Community Voices

Colchester Six-Word Memoirs

2010

An Intergenerational and Collaborative Project with the Bacon Academy Library Media Center

and the Colchester Senior Center

Community Voices

Colchester Six-Word Memoirs

2010

An Intergenerational and Collaborative Project with the Bacon Academy Library Media Center

and the Colchester Senior Center

Editors: Linda Marchisio, library media specialist Lynette Dimock, library paraprofessional Assistant Editor: Kellie Olsen, library paraprofessional Bacon Academy 411 Norwich Avenue Colchester, CT 06416 Copyright © 2010 Linda Marchisio, Bacon Academy (Each individual 6-word memoir is under the ownership of its individual author as listed in this book) We wish to thank all the contributors for sharing their voices and memories. Ours thanks goes to Patti White and the staff at the Senior Center who made this collaboration possible. Additionally, we would like to thank the teachers at Bacon Academy who encouraged their students to participate. A personal thank you goes to Lynette Dimock, who typed the book. The publication of this book was funded by a Colchester Learning Foundations grant. Thank you, your support was essential to this project.

Community Voices Community Voices is the result of a collaborative, intergenerational writing opportunity offered to the Colchester community. High school students, senior citizens, school staff, and community members participated. This writing project has the unique format of the six-word memoir. Essays, posters, letters, and emails are common types of writing but rarely do you use only six words to convey an image or emotion. This succinct form of writing forces the writer/author to examine word choice and get to the essence of the meaning. It stimulates new ways of thinking and encourages a willingness to take risks since you only need six words to be an author. The fall 2009 theme at the Bacon Academy’s Library Media Center was literature that uses concise language; small statements can have a large impact. We collected student writing in three formats: poems created using magnetic poetry, text stories using only 160 characters, and six-word memoirs. Enthusiasm grew from this small project, until we decided we needed to print a book of six-word memoirs. Smith Magazine’s book Not Quite What I was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs was our original inspiration for the concept of six-word memoirs. You can also read six-word memoirs on their website. Community Voices includes words of wisdom and hope, bittersweet and joyful memories, recollections of favorite places and events, and descriptions of who we are. The contributors and the topics they wrote about are diverse. We hope you enjoy our six-word memoirs. Linda Marchisio, 2010

Such is life, enjoy every moment. - Mary Ann Standish

Be confident,

stand up for something. – Kourtney Sein

You can do this right now. - Jean Cannarella

The journey is the biggest reward. - Kevin Lynch

Life is as spontaneous as serendipity.

– Taylor Maranda

Community Voices 1

Look straight ahead, never look sideways.

-Jean Cannarella

Too much salt makes swollen ankles. - Louise Plocharczyk

Life is short, enjoy it now. - Maureen Shelto

Life is ironic because nobody survives. – Zack Bussiere

Community Voices 2

Lighten up, don’t worry,

smile alot. - Mary Ann Standish

What does common sense tell you? - Ashley Afonso

Where there is life, there’s hope.

- Louise Plocharczyk

Signs in life will guide you. - Brian Currie

Community Voices 3

Glasses make you see much better. - Louise Plocharczyk

Life’s a giant costume party – enjoy!

- Kellie Olsen

Don’t squat with your spurs on.

- anonymous

Respect yourself and so will others. - Kourtney Sein

Ride the bus, save your gas. - Louise Plocharczyk

Community Voices 4

Ambition can creep, but also soar. - Brittany Pietrzak

When in doubt, cry it out.

- Kala Mickens

Don’t shy from the first step. -Kala Mickens

Feel the fear; do it anyway!

- Bev Johnson

Let the tones of gladness ring. - anonymous

Community Voices 5

Life is a rollercoaster; have fun! - Brian Currie

MMake it challenging for the enemy. - Kala Mickens

WORK HARD, EAT WELL, DIE ANYWAY.

