What You Should Know Should I Become Lost At Sea
When I teach, I tend to give my students lots of writing exercises. This mainly comes from the fact that I think writing must be taught by actually writing rather than just talking about writing. However, I often get the feeling that most of my students think I just like quiet time (which I do) and that I'm trying to torture them -- especially when it comes to free writing.
So, most of the time, I do the exercises along with my students. It's helpful for me to get some new ideas down on paper, and I hope it demonstrates that I don't ask my classes to do anything I wouldn't, and don't commonly, engage in.
Last night, I was leading a short workshop on "Personal Essay as Message in a Bottle." (It's for a local non-profit group/writing center -- hence, the theme.) The general idea was, "What would you want someone to know about you if this message in a bottle was your last communication with the outside world?" However, being that that's a little dark, we started with what you'd want someone to know about you that might help them find you/recognize the urgency of the situation.
My list:
1. I'm a small (5'3") brunette with blue eyes. I do not look very good after a few days without bathing, but the salt water will have done wonders for my naturally curly hair.
2. My parents are Diane and Billy Mills. One is an engineer, and the other is a lawyer, so hopefully one will figure out a way to extract me from this Godforsaken place while the other will figure out who to sue the pants off/make me rich for life off of whatever trapped me here. (Hint: A large reward for my safe return -- emphasis on "safe" -- should be involved.)
3. I have two sisters and a brother-in-law. My brother-in-law being an avid paddler, I fully expect him to search the waters, by kayak, tirelessly, until I am found.
4. I'm 30 and have spent most of my life in the suburbs. I don't camp. I'm a fighter. (You do not want to sit next to me while playing Catch Phrase), but I'm not sure how a fair-skinned Scottish girl will fare under these conditions.
5. I cannot fish or throw a spear. I can knit. I should be able to create my own clothes from palm fronds. I think these same skills will translate to the making of my hut's roof. This is one of the few things I bring to the table in desert island survival.
6. I've watched enough Lost to know to avoid large clouds of dark smoke.
7. I am stronger than I look and can carry pieces of furniture that are far larger than myself. In addition to the aforementioned reward, I will help you with one, and only one, move if you resuce me.
8. I'm a writer. I also help businesses with blogging and new media. These skills are completely useless on this island.
9. I might go insane with no books, TV, laptop or companions. Just FYI.
10. Should I not make it off this island, please remember me from photos that are at least five years old and for the blog entries that don't show me trying to lure my cat out of various trees.
Best wishes,
Laurel Fame Mills