Mentor Texts with Lynne & Rose
  • Home
  • About Lynne & Rose
  • Our Books & Video
  • Grammar Matters
  • Presentations
  • Bookings
  • Blogging with Rose
  • Blogging with Lynne
  • Your Turn Lessons
  • Notebook Entries
  • Books Too Good to Miss
  • Endorsements
  • Links

At the Airport

11/11/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
I do a fair amount of flying. Not a great deal, but enough to qualify me automatically for preflight boarding with TSA. I have been very fortunate with not having too many delays or cancellations, but on a recent return trip from Houston, my connecting flight in Atlanta to PHL was cancelled. I found this out while aboard the flight from Houston to Atlanta. No problem, we were assured. You will be placed on the next flight to Philly, just check in with a gate agent when you get to Atlanta. And it wasn't a problem, except that the next flight was leaving three hours later, and the reservation for Lynne, my traveling companion, was somehow not transferred. She was rerouted to Chicago and then Philly, but that's another story.


So what do you do when you are stuck in an airport, alone, for three hours? I quickly realized that airports cater to this sort of circumstance. First, there are the numerous places you can stop for a meal, a quick bite to eat, a snack, etc. along with a beer or cocktail to pass the time. I took advantage!

Then there are the newsstands - magazines, paper backs, the latest NY Times best sellers - something for everyone including snacks, sodas, and water. Luckily I had plenty of reading material with me. I had just finished All the Answers by Kate Messner (terrific!) on the plane and had Jodi Piccoult's new book, Leaving Time, waiting anxiously on my Kindle.

But perhaps my favorite pastime in an airport is people watching and eavesdropping on interesting conversations. You can learn so much! I quickly discovered that the guy sitting across from me on his cell phone was taking a risk with a new business. I got a lesson in how to use a calm voice to keep customers happy from the woman behind me. I was reminded of the importance of being specific from the woman who asked the sales person at one of the newsstand/convenience kiosks where she could find a beauty shop. It turns out all she wanted was hair spray. A beauty shop was not to be found, but hairspray? Yes! And I must say, I was tempted to sing along with the gentleman listening (and singing) to music on his ipad even with earbuds.

Then there was the little girl who looked up at her mother as they were walking toward the gate and said confidently, “Mommy, I think I want to be a giraffe!” I’m hoping she was referring to a Halloween costume, but perhaps that’s another story, too.


5 Comments
Tammy and Clare link
11/11/2014 04:29:13 am

Rose -- what a great mentor text for our students! You found so many small moments in an ordinary experience. We love how you lived the writerly life and described each moment as if we were right there with you! Hope all is well.
Clare and Tammy

Reply
Rose
11/11/2014 09:03:53 am

Thanks, Clare and Tammy. I think you saw more in that short piece than I did!

Reply
nanc link
11/11/2014 05:35:32 am

My husband was in a poetry workshop and once and one of the assignments was a poem based on eavesdropping. We went to McDonald's on Mother's Day. It was hilarious. I loved what you learned in your 3 hour delay. xo PS I have used Mentor Texts with my grad students for the last 6 years...love love your work.

Reply
Rose
11/11/2014 09:05:21 am

Thanks, Nanc!

Reply
Maria link
11/11/2014 10:03:43 am

Ahhh... delays! I'm trying to get back into the writing habit, and sometimes I forget how all the little things in my day can be fodder for writing.

I love the little girl who wants to be a giraffe. Maybe she's just wishing she were tall?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rose shares her observations and reflections on teaching and learning.

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.