- ANONYMOUS

IF YOU SAY IT, OWN IT. - ASHLEY AFONSO

Laugh as much as you can. - Mr. Robert Blakita

Community Voices 6

You become what you purely exude. – David Comas-Diaz

Small bites, always take small bites.

– K. Browne

Perspective - it is all about attitude. - Gary Walter

Imagine… a courteous and thoughtful world.

- Lynette Dimock

Believe in yourself, magic will happen. – Casey Maher

Community Voices 7

Don’t lose yourself to others’ standards.

- Kala Mickens

Never stop doing what you love. - Natalie Gioscio

Nothing is impossible,

just highly improbable. - Jackie Sosnoski

Life is too short for regrets. - Erin Kaye

Life is a box of chocolates. - Sarah Gosse

Community Voices 8

Suck it up, take an Advil. - Joey Lindsey

It was mine for the taking. - Kala Mickens

When problems arise, handle them calmly.

– Brian Currie

Stick to your beliefs, not theirs. - Alexandra Catarino

Don’t judge me, I judge myself. - Kelly Dixon

Community Voices 9

Cancer survivors always have good faith. – Amaris M. Barsaleau

My joy is making prayer shawls. - Martha Paty

Volunteering is about giving and receiving. – Gary Walter

Hurt myself once, save lives now. - Nick Reid

Love to crochet for different causes. – Ruth Tallman

Community Voices 10

May I have touched other lives. - Selma Nirenstein

Making sleeping bags

for the homeless. – Martha Paty

I am a very good caregiver. - Trish Bayerowski

Serving senior citizens is my passion. – Donna Paty

Community Voices 11

Helping others can be reward enough. - Brian Baker

Give as much as you take. - Kala Mickens

Values keep me true to myself. - Elizabeth Minikowski

Evoke comfort, warmth through healing touch.

– Donna Paty

Community Voices 12

Happy to be with my friends. - Evelyn Schutz

I love being a loving grandma. - Marge Ely

Loving family fills me with joy.

- Selma Nirenstein

Good friends are important in life. - Frances S. Duka

Community Voices 13

Nice, living alone, miss family alot. - anonymous

Life is hard when you’re alone. - Ruth Tallman

Good friends, thankful for senior center.

– Pat Corcoran

Living alone

is freedom and contentment. – Norma Stoll

Living alone, Senior Center – life saver.  – Winnie Kilrain 

Community Voices 14

THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. - BETTY COURTENAY

Bingo Fridays, happy days,

happy seniors. – Louise Plocharczyk

Dumb and slow, she never listens. - Matt Brion

I really enjoy games with grandchildren.

– Del Cormier

Community Voices 15

Sad without you, but you’re here.

- Stephen Barreto

I love my son and daughter.

- Estelle Zembrowski

I have acknowledged your desertion, mom. - Mallory Derringer

Children, Rob II, Sharon, Jenni, Laura, Angela. – Rob Suchecki

Unexpected child. Second job. New wife. - Jared Bloomquist

Community Voices 16

Still don’t understand, miss you always.

– Priscilla Clesowich

Beloved daughter once filled with joy. – Patti White

Family, friends, work, laughter, ocean, balance. – Linda Iacobellis

A life changed by young love. - Casey Beaulieu

Love can sneak up on you.

- anonymous

Community Voices 17

Happiness

can happen to you unexpectedly. – Priscilla Clesowich

Love is finding beauty in flaws. - Zack Bussiere

Love life, you only live once.

- Brendon Bourcier

Happiness, peace, love forever, courage, summer.

- Samantha S.

HE IS THE ONE I LOVE.

- SAMANTHA GOVONI

Community Voices 18

Imagine the endless possibilities of love. – Taylor Maranda

Only love will keep us together. - Lauren Kaye

Love cures all things, don’t stop.

– Amaris M. Barsaleau

Together we’re something, apart we’re nothing. – Joey Lindsey

Love long, laugh hard, bring passion. - Kala Mickens

Community Voices 19

Dancing shoes have plenty of soul.

