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Weekly Wrap: Career Day

By Posted on 42 2 m read 3.6K views

This is a story of what happens when you tell people you’re a writer before you’ve actually published anything…

Once, when it was career day at the elementary school, Mr. H and I were invited in to talk about our jobs. I went first and talked about my love of reading and the process of writing and editing. And then I asked the children if they had questions.

“Did you write Harry Potter?”

“No.”

“Did you write The Cat in the Hat?”

“No.” This was only funny maybe the first or second time and then it wore off.

Finally the teacher stepped in to help – “Mrs. Henderson, tell us what books you did write.”

Too embarrassed to tell the truth, that there was no book to buy, I answered cryptically, “They’re not really for children.” This forever after branded me as an assumed writer of erotica.

Then Mr. Henderson entered the classroom to discuss costuming actors for plays. His talk quickly focused on using makeup to create fake bruises and scars. He used my son as an example of an actor who needed to look like he’d been in a fight.

These pictures are examples of the work he does with his college students. 

He was supposed to wash off the bruises but he went home on the bus all beat up. I asked him, “So, how do you think it went today?”

“Great,” he said, “Everyone in my class wants to be a costume designer.”

*

Thank you to the super-lovely Paul Green for visiting this week. Thank you to everyone who played here.

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42 Comments
  • Kimberly
    December 20, 2007

    You know I could never say enough about your favorite teacher… (and how touched I was when you said “She’s mine, now” last Monday…)

    xoxo 🙂

  • lance_reynald
    December 21, 2007

    nice.
    happy holidays Hendersons.

    xo.

  • Heather_Fowler
    December 21, 2007

    Susan, you are like fun times 10. Oops, did I sound too Californian. 21 stories in on this flash a day for my myspace blog in December may be polluting my daily dialogue with idiocy. Forgive me, kay? Just know I adore you. You are way cute, like the BFF I looked for but didn’t find in 10th grade when all life went to hell in a handbasket as dreams were generated, listened to, then discarded just as quickly. P.S. Just finished that book of form poetry–egads! 70 form poems written in 6 months. Yes, you can say it, I was smoking crack. Not literally, of course. Literarily though, for sure. And now, I quite while I’m behind. Just see me grinning at you going, “She is so cute. I love her blogs. I’m so lucky she’s my friend.”

    xoxo,
    H

  • Aurelio
    December 21, 2007

    Holy Cow! I’ve just become a big Mr. H fan. Love the cell phone rule.

  • Gail Siegel
    December 21, 2007

    Mr. H’s artwork is even more luscious in person. The pouty girl in the luxurious textiles? She’s amazing. The man is a walking bundle of talent. And really charming, to boot.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 21, 2007

    Awww.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 21, 2007

    We are both having awesome holidays, eh?

  • SusanHenderson
    December 21, 2007

    That is the sweetest thing. Thank you.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 21, 2007

    Isn’t that a great rule?

  • SusanHenderson
    December 21, 2007

    Mr. H is equally charmed by you.

  • Malcolm Campbell
    December 21, 2007

    What a wonderful person, the perfect “type” for teaching, inspiring, and goading–as needed–others. A perfect tribute.

  • Aurelio
    December 21, 2007

    Yeah, I wish I could apply it everywhere, though I wouldn’t be as nice as Mr. H. Like, if your cell phone rings in public while you’re within arm’s reach of me: I get to slug you, if you start yakking on it: I get to strangle the life out of you. And if you use it in while driving your car: I get to torture you… and then kill you.

    I saw a guy on the freeway just yesterday who had a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other while he exited an offramp using a knee to steer. It was almost enough to make me change my view on the death penalty.

  • lance_reynald
    December 21, 2007

    🙂

  • RobinGrantham
    December 21, 2007

    I still love that painting of the girl with her violin. And that picture of you behind the stairs. I scrolled back and forth between the two and, you know, there’s a resemblance there. Is it just me?…Mentioning that you learned from the girl you babysat reminded me that I learned from a child once, too. A blind, autistic boy I helped take care of while I was in college. I wrote about it a while back. I often wonder how he’s doing now.

    In other news, I can’t believe Mr. H ate a baby mouse! Aaaaack! I’m imagining Tom Hanks in Big, gnawing at the baby corn. Since I can’t get that image out of my head, I think you owe me. ;~)

    Also, the scars and wounds are awesome.

  • Kimberly
    December 21, 2007

    Did you see today’s video? Special cameo by Mr. H at the end…

  • Laura Wellner
    December 22, 2007

    I really love Mr. H’s work! What a nifty guy! I especially enjoyed the Bouguereau connection, at the art collection where I work as the Registrar, I have care of two of them, Les Petites Mendicants and Meditation, they’re lovely ladies and practically breathe on their own they’re so real…they amaze me every time, and I will never lose the sense of awe when I see them. Happy Holidays!

    Laura

  • robinslick
    December 23, 2007

    I dunno, if I were Mr. H, I’d say “You don’t have to give me anything as pedestrian as a store bought gift for Christmas – this post was the best present I’ve ever received” but I bet you can think of something else, especially if it involves whipped cream and/or guacamole. Kidding, kidding, and Mr. H’s students cover your eyes…

    Isn’t it great being married to someone so artistic? Even when they aggravate you (though in my mind you two have the perfect marriage and he never aggravates you) you can look or listen to something wonderful they’ve created and you realize you can’t stay pissed at them…

    Anyway, it is 7:15 a.m. and I’m rambling because my significant other and I are headed out Christmas shopping – last minute, as usual, and I just turned on the news and even non-mall stores in Center City, Philadelphia are packed with herds of people…I was kind of hoping if we left now at dawn in the rain we’d avoid that but nooo….so if I don’t make it back here and am hospitalized for anxiety, have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and thank you for a most excellent year at Lit Park.

    P.S. Is Lit Park open for Christmas and New Years or on another dreaded sabbatical?

  • Nathalie
    December 23, 2007

    A great teacher, indeed, no competition!
    Lucky you to have him.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    Thanks, Malcolm. It’s great to see you here.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    His big fear about the mouse was that it would POP when he bit it, but it didn’t, so he ended up eating two.

    Love the story you wrote.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    Laura, great to see you here! How neat to know you care for two Bouguereau paintings! I’ll look those two up right now!

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    It’s a great help being married to another artist because he understands so much.

    If I hear from my scheduled guest, I’ll be up on New Year’s. If not, I may be up again, anyway. I get itchy when the site is quiet.

    Hope your shopping is done!

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    I’m very aware who the lucky one is and who has his hands full.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    Hmmm. I’m locked out of my login thingy, so unless that’s fixed, I can’t post new stuff. And worse, drafts of things may automatically load. But I’m not going to bug Terry over something like this during the holidays.

  • SusanHenderson
    December 24, 2007

    It’s a great, crazy video. I love the light-up dolphins.

  • Heather_Fowler
    December 24, 2007

    You are welcome and Mr. Henderson is way cool. A fabulous artist. Warmest, H

  • SusanHenderson
    December 26, 2007

    Absolutely beautiful breakdown, Lance.

    The kids are playing some Pink Floyd songs tonight to open the All-Stars show. Tomorrow we’re all seeing Cyrano on Broadway (my Christmas present). If enough folks are around, I’ll post a Question of the Week on Monday. Any good ideas for questions??

  • SusanHenderson
    December 28, 2007

    Kevin Kline was amazing. I cried like a baby. Hey, Lance (and Robin), I’m going to have LitPark open next week, though I’ll be in Philly and computerless much of the time. Go ahead and act like you own the place while I’m gone.

  • Kimberly
    December 28, 2007

    I’m very possibly going to be interviewing him & Jennifer Garner for an upcoming websode project for a friend of mine… I’ll keep you posted as to the outcome! Going to Philly? How exciting! Have Robin take you to the infamous bar: Dirty Franks at 13th and Pine if you have time. I used to live in that building right after it was converted from a crack house. Good times!

  • SusanHenderson
    December 28, 2007

    Maybe “Philly” was not quite as accurate as saying “Line Lexington, PA.” Alas, no bar-hopping. No converted crack houses. And no Robin.

    Would you feel too weird telling Kevin Kline your friend loves him and would like to count his chest hairs?

  • lance_reynald
    December 28, 2007

    like I own the place you say…?
    hmm….
    should I measure for the hot tub and fire pit now, or should I wait til you get on the train??

    and, I have no idea how that disco ball got under the monkey bars… but doesn’t it look great there?

    travel safe!

    and if you do make it into town, there are some great tattoo artists in Philly… maybe even a few places for piercings…

    xoxo. LR

  • Kimberly
    December 28, 2007

    Would be permissible to count them for you and then report back??? purrrrrrrrrrr……..

    p.s. I’m assuming you haven’t seen the Peter Frampton/Geico commercial… so Susan, this link is for you!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiA-_p5QRJM

    Doesn’t look like there’s much hair ANYWHERE any more…

  • SusanHenderson
    December 29, 2007

    Sigh. I still love him.

    This one’s always been my favorite song:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MGXNb27QeA&feature=related

  • SusanHenderson
    December 29, 2007

    Definitely need a disco ball and fire pit!

  • SusanHenderson
    December 29, 2007

    I’ll be in Philly till Wednesday.

    (Go Giants!)

  • Betsy
    December 31, 2007

    Holy cow, Susan, that is one talented dude! Right on!

  • Jessica Keener
    December 31, 2007

    What an amazing man. You are lucky to know your luck, Susan.

  • jessica
    December 31, 2007

    Lucky you, Susan, for knowing your luck and what an amazing man!

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