About Me:

Aloha! I'm Wendy Kennar. I'm the mother of a seven-year-old son and a wife living in Los Angeles. I was a public school teacher for twelve years until a chronic medical condition made it necessary to leave my teaching career.

I've always been described as "quiet" - really, I'm just biting my tongue. I've got lots to say, and lots of thoughts to share, I just prefer to write them. That's the purpose of this blog. Each Wednesday, I post a personal essay offering my observations and thoughts.

A few fun facts about me: I've wanted to be a writer since second grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jones, made me a "book" with a yellow construction paper cover. I have never learned to whistle, have always preferred sunflowers to roses, and have spent my life living within the same zip code.

Through the years, my writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, United Teacher, GreenPrints, L.A. Parent, DivineCaroline.com, RoleReboot.org, XOJane, and Brain, Child Magazine. Additionally, my personal essays have been included in several anthologies, including: The Barefoot Review, Beyond the Diaper Bag, Lessons From My Parents, Write for Light, Being a Grown-Up: A User's Manual for the Real World, Ka-Pow!, How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times, Breath and Shadow, The Grey Wolfe Storybook, and Sisters Born, Sisters Found.
I am a regular contributor at MomsLA.com, and you can also find me at Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Feel free to comment and share my blog with others!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Remember Who I Am


      I am the same person I was.  I am a person who is terrified of earthquakes.  I am a person who cannot whistle.  I am a person with feet as cold as ice cubes, even in the summer.  I am a person who is right-handed, does not wear mascara or high heels, and does not like to chew gum.  I am a person who likes romantic comedies and happy endings.  I am a person who believes in wishing on stars and rainbows being good omens.

   I am not the same person I was.  I am a person with a scar on my left leg.  I am a person who hopes she’ll be able to fly on an airplane and take her son to the Eiffel Tower.  I am a person who can no longer walk my son to the museum.  I am a person who must watch the clock to determine which medication to take next.  I am a person who no longer wears skirts because of the multitude of veins crisscrossing my legs.  I am a person who needs help caring for my son, who cannot always join in games because of my “boo-boos.”

   I am now a person increasingly frustrated by the “minor” changes.  I am a person with swollen fingers (a side effect of my medication) and can no longer wear the eight rings that used to adorn my fingers.  I am a person who cannot go on a “Coffee Bean walk” - drinking a blended mocha, walking in the neighborhood with my son and husband, and enjoying our neighbors’ gardens.  

   I am no longer a person who believes everything will be okay.  I know no one is omnipotent, and that disease does not wait for old age.  I am no longer certain I will receive additional stamps in my passport.  I am a person who can no longer walk for exercise.

   Every day I must remind myself to remember who I am.  For regardless of my physical appearance, I am still me.  I am a person with neat handwriting.  I am a person who always signals when parking at the curb.  I am a person who loves with all my soul.  I am a person who will always buy more books than I have time to read.  I am a person who will always have stories to write.  

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3 comments:

  1. Paul KennarMay 16, 2012 at 9:53 PM

    Honey,
    I Love You with all of my heart. No matter what life throws at us I'll be there by your side. You are an amazing, loving, beautiful woman and I am proud of you. We will get you feeling like yourself again. We will not give up.
    Love,
    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  2. honey7214May 17, 2012 at 4:34 AM

    Yes,Wendy you are the same SPECIAL,WONDERFUL,BEAUTIFUL person you have always been.This disease you have been stricken with is not changing the very SPECIAL person you are,it is making it very hard for you to deal with all the pain and suffering you are having to deal with.But please don't ever think you aren't the same.You can and should still wear SKIRTS.I pray for you every day that the pain will soon leave you.I love you and I am so proud of you.
    love,mommy

    ReplyDelete
  3. msfraseMay 17, 2012 at 6:12 AM

    You are beautiful to me. You are a wonderful wife, mother, & daugther. You are also a tough person, no one would know that you have health issues, you hide it well. Your Mother and I pray for you to get better. We are very proud of you. You are doing a wonderful job with Ryan.

    Love, Dad

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