- anonymous

Music and humor feed my soul. - Selma Nirenstein

Your music might not be mine. - Mr. Blakita

Moving to music, dancing with friends. – Priscilla Clesowich

Total enjoyment listening to symphony concerts.

– Winnie Kilrain

Community Voices 20

Music is nourishment for the soul. - Joan Frantzen

Dance openly without fear of

failure. – Emily Baseler

I leap, I twirl,

I dance. - Rhiannon M.

I dance to my own beat. - Kala Mickens

Community Voices 21

My life’s like a Broadway Musical.

- Alyssa Hanson

I like stepping on crunchy pinecones. - Kellie Olsen

Sunset and starfish, salt water magic. – Annmarie Speer

I like gardening in the summer. - Del Cormier

Summer is fun in the sun.

- Louise Plocharczyk

Community Voices 22

Walk slow,

enjoy God’s beautiful workings. – Ruth Little

Sunshine, flowers, birds, butterflies, summer again.

– Winnie Kilrain

You can hear the corn grow. - anonymous

Spring rain, summer sunny,

fall, winter. – JeanMaurice Soucy

Community Voices 23

Snow flies, no school, happy kids. - Louise Plocharczyk

I always love the four seasons. - Estelle Zembrowski

Like an ocean,

choppy, smooth, deep. - Kala Mickens

I want lazy, breezy, summer days. - Shannon Dunn

Community Voices 24

Plant qualities you want to grow. -Peg Coulombe

To plant, to grow, to outgrow. -Peg Coulombe

Things to do,

places to go. - Pauline M. Hamblett

  Connecticut, the Nutmeg State, is great. – Louise Plocharczyk 

Been there, done that, what’s next? - anonymous

Community Voices 25

Never again, one time was enough.

- Pat Corcoran

My life consists of what ifs. - Jamie Correia

Portugal to Colchester, Oakwood National League. – Brenden Gottlieb

Name is Tim, basketball I love. - Tim Willauer

Dad retired looking to enjoy life. - Stephen Mekkelsen

Community Voices 26

College can not come soon enough.

- Niki Martin

Real learning experience walking to school. - anonymous

Bombs fell while crossing to America.

– Alice Dias

Took things for granted before sickness. – Donald Bauchmann

Community Voices 27

Born early, after that,

always late. - anonymous

I read a lot of novels.

– Del Cormier

On Sunday I went to church.

- Estelle Zembrowski

Young innocent dreamer, older knowing hopeful. – Annmarie Speer

Great to have lived so long. - Ruth H. Ciucias

Community Voices 28

Funny, outgoing, crazy, athlete, sister, caring.

– Sheily Boyden

I am an easy going person!

- Amber Post

Just wrote a six word memoir. - Zach Grinfeld

I keep myself in stitches everyday! - Mary Ann Standish

I do a lot of baking. – Del Cormier

Community Voices 29

Independent, sisters, brother, funny, caring, success.

– Xuyen Tran

Jumped off

a twenty foot cliff. -Alexis Dorr

 Kid, student, music, athlete, funny, home.  – Kyle Kurtz 

I’m in DCF care for abuse. – T. S.

Victorious of everything, loser of nothing. - Kala Micken

 

Community Voices 30

My name’s Alex, I like chicken. ‐ Alex Couture 

Having trouble, can’t find my way.

- Eli McCall

People can not pronounce my name.

- Christos Stravoravdis

Lacrosse, therapy, Springfield, girls, Ireland, friends. – Brendon Bourcier

Pinfinity, Infinity,

Mentor, 2010, Bacon, Family. – Nancy Van Zander

Everytime I walk, I trip myself. - anonymous

Community Voices 31

Perfection not goal, mediocrity not standard.

– Cathy Maher

Inquisitive colt; rootless stallion; faithful workhorse. – Mr. Manning

My life is just that awesome. - AJ Tuttle

And then I got an A+. - Evan Sheehan

Community Voices 32

My island - stupid people not allowed.

