Clear the Ground Oak Park, Illinois—Saturday morning, April 9, 1994 I have left my house after screaming at my parents that I’m not going to college. I am eighteen and sitting on a bench facing Rehm Park, the playground of my childhood, watching kids dig in the sand, watching them pretend the ground is lava, watching them perform the mighty quest of going up the twirl slide until someone’s parent tells them to cut it out.
this essay ... I don't even have words. I LOVED reading every word of it. How I WISH you were still here, but ("Humidity is a spider, and Washington DC is her web." HA! so perfect!) so I get why you left ---> but I miss you and love reading this story of YOU (pl). ❤️
Old ass oyster crackers 🤣🤣🤣 phenomenal storytelling, Callie! This might be my new favorite piece of yours. I could pull a dozen quotes that made me laugh/smile/marvel. Your essays teach me a lot about writing.
I am speechless. Wow, Callie. This is stunning. The way you told a love story through place-all the pieces, all the memories-incredible. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Callie I didn’t want this essay to end. And now I feel a desire to walk down the block and sit myself on the Rehm bench and think about what is next. I’ll take more of these stories please.
I loved every line of this essay, Callie. You’re such a gifted storyteller, and I will never tire of reading your words.
The “old ass” oyster crackers made me laugh. 😆 I moved to DC in August 2006 (and it was my first time in the city ever) and I had never experienced humidity like that! It hit me like a wall when I stepped out of the airport. 🥵
The way you describe humidity cracked me up. My family has lived in Northern Virginia for over 20 years, but we spent three years in southern Georgia prior to that, so the humidity has never really phased me, but I always laugh when our friends from the north bemoan the humidity. 🤣
I'd like to think that we did.
I get lost in your stories every single time. Beautiful work, Callie 👏🏽 You’re a master at weaving in the past.
this essay ... I don't even have words. I LOVED reading every word of it. How I WISH you were still here, but ("Humidity is a spider, and Washington DC is her web." HA! so perfect!) so I get why you left ---> but I miss you and love reading this story of YOU (pl). ❤️
This Calvin College Alum's week has been made. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Old ass oyster crackers 🤣🤣🤣 phenomenal storytelling, Callie! This might be my new favorite piece of yours. I could pull a dozen quotes that made me laugh/smile/marvel. Your essays teach me a lot about writing.
I am speechless. Wow, Callie. This is stunning. The way you told a love story through place-all the pieces, all the memories-incredible. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Masterful Callie. ❤️👏
This is so stunning. I felt like I could see every scene, it was so visual. Just lovely
Callie I didn’t want this essay to end. And now I feel a desire to walk down the block and sit myself on the Rehm bench and think about what is next. I’ll take more of these stories please.
Loved this! Amazing storytelling. And this line will stick with me: “I do not know if teaching is a dementor or a patronus.”
Tuesday nights at Corby’s ☘️💙💛☘️ Thank you for sharing such beautiful moments of your family’s story, and for reminding me of my own!
This was excellent reading for my Saturday morning with coffee! Thank YOU!!!
I loved every line of this essay, Callie. You’re such a gifted storyteller, and I will never tire of reading your words.
The “old ass” oyster crackers made me laugh. 😆 I moved to DC in August 2006 (and it was my first time in the city ever) and I had never experienced humidity like that! It hit me like a wall when I stepped out of the airport. 🥵
The way you describe humidity cracked me up. My family has lived in Northern Virginia for over 20 years, but we spent three years in southern Georgia prior to that, so the humidity has never really phased me, but I always laugh when our friends from the north bemoan the humidity. 🤣
Love this!!!