My Permanent Records

I have very few artifacts from my childhood — a handful of family photos, a half-page “Big Top Revival” newspaper clipping, and a couple of Jesus fans (cardstock images of Christ stapled to tongue depressors, funeral home information printed on the back. How’s that for the power of suggestion?). Otherwise, nada. 

I’m not certain how many schools I enrolled in, where they’re located, or when I attended. Part of my research involves piecing it all together. But one thing I now know with a certainty: Permanent Records are a myth. After three to five years, your cumulative files are stripped to bare bones, picked clean of any prose. What’s left? Census data, grades, and test scores — nothing else. No evidence that you were an angel or, for that matter, an incorrigible student. Just the facts, ma’am, and sometimes even those are sorely lacking. 

Nevertheless, I now know more about where my father went to school! Even better, I talked to the college representative on Friday, and she offered to send me something fabulous. It will most certainly add an element of irony to my memoir, and a bit of celebrity flair. Maybe I’ll do a little show-and-tell when it arrives. Are you interested?

 

In other news: I keep having to switch my bracelet from one wrist to the other — so often, in fact, that the weekend went by in a purple blur. Here’s a couple of positive developments: I somehow managed to finish my SisterDivas column five whole days before my deadline, and I’m making good progress in the first week of the Fast Draft project. No comment on the quality (eyes her bracelet), but I’ve written lots of words.  

Happy Monday, everyone. Have a memorable week!

32 Comments

  1. I love show and tell day! I can’t wait to hear more about what the registrar is giving you! 🙂

    Your past may have little tangible left for you to hold, but YOU are here, and you are OUR tangible treasure! 🙂

  9. Happy Monday to you, too, Melodye ~

    Watching you go through this process of writing your memoir is amazing, and also touching as you go back to unfold all these pieces.

    Not to be too vague, but I will, I wanted to see if I could contact you via email re: writing. I have some questions for you and also to bounce some ideas off you.

    If you’re able to, please let me know.
    S Y D L A N D W I N D O W at Y A H O O

    Thanks so much and like everyone else – looking forward to show and tell –

    Laura

    • Laura, I’m *happy* to talk with you. Send me an email: newport2newport AT gmail DOT com

      I so appreciate your ongoing support. This is such new territory for me that it feels great to have company on the trip.

    • I can’t wait to share it with you, Sara. Maybe at the end of the month?

      It *is* fascinating, for sure. As I mentioned to someone else (above), this is at once familiar and foreign territory.

  11. So you mean they lied to me every time they told me that was going on my permanent record?!?! Bastards! If I’d know that, my high school career would’ve been much different, let me tell you. LOL….

    Congrats on the progress with your projects! That’s terrific news! And yes, I for one, would definitely like some show-and-tell time!!!

    Good luck with everything!

    • They lied, they most assuredly did. Darn it anyway! I wish I would have known!

      I got my package in the mail today. Watch this space. 🙂

      By the way, again I love your icon. Your latest post photos, not so much. So, so sad. 🙁

  12. Lotsa This and Lotsa that, Lotsa Matzoh, Flaky, Flat ;}

    Melodye, I do not understand why my mail is coming through at staggered intervals. Your Saturday letter (re: our phone call) came in late Sunday– that, after I heard your sweet message on the cell. We WILL talk. Hold on.

    I’m rushing to get ready for the seder. Forgive me.

    But I am so glad I clicked on your LJ right now. Your writing never fails to touch me in all the right ways.

    Did I tell you my husband and I spoke about you and your work for much of our Saturday night meal at El Quijote? (I suppose you didn’t get a chance to take a dinner in there when you were at the Chelsea next door. Next time, please. Please?)

    I don’t know if you have a title for the new mss yet but I think you have hit upon a wonderful working title:
    PERMANENT RECORDS.

    Has this occurred to you yet? {}

    About your Bracelet Dance: there is nothing wrong with a good person who floggs herself for negative behavior. Be true to the goodness of you.

    Randomly yours,
    Pamela
    (aghast at the thought that I became -engaged- 19 years ago today, April 2nd, 1988— at a Bruce concert, during ROSALITA…oh baby oh my) :}

    p.s. Congratulations on finishing your DIVAS column before the bell rang. You’re so good. {}

    pps. First Draft project is…? Need more details. When you can. {}

    • Re: Lotsa This and Lotsa that, Lotsa Matzoh, Flaky, Flat ;}

      Chag Pesach Semeach to you and your family, Pamela. We’ll talk when Passover’s finished. When you have time, give me a call; we’ll talk.

      My tentative title is CAN I GET A WITNESS?

      Yeah, the bracelet’s getting on my last nerves. I’m an optimistic, positive person, but that crazy thing is making me feel like a full-time kvetcher. I’m not, I swear it!

      Next time I’m back in NY, let’s go to El Quijote together!

      Fast draft = like the novel in a month concept, except you sign up, set your own goals, and type like a whirling dirvish to meet those weekly objectives. I’m trying to outpace my inner editor and hope this will help. My goal: 5,000 words per week, initially, but I can up the ante if I (ha) meet or surpass that number. Wish me luck!

  13. I’m very impressed that you managed to get the college to release your father’s transcripts!

    At various times when I’ve needed my own transcripts, security about them was very tight and I had to prove my identity before they would release them.

    Can’t wait to hear more juicy details…

    • They didn’t release my father’s transcripts directly to me. I guess I needed to make that clear, which I did, up top. What I meant was that it took some doing to get through the request process.

      Someday, once I’ve gotten all my permanent records (the second day of never at the pace they’re coming in), I’ll write an essay or a post about how scary-easy it is to get records without ID in some districts/businesses.

      More to come — the package arrived today, woo hoo!

  15. I couldn’t help but laugh when I noticed that your Jesus fans link was purple. Coincidence? I think not.

    As for your purple bracelet blur, you can do it! It’s good for you.

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