-anonymous

Library queen wears

reading glasses crown. – Linda Marchisio

I am not the average person. - Brian Currie

Excited to see

what tomorrow brings! - Kellie Olsen

Troubled past, will you keep me?

- Patti White

Community Voices 33

\ ~ÇÉã \ vtÇ wÉ à{|áA - Jean Cannarella

Emigrated and struggled, but now graduating.

- Frenchie

I just wanted it bad enough. - Kala Mickens

Forever learning,

growing, changing, forming, searching. – Bonnie Fiducia

Used as a scapegoat by everyone. - Heather Ericksen

Community Voices 34

I make nests without realizing it. - Kellie Olsen

Manager throws better than best footballers.

- BC Yank

My life is so much fun. - Rob Guarino

I have a giant hairless chinchilla. - Zak Miazga

I want to graduate right now. – Kirby Elmore

Community Voices 35

I hate watching myself do speeches. – Heather and Kevin

No gold chain, USB necklace instead.

– Linda Marchisio

Bored student, funny, games, food, paint. – Andrew Nordgren

Mother, teacher, animal advocate, wife, silly. – Janice Fuller

Community Voices 36

Deep-rooted institution, bursting with promise. – Patti White

My life is fine and dandy. - Bailey Gardner

Wish I was the hall monitor. - anonymous

I ate pizza with Ninja Turtles. - anonymous

I bring passion to the table. - Kala Mickens

I am a straight up gee. - Ryan H.

Community Voices 37

Wii Bowling is fun for all. - Betty Courtenay

The town of don’t you worry. - Ginny Stephenson

 Variety

is the spice of life. - Peg Coulombe

California’s far,

but I drive fast. - Autumn Avery

Do you know a knee slapper? - anonymous

Community Voices 38

Millions of words

to describe life. - Chasity Rodriguez

Beautiful lies cover the ugly truth.

- Bobby Morgan

Nose poking, treat found

– crunching delight. – M. Stygar

Beauty in the eye of beholder. - Chelsea Charbonnier

Basketball is a very competitive sport. – Steven Hawes

Community Voices 39

Can we get another dog please?

- Allison Lynch

Using only six words is hard. - Katie Larew

Spaghettios are not just kids’

food. - Heather Erickson

A WOMAN’S WORK IS NEVER DONE. - JOANN WALLOWITCH

Community Voices 40

This is complete and total blasphemy.

- Soviet Slocum

Stop taking up my news feed. - John Mohrlein

Descriptive wisdom in my lovely heart.

- A.G.

From one spectrum to the other. -Kala Mickens

Community Voices 41

Never look back unless someone’s waiting. Muévete hacia adelante siempre, te mueves para adelante. - Erin McKenna

You truly learn from your mistakes. Aprendes de tus pasadas equivocaciones.

- Hannah Pettit

You are absolutely everything you eat. Tú eres absolutamente todo lo que tú comes. - Jazmyn 

Success is defined by inner happiness. El triunfo está determinado por la felicidad.

- Bonnie Fiducia

Community Voices 42

I am not a morning person. No soy una persona matutina.

- Allison Lynch

Be different,

normal people never survive. Sé diferente, la gente normal no sobrevive.

- Matt

Never doubt yourself, accomplish your dreams.

Nunca dude de usted mismo siempre lleve a cabo tus sueños. - Chelz Ahmed

Community Voices 43

This is a waste of paper. Esté es una pérdida de papel.

- John Coloccio

Good things happen to good people. Cosas buenas pasan a la gente buena. - Ashley Lawrence

Optimism is the key to life. El optimismo es la clave de la vida.

- Melanie Weinick

Everything always happens for a reason. Todo pasa por una razón. - Paige McNichols

Community Voices 44

Bacon kills me from the inside. Bacon me mata por dentro. - Ryan H.

You’re kicked out of the

library. Tú has sido expulsado de la biblioteca.

