I’m processing a lot of events. I think that is why I have been silent for a few days. I’m trying to remember all the things and hold memories tight.
Last week Sam and I traveled to Kansas City, Missouri for the Conference on College Composition and Communication. I presented with some pretty amazing colleagues and scholars in the field of veteran studies. Our panel focused on care, the rhetoric of, and how there’s also some conflict in that our language is sometimes not heard, underrepresented, or confused. I learned about how challenging it can be for military kids, you know, the ones who have moved all over and worry about a place to call home…I learned about caregivers, our safe spaces, the places where we are among “our people” and we can also understand other experiences, and I learned that we are long engaged in the forever war, a war that my children will always know.
I connected with caregivers and learned about an amazing organization in Kansas City called Caregivers on the Homefront. I heard brave women share their experiences with complete strangers. While we were all in one room, we were all connected through our stories, realizing there is power in them, our voices united to share from our heart what matters most, the narrative.
Good narratives tell stories that matter. I teach that to students in my classroom. They share personal narratives, literacy narratives, and stories with me about their lives in and out of the classroom. I share stories here, good, bad, ugly, sad, and happy that also give you all an insight into our life, PTSD, the challenges a military family can experience, and of course, the upbeat stories of our life with Memphis.
My worlds collided at C’s (4C’s, CCCC, Conference on College Composition and Communication). I have been trying to process everything that happened. The connections that I made, the friendships that developed, the readers gained, it was just simply amazing.
And the best part of all of it was that I was surrounded by some of my best friends.
Highlights include (aside from a full heart):
- Driving the truck with the camper. This was a first for me. (#powerful) I will now retire my title as the driver as long as the camper is attached.
- Spending time at the World War I museum and finding military documents detailing my grandfather Jack’s time in the Navy. Ever cried in public with a stranger? Yep. I did that.
- Eating lunch with my uncle and hubby at an amazing restaurant called D. Rowe’s in Columbia, Missouri. I highly recommend you go, try the smoked wings. You’re welcome.
- I connected with some pretty amazing folks who spoke to me about a Ph.D. program (online, remain calm, we are not moving out of state) in technical communication and rhetoric. #TTU
- My husband was the best travel companion and buddy. We both needed time away, perhaps it was a small chance to heal our broken hearts, perhaps it was a chance to have a mini-vacation and road trip. He was patient with me, he was a trooper with my conference schedule, and he was a great cook.
- My bestie had a sleepover with us in the camper. We did a movie night with all the food and all the snacks. I haven’t laughed like that in a long time.
- Free books.
- We participated in a workshop with Caregivers on the Homefront and shared our story. I learned that being a caregiver is a title that can come with ups and downs, but also learned that caregivers are pretty amazing people. Also, we had a taco bar.
- I had a chance to journal about all of the things. The conference, research interests, and even thought about future plans for papers, articles, and the academic things. Imposter syndrome took a backseat for a bit, but I found it creeping in when I read the CFP for the next C’s.
- My head and heart were full. Did I mention that? I realized I’m incredibly lucky to be able to participate in an organization that allows me to network and collaborate with some pretty amazing people. I’m also super thankful I stepped out of my comfort zone a few years ago and traveled down to Houston to see what this C’s stuff was all about…
I’m processing. Good things. Happy moments. And I’m missing my people a tiny bit…
