Ahead of Myself (oops) My Hypertextopia story..

[Aileen Malave]

I haven't written in a while so I found it refreshing and inspirational. Using Hypertextopia was a great experience for me because I found it to be user friendly in a sense that I could toggle back and forth to each box of writing and type my thoughts down quickly and accurately without having to search a whole page of paper for what I was looking for. I also talked with Paul about using this site to type up my research papers and he said that it is in fact used for this type of resource also. I'm going to give that a shot this September when I get back to college.

My next challenge is to write a new story and using the blocks as alternates for the reader. Maybe it'll will be less of a struggle for me to do this if I make my story fictional this time.

Here's my short summer reading for all of you (smile). . The story I put together is called My Brown Purse. I hope you enjoy it

[Wendy Farkas]

OMG! Your life parallels mine! I live near the Green Acres Mall where Alexander's used to be (and my husband's last name is Farkas - no relation) and I remember shopping there, too. We also went to May's, S. Klein and Korvettes. I think you are a GREAT mom! I had to work when I was young because my parents couldn't afford to give me anything. I paid for college and law school and my first car to get me to college (there was no public transportation where I grew up) and my gas, insurance, repairs, spending money, yada, yada.

I can now afford to give my children everything they want (thank God), but I don't. I have a similar philosophy - I think earning what you want builds character, self-esteem and self-reliance. My son is now 15 and is working as a volunteer at a day camp and he couldn't be happier. He is so proud of himself and he has a profound sense of responsibility. I am very proud of him myself and often can't figure out how this kid came out so good!

And I still say your are not old enough to have an 18 year old! God bless!

[Mat]

I like the story. It reminds me of when I used to fight with my mom during back to school shopping in Jr High School. I also like your links to the wikipedia entries on the various stores. I also like it how share these experiences and connect it with your successful raising of your son. I see this story as springboard to other adventures in your life stoy.

[Julie]

Aileen, your story brought up so many associations for me! We used to shop at Alexander's in White Plains when I was a kid -- that's where I used to get all my back-to-school clothes too! My mother, who socialized with people in a much higher socio-economic niche than ours (i.e. rich people) used to get her clothes there, too. But she was such a genius at accessorizing that she could make inexpensive clothes look like a million bucks, and all her rich friends always wanted to know where she'd gotten that little vest, or whatever she was wearing. She'd just shrug them off.

And the lunch counter at Woolworth's...I swear, each one had genius cooks in those kitchens. When I taught in Central Harlem, years ago, the best fried chicken EVER was to be found in the Woolworth's on 125th St. -- and they had amazing homemade apple dumplings, too. Gone, but not forgotten.