- David Mahoney

Oh God, what have I done? ¡Dios mío! ¿Qué he hecho? - Garth

I will win it next time. Voy a ganarlo la próxima vez. - Cooper Johnson

Community Voices 45

Get me out of this school. ¡Sácame de la escuela ahora mismo!

- Tori Fearo

You are responsible for your happiness.

Tú eres responsible por tu felicidad. - Chelsea O’Leary

_Éäx |á {tÜw? uâà ãÉÜà{ |àA L’Amour est dur mais profites-en! @ ]xáá|vt `A

Community Voices 46

Community Voices 47

Learn. Play. Laugh. Smile. Love. Live. Apprenez. Jouez. Souriez. Riez. Aimez. Vivez.

Love without fear,

love with passion. Aimez sans peur, aimez avec passion.

Never regret the moments you smiled. Jamais regrettez les moments vous souriez.

Life’s a Sharpie…think, then do!

La vie est un “Sharpie”, reflechis puis agis! Never ever take someone for granted. Ne jamais considerez une personne comme acquise.

Facebook –

my whole life broadcast worldwide! Facebook – toute ma vie diffusee partout dans le monde!

Julia P. - Jacqueline B. - Alysha G. Katherine R. - Holly T. - Madeleine R.

Community Voices

♦ Index ♦ Anonymous, 4, 5, 6, 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 37, 38 Afonso, Ashley – Student, 3, 6 Ahmed, Chelz – Student, 43 Avery, Autumn – Student, 38 B., Jacqueline – Student, 47 Baker, Brian – Student, 12 Barreto, Stephen – Student, 16 Barsaleau, Amaris M. – Student, 10, 19 Baseler, Emily – Student, 21 Bauchmann, Donald – Senior Center Member, 27 Bayerowski, Trish – Senior Center Member, 11 Beaulieu, Casey – Student, 17 Blakita, Robert – Bacon Staff, 6, 20 Bloomquist, Jared – Student, 16 Bourcier, Brendon – Student, 18, 31 Boyden, Sheily – Student, 29 Brion, Matt – Student, 15 Browne, K. – Bacon Staff, 7 Bussiere, Zack – Student, 2, 18 Cannarella, Jean – Senior Center Member,

1, 2, 34 Catarino, Alexandra – Student, 9 Charbonnier, Chelsea – Student, 39 Ciucias, Ruth H. – Senior Center Member, 28 Clesowich, Priscilla – Senior Center Staff,

17, 18, 20 Coloccio, John – Student, 44 Comas-Diaz, David – Bacon Staff, 7 Corcoran, Pat – Senior Center Member, 14, 26 Cormier, Delnina – Senior Center Member,

15, 22, 28, 29 Correia, Jamie – Student, 26 Coulombe, Peg – Senior Center Member, 25, 38 Courtenay, Betty – Senior Center Member, 15, 38 Couture, Alex – Student, 31 Currie, Brian – Student, 3, 6, 9, 33 Derringer, Mallory – Student, 16 Dias, Alice – Senior Center Member, 27 Dimock, Lynette – Bacon Staff, 7 Dixon, Kelly – Student, 9 Dorr, Alexis – Student, 30 Duka, Frances S. –- Senior Center Member, 13 Dunn, Shannon – Student, 24 Elmore, Kirby – Student, 35

Ely, Marge – Senior Center Member, 13 Ericksen, Heather – Student, 34, 40 Fearon, Tori – Student, 46 Fiducia, Bonnie – Student, 34, 42 Frantzen, Joan – Bacon Staff, 21 Fuller, Janice – Community Member, 36 G., A. – Student, 41 G., Alysha- Student, 47 Gardner, Bailey – Student, 37 Gioscio, Natalie – Student, 8 Gosse, Sarah – Student, 8 Gottlieb, Brenden – Student, 26 Govoni, Samantha – Student, 18 Grinfeld, Zach – Student, 29 Guarino, Rob – Student, 35 H., Ryan – Student, 37, 45 Hamblett, Pauline M. – Senior Center Member, 25 Hanson, Alyssa – Student, 22 Hawes, Steven – Student, 39 Iacobellis, Linda – Bacon Staff, 17 Johnson, Cooper – Student, 45 Johnson, Bev – Bacon Staff, 5 Kaye, Erin – Student, 8 Kaye, Lauren – Student, 19 Kilrain, Winnie – Senior Center Member,

