Last week, we took a family vacation. It was glorious, I tell you!
Using the writing form that educator Natalie Taylor, author of an extremely moving memoir titled Signs of Life, assigned her students, I’ve chosen to describe our best vacation moments in 5-word sentences. I think Natalie may have told her students 4 or 6, I can’t remember, but 5 it is.
~Morning coffee by the water.
~Splashing in the refreshing pool.
~Tube-floating on the lake.
~Daily walks with sweet Monkey.
~Girlfriend made a new friend.
~Constant outdoor play = awesome naps!
~Falling asleep to crickets chirping.
~S’mores by the crackling campfire.
~Uninterrupted reading under the covers.
~We ate icecream for dinner.
~I almost won at mini-golf!
Thanks for the idea to use with my classes in (gulp) one week. Your trip sounded refreshing! Wish we had squeeZed in some camping this summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome! I thank Natalie Taylor! When I read her book, I thought, wow, that’s a hard concept, could I do it?! I’ve sort of been thinking about it ever since!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this idea. I’m not familiar with Natalie Taylor and am now on a mission to find out about her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the structure of this slice, and I’m adding it to my “You can do this” list for my students. But most of all I enjoyed a piece of the peace and fun of your vacation. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you enjoyed your vacation. Camping is an awesome way to spend time with the family, there’s nothing like s’mores by the campfire!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are addicting! You can’t just have one, or even two!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a great vacation. Love the pictures! (AND the idea for writing!) Thanks for sharing! Jennifer Sniadecki
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you so much!!
LikeLike
love it!!!!! we rented a cabin just like that but not that close to the lake.. so awesome! and coffee by the water… how can anything be bad?!
LikeLiked by 2 people
oh, our cabin wasn’t that close, we had to walk to it. but definitely close enough!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
either way so awesome !
LikeLiked by 1 person
it was, it really was! it was so hard to leave!!! can’t wait for next year!
LikeLike
Oh I know! I felt the same way at the shore this past week
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really love this form too. Sometimes (often!) some kind of imposed structure or form is the only thing that gets me slicing. Definitely adding this to my Pinterest board. Is Taylor’s entire book written this way, or is this an assignment she does with her students? Love the photos–looks so peaceful. This is definitely the route we are going next year on vacation. My son has already decided: beachfront cottage in Oregon with our new dog, long beach walks, video game marathons. Sounds perfect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Her book is a stirring, moving, heartbreaking memoir about her husband’s untimely and tragic death while she was pregnant with their first child. The writing assignment is in a chapter where she writes about this assignment she gave her students at the end of the school year.
Yes, thank you, vacation was so relaxing and fun and filled with all of the things we love to do as a family!! I would love beachfront, too!
LikeLike
I’d love to follow you on Pinterest! What’s your name there?
LikeLike
Just my name: Elisabeth Ellington. Hope you can find me! Let me know if you can’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
found you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coffee by the water….tube floating on the lake…my favorites. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
me too!
LikeLike