The Leap Years of my Life
2012—Happy. Blogging happily, in Oxford, England.
2008—Oxford, England. Leading a Bible study with two other insecure, neurotic women (which makes 3). Huge stress.
The first year of running my little publishing company. HUGE stress and insecurity and uncertainty. Am not writing at all, and am very sad.
2004—Williamsburg, Virginia. We are moving to England in April, supposedly for 9 months. I am in total denial and keep writing till a couple of days before, and leave the house a total mess. We had planned to rent it out, and my friend Kathy kindly got it super-pretty and eminently rentable.
2000— Williamsburg, Virginia. The millennium year. Irene is one year old, Zoe starts kindergarten that year.
1996— Williamsburg, Virginia. Zoe is two. I am reading massively, listening to books on tape every chance I get, writing a lot. Rather depressed since my book manuscript was turned down the previous year. Travel a lot—2 weeks in New Zealand, a summer in England, a visit to India, winter in Madrid.
1992–Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ah, that was a memorable year, and happy. I loved living in Minneapolis. On the 29th Feb. we were invited to a posh dinner by Gene Golub, Roy’s post-doctoral adviser at Stanford, who turned 15 on that day, being born on Feb. 29th. We gave him a wrapped present, which began ringing as he accepted it. It was the University of Leuven, Belgium calling on his new mobile phone, offering him a honorary doctorate.
1988—Columbus, Ohio, First year in America. Masters student in poetry. All I talk, live, breathe and write is poetry (not very good poetry, alas).
1984—Oxford, England. Orwell gets his predictions so wrong, thank goodness. And it’s an amazing year for me. I come to Oxford to study English, and love it.
1980—Calcutta, India. Believe it or not, I was a nun then, at Mother Teresa’s convent. I was a postulant, loved my postulant mistress, Sister Ruby, who loved me too, and was, sort of, happy!!
1976—Nainital, India. Good year, enjoyed studying and reading.
1972—Nainital, India. A very naughty ten year old, but with a talent for writing. I would write totally fictitious accounts of prizes I won to visit Paris, and what I did there, and my teacher would ask seriously, “How long did you spend there?”
1968—Jamshedpur, India, Funny year. The headmistress suddenly decided I was a genius, and in the middle of a class, and a year, I and my books were moved up a grade. Academically, I kept pace except in Hindi, where I missed vital steps, and never recovered self-confidence. Fanatic stamp-collector especially of 1968 Mexico City, Olympics.
1964—Jamshedpur, India. The year would turn traumatic with the birth of my sister, but I was an indulged only child then, my first leap year on this earth.
Thanks for inspiration to Emma Major.
Read my new memoir: Rosaries, Reading, Secrets: A Catholic Childhood in India (US) or UK.
Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anitamathiaswriter/
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My book of essays: Wandering Between Two Worlds (US) or UK
Anita Mathias says
Welcome, Valerie. I am so pleased I worked it out. I had Lesley and Alan over for lunch this Sunday, and loved seeing them. They seem very happy.
Anita
Valerie says
Yes you've got the right person it was Lesley who introduced me to your blog.
Anita Mathias says
Hi Valerie, I so love living near Oxford, and being settled! Welcome to my blog. Trying to figure out if I know you. Valerie E.? Lesley's friend?
Anita
Valerie says
Interesting to think what I was doing at these times as it seems I am just a year older than you and my 2 boys are similar ages to your girls. I haven't moved around, always been near Oxford but it made me think what I was doing every 4 years.
Anita says
@Jim, thanks much.
@Meredith, do it. Do it!! Thanks again for visiting:-)
Meredith says
Oh my goodness! I now want to do this with my own life–very, very cool. Thanks for sharing 🙂
jimgenet says
The strands of your story are fascinating and inviting at the same time. A unique combination. Thank you for sharing with the world.
peace.