14, 20, 23 Kurtz, Kyle – Student, 30 Larew, Katie – Student, 40 Lawrence, Ashley – Student, 44 Lindsey, Joey – Student, 9, 19 Little, Ruth – Senior Center Member, 23 Lynch, Allison – Student, 40, 43 Lynch, Kevin – Student, 1 M., Rhiannon – Student, 21 M., Jessica – Student, 46 Maher, Casey – Student, 7 Maher, Cathy – Bacon Staff, 32 Mahoney, David – Student, 45 Manning, Mr. – Bacon Staff, 32 Maranda, Taylor – Student, 1, 19 Marchisio, Linda – Bacon Staff, 33, 36 Martin, Niki – Student, 27

Community Voices

McCall, Eli – Student, 31 McKenna, Erin – Student, 42 McNichols, Paige – Student, 44 Mekkelsen, Stephen – Senior Center Member, 26 Miazga, Zak – Student, 35 Mickens, Kala – Student,

5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 19, 21, 30, 34, 41 Minikowski, Elizabeth – Student, 12 Mohrlein, John – Student, 41 Morgan, Bobby – Student, 39 Nirenstein, Selma – Senior Center Member,

11, 13, 20 Nordgren, Andrew – Student, 36 O’Leary, Chelsea – Student, 46 Olsen, Kellie – Bacon Staff, 4, 22, 33, 35 P., Julia – Student, 47 Paty, Donna – Senior Center Staff, 11, 12 Paty, Martha – Senior Center Member, 10, 11 Pettit, Hannah – Student, 42 Pietrzak, Brittany – Student, 5 Plocharczyk, Louise – Senior Center Member,

2, 3, 4, 15, 22, 24, 25 Post, Amber – Student, 29 R., Katherine – Student, 47 R., Madeleine – Student, 47 Reid, Nick – Student, 10 Rodriguez, Chastity – Student, 39 S., Samantha – Student, 18 S., T. – Student, 30 Schutz, Evelyn – Senior Center Member, 13 Sein, Kourtney – Student, 1, 4 Sheehan, Evan – Student, 32 Shelto, Maurenn – Senior Center Member, 2 Slocum, Soviet – Student, 41 Sosnoski, Jackie – Student, 8 Soucy, JeanMaurice – Senior Center Member, 23 Speer, Annmarie – Senior Center Member, 22, 28 Standish, Mary Ann – Senior Center Member,

1, 3, 29 Stephenson, Ginny – Senior Center Member, 38 Stoll, Norman – Senior Center Member, 14 Stravoravdis, Christos – Student, 31 Stygar, M. – Community Member, 39 Suchecki, Rob – Bacon Staff, 16 T., Holly – Student, 47 Tallman, Ruth – Senior Center Member, 10, 14 Tran, Xuyen – Student,30 Tuttle, AJ – Student, 32 VanZander, Nancy – Bacon Staff, 31

Wallowitch, Joann – Senior Center Member, 40 Walter, Gary – Senior Center Member, 7, 10 Weinick, Melanie – Student, 44 White, Patti – Senior Center Staff, 17, 33, 37 Willauer, Tim – Student, 26 Yank, B.C. – Student, 35 Zembrowski, Estelle – Senior Center Member,

16, 24, 28 Frenchie – Student, 34 Garth – Student, 45 Heather and Kevin – Students, 36 Jazmyn – Student, 42 Matt – Student, 43

Community Voices