Writing With Abandon

Reflections and ramblings about life as an educator, writer, reader, knitter, and over-thinker. Trying to do the writing only I can do.

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about

I’m Amy. A born and raised New Yorker, currently living in Miami. Here to reflect on my experiences as an educator and learner, working things out as I write.

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  • Commercials

    I never watch commercials anymore, as I haven’t had cable TV since moving out of my parents’ house. Only at doctor’s offices, like my dentist, playing episodes of Friends while the hygienist cleans my teeth, or like now, this tiny waiting room at the hospital while I wait for my annual physical and they have…

  • On Limited Time and Never-Ending To Do Lists

    I got off the phone with Kim and stepped into the kitchen. The oven was on. “I thought you were going to eat with me,” I said. “Sorry, love, I didn’t know how long you’d be on the phone,” Patrick replied sheepishly. “No, it’s okay,” I said, looking at the clock. 12:55. I swiped on…

  • Bilateral Beach

    For someone who has lived in the Sunshine State for almost 4 years, I don’t go to the beach nearly as much as one might expect. Nor to the pool, even though each of the three buildings I’ve lived in since moving here has one. But every other Saturday since late October, I’ve been driving…

  • On Doing the Writing Only I Can Do

    I crack open the notebook I used for the Quoddy Writing Retreat this past August, led by Ralph Fletcher and Georgia Heard. The notebook I haven’t touched since landing back in Miami, even though I made promises — to myself, to my writing group — to set aside time to write. My streak of Tuesdays…

  • Test post for KLA slicers

    Practice commenting your post hyperlink below.

  • A Conversation Poem

    My sister sent me a few of my nephew’s poems this afternoon. He’s doing the 2nd grade poetry unit at school. I absolutely love this “conversation poem” about making a “caseadias” (quesadillas 🥹): What could I write a conversation poem about? The gossip in my classroom (students are dating, people!!!)? Going to the Apple store…

  • A Friday Slice

    “Are you going to do the Slice of Life Challenge this year?” Ana asked me this morning as we passed each other in the halls. “Male and Angie are gonna do it, and Gi too.” “I don’t know…” I skirted. This year’s intention to slice every Tuesday started out strong and then waned in the…

  • When Ralph Comes to Visit

    “Are you ready?” Betsy asked me in the morning as we readied the theater. It was thirty minutes before the second performance of our class’s theatrical adaptation of Flying Solo by Ralph Fletcher, and today, not only were the students’ parents coming, but so was Ralph, himself! “Ready! And nervous!” I spat out. We still…

  • Planning, Projecting, Pacing

    I have a rare gift of a late-start morning, thanks to a doctor’s appointment, so I figured I’d take the time I still have before I head over there to write my slice. We’re coming off of a long weekend, and I happily spent some time on Saturday planning this week and next’s reading lessons…

  • The Magic Happening

    I missed my slice last week, and it’s already 9:28pm, but Ana sent me a text saying she wants to show up even if it’s just for four lines, so I figured I could do that too! The last couple weeks have felt nonstop, more so than in years past, and in spite of us…