Drowning Liz

Hey, I’m drowning.  But it’s a good kind of drowning.  Manuscripts over-flow my kitchen table, chairs, and floor.  Zoie side-steps them carefully, giving them “good sniffs” and rating them all First Places. 

Meanwhile, I zip open envelopes and place manuscripts (abbreviation = ms.) in stacks.   Next, I divide and conquer.  Every submission has two copies (hopefully!) and they get separated, along with their student.   I keep the forms in a box in my office. 

When I’m through dividing and conquering,  I type the kids’ names and addresses onto labels.   Every student who has properly filled out a form will hear from us.  

Tomorrow I will check the p. o. box again, as we never trust the post office.  (Oops!  Did I admit that?)  Sometimes students mail the submissions on time, they get stamped the correct date, but they don’t “float” into our mailbox until days later. 

Although at this stage of the game, I don’t have time to read any of the ms., I do glance now and then.  What wonderful talent we have in our county!   What great teachers we have that encourage these writers! 

Good news:  MOST students followed the guidelines this year!  YEAH!  (fist punching air)  Last year, we had tons of kids who didn’t send two copies of their stories, poems, and essays.  This year we only have a handful. 

Amusing note:  Everyone procrastinates, don’t they?  Must have had forty e-mails asking me how late they could mail their submission and if they’d make the deadline.  When did our information go to schools, libraries, and newspapers?  January. 

What about me?  When I have dinner guests, do I clean my house ahead of time?  Nope.   A little while before I must start dinner, I race through the house like a mad woman . . .