This Reminds Me Of Oz
The Wizard of Oz story is capable of reminding us of so much about life that rings with truth that I decided to make a page where we could all write about how very often this happens. Tell the story and then write what part of Oz that applies. There is a place below to let you write and then a couple of days later it will appear with your name and the date. Have fun!
E-mail your story to Donna Stewart-Hardway at munchkinmade@aol.com
My Story: As a young child I watched a television show called "The Old Rebel". It was a children's show that came on daily. As one of the challenges The Old Rebel presented, he encouraged viewers to help support the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation by organizing and holding a carnival. We were to invite neighborhood kids to play games, have snacks... The proceeds from the event were donated to MS. Well, my friends and I did just that. We organized a carnival and earned money to donate. As a treat we were asked to appear on the "Old Rebel: show. As a prize, they gave us tickets for our family to visit "The Land of Oz" in Banner Elk, N.C. Though my family did not have a lot of extra money, my parents did take us.. It was a wonderful event and cherish it to this day. I just found out this year that they have a yearly event at the "Land of Oz" although it has been closed for years. It was a real treat for me to take my family (husband and three sons under the age of 11) to visit this past October. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane. I have always been a big fan of Oz since that time, even though I can remember watching the movie as a child and running to find my mom when the monkies would fly over to pick up Dorothy.
Why My Story Is Like Oz: As an adult, I have pursed a career in Conseling. I work as an Elementary Guidance Counselor in Trinity, North Carolina. I compare myself to the wizard although I am not "The Great Oz." I use the comparison of the wizard to what I try to do as a counselor. I try to help children look inside themselves and see what strengths and talents they already have. No one has to give it to them on a piece of paper or on a metal. They like the Oz characters had inside the whole time. They just had to believe in themself.
Diana
April 23rd, 2001
My Story: I went on a church trip and got really homesick a few years ago and all I wanted to see was my mom and dad.
Why My Story Is Like Oz: Because Dorothy wanted to see her uncle Henry and Auntie Em. I know how she felt!
Wendi
November 4th, 2001
My Story: I'm the youngest in my family. I always felt like no one listens and nobody cares about me. Well, I knew they cared, but whenever I wanted to tell someone about something they always said "Not now, Dorothy"
Why My Story Is Like Oz: At the beginning it is like that. Dorothy tries to tell them her problem, but they wont listen. Whenever I felt like that, I'd go watch the movie. Me and Dorothy are a lot alike, our name, both brown eyes and hair, both have an Auntie Em, both live in Kansas, both lived on a farm, and I even fell into the hog pen once. Howie, our farm hand, helped me out.
Dorothy
October 25th, 2001
Dear Dorothy:
What a cute story. There are sure a lot of similarