of learning and fun that leaves a child thirsting for more. And for a child like me who was already nursing a love of story and a talent at writing, Mrs. Arbo’s insistence that her entire class write and illustrate their own books (to be published through her own Igor Publishing Company, naturally) was heavenly.
Here’s a little something from my bestseller, The Alien from Saturn:
The cover of my well-reviewed masterpiece, Magical Leprechauns:
And the inside back flap of the childhood classic, Santa Claus Makes a Mistake:
It’s possible I’ll write a book someday and I realize now that I’ll have the fortunate gift of being able to draw on important lessons learned in 2nd grade. For example:
- Hire an illlustrator
- Don’t use too many fonts or colors so as to confuse your reader
- Telling the world your street address in your book may be unwise
- Leave the furry friends out of the picture
So thanks, Mrs. Arbo. And thanks, 2nd grade. Not only did you make the 1988-89 school year lots of fun, but you reinforced the idea that adults can be fun and that learning can be fun.
As for the books themselves, I have decided to add these titles to my resume as credibility builders. Who knows what successes await in my future as a result!
