AUGUST 2012 About This Place The Curse Of The 9 Year Old By Lyn Widmyer Lyn Widmyer has recently pub-


September 16, 2012 5:30 PM


Sharpsburg, MD @ 5:30


Join the towns of Shepherdstown, WV and Sharpsburg, MD in a commemorative walk from Sharpsburg over the Potomac River to Shepherdstown. Honor those who fought at the Battle of Antietam and the citizens of both towns who opened their homes following the battle to care for the wounded and dying.


The whole town was a hospital; there was scarcely a building that could not with truth seek protection under that plea, and the fantastic little strips were soon flaunting their ineffectual remonstrance from every roof-top and chimney.” —Mary Bedinger Mitchell, Shepherdstown, July, 1886


P R E - R E G I S T E R AT SPONSORED BY:


Shepherdstown 250: Our Semiquincentennial 1762-2012 shepherdstown250.com


Sharpsburg Heritage Festival 9/15-16 sharpsburgheritagefestival.com


Hagerstown-Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau marylandmemories.com


FREE! 


 304-724-7228


 


 


lished a memoir, Chasing Cows: I’m Not In The Suburbs Any- more. Some of the pieces in the book first appeared in The Ob- server. Lyn will be signing copies of Chasing Cows at Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown, Satur- day, August 18, from 3 to 5 pm. When my son was 9 years old, he placed a curse on my head. Nick was playing Nintendo


on a school night and had gone way beyond his allotted time. I told him to turn off the game. “Just let me get past this level,” he begged. I was in no mood to play second fiddle to Mario in his quest to free some princess who did not have to commute to work three hours a day, ar- rive home to fix dinner, and then get children ready for bed. Come to think of it, the princess was probably less stressed as a captive than I was as a working mother. “Turn the game off NOW,” I responded sympathetically. Nick and I went to bed angry.


I was still upset when I left for work in the morning. I had a very long day and an evening meeting so by the time I got home Nick was already asleep. I found this note on my pillow: “Mom, I am sorry about last


night I want to talk to you about it. If I do, I may lift my curse on you. Nick.” I had to laugh at his quasi-


apology and pondered what curse he could have placed on me. I was pretty confident it had something to do with video games, like giving me sausage fingers so I couldn’t manipu-


21


late the controller. To Nick, this would be a fate worse than death.


When we finally talked, Nick sheepishly agreed to lift the curse. He refused to reveal the punishment he had in store for me.


Ten years later, I accompa-


nied my son to traffic court. He received his first speeding tick- et while returning to college and was charged with reck- less driving. I hired a lawyer to


Charles Town Farmers Market Every Saturday


Come check out the all-new downtown Charles Town Farmers Market...you’ve heard the buzz, now come on down to join in the food, fun and festivities!


Baked Goods Featured Products This Week:


We’ve nearly tripled the number of vendors at their market including more vegetable and fruit vendors, more bakers, plus meat and dairy, coffee, candles, sauces and more!


represent him, took the day off from work, and sat with Nick as he awaited his court appear- ance. Nick was pleased that the fine was only $61.00. I informed him he was forgetting the $500 lawyer fee, the cost of gas to drive to court in Richmond, Virginia, and the day of work I had to miss.


The moral of the story? Escaping parental responsi-


bility is a lot harder than get- ting a curse removed.


8 AM - 12 Noon 100 South Samuel St. Featured Vendor This Week: Good Stuff Breads


We’ve added music and special events to the mix too. Bring the family they’ll enjoy the fun along with local food & new crafts from choice local artisans.


Joe Ham Blues Featured Entertainment This Week:


Visit our Facebook page for real time updates on what’s at market! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-Town-Farmers-Market-WV/198296286944643 Visit our Facebook page for real time updates on what’s at market! www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-Town-Farmers-Market-WV/198296286944643


New!


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