Glad you enjoyed it! I started out my Substack writing about all the self-help books that I’ve read in my life. They were definitely therapy for me, so I imagined myself riding around Substack, just sharing what I had learned, doling it out like a food truck - only therapy!
Thanks so much for reading about my dear little Shirley Diesel❣️
I love that, I'm happy you can share your stories with people, and connect with the experiences you bring to the table. Can't wait to have you around Substack!
Not sure how I missed your comment, Jill, but thank you! Shirley Diesel was such a lovely part of my childhood. I wish I remembered more about our times together. Thanks for the support as I figure it all out❣️
Love this! It got me thinking about my own imaginary friend when I was a little girl. I’ve never been very good at naming characters, so her name was simply Ali Gator. She was an alligator who stood upright, with her head tilted just enough for me to clearly see her eyes and smile. She wore a house dress, carried a little wrist purse, and was my constant companion.
We did everything together. Looking back, I never thought of her as my first character, but that’s such an interesting way to see it. Maybe Ali Gator was my earliest form of storytelling, a way of expressing the ideas and emotions that I would later put down on paper.
As an author, I believe in writing what you know. When I think about it, many of the characters I create are reflections of parts of myself. In a way, it all started with a lady alligator in a house dress carrying a wrist purse, walking beside me through childhood and helping me discover the power of imagination.
What a great IF! Ali sounds lovely. With her head tilt and smile, she reminds me of one of my favorite childhood picture books, ‘Lyle. Lyle, Crocodile’ by Bernard Waber. There was also a jumprope rhyme with the line "the lady with the alligator purse”. I wonder what images you had that lead to Ali.
Glad you enjoyed the post and cared enough to post. Here’s to a never-ending parade of characters❣️
You know, I’m not sure. I don’t remember reading Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile when I was little, though it’s possible someone read it to me and I just don’t remember.
What I do know is that the house dress and little purse definitely came from my grandma, whom we call Mom. She wore; and still wears, house dresses every day at home and always carries her little purse with her.
Since my mom was a single mother working two jobs, my grandma watched me every day for years while I was growing up. Looking back, it makes sense that those details found their way into my imaginary friend. I think she was inspired less by a book and more by the woman who was such a big part of my childhood. 👵🏼🐊
ahh! This was a great read for the morning. I was wondering why you call yourself the Therapy Truck. 😄
Glad you enjoyed it! I started out my Substack writing about all the self-help books that I’ve read in my life. They were definitely therapy for me, so I imagined myself riding around Substack, just sharing what I had learned, doling it out like a food truck - only therapy!
Thanks so much for reading about my dear little Shirley Diesel❣️
I love that, I'm happy you can share your stories with people, and connect with the experiences you bring to the table. Can't wait to have you around Substack!
Love this! Very excited to keep following what Karen Davis does next :)
Not sure how I missed your comment, Jill, but thank you! Shirley Diesel was such a lovely part of my childhood. I wish I remembered more about our times together. Thanks for the support as I figure it all out❣️
Aww Shirley diesel is so adorable. It reminded me of my own made up characters and stories I wrote when little.
Looking forward to the Karen Davis switch😁
Thanks, friend. I appreciate the support, as always. Can’t wait to hear some of your New York stories❣️
Love this! It got me thinking about my own imaginary friend when I was a little girl. I’ve never been very good at naming characters, so her name was simply Ali Gator. She was an alligator who stood upright, with her head tilted just enough for me to clearly see her eyes and smile. She wore a house dress, carried a little wrist purse, and was my constant companion.
We did everything together. Looking back, I never thought of her as my first character, but that’s such an interesting way to see it. Maybe Ali Gator was my earliest form of storytelling, a way of expressing the ideas and emotions that I would later put down on paper.
As an author, I believe in writing what you know. When I think about it, many of the characters I create are reflections of parts of myself. In a way, it all started with a lady alligator in a house dress carrying a wrist purse, walking beside me through childhood and helping me discover the power of imagination.
What a great IF! Ali sounds lovely. With her head tilt and smile, she reminds me of one of my favorite childhood picture books, ‘Lyle. Lyle, Crocodile’ by Bernard Waber. There was also a jumprope rhyme with the line "the lady with the alligator purse”. I wonder what images you had that lead to Ali.
Glad you enjoyed the post and cared enough to post. Here’s to a never-ending parade of characters❣️
You know, I’m not sure. I don’t remember reading Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile when I was little, though it’s possible someone read it to me and I just don’t remember.
What I do know is that the house dress and little purse definitely came from my grandma, whom we call Mom. She wore; and still wears, house dresses every day at home and always carries her little purse with her.
Since my mom was a single mother working two jobs, my grandma watched me every day for years while I was growing up. Looking back, it makes sense that those details found their way into my imaginary friend. I think she was inspired less by a book and more by the woman who was such a big part of my childhood. 👵🏼🐊
That is absolutely dear! I love pulling the thread of one memory and, before long, the whole string comes along!
I love that the purse came from your grandma. I bet that smile did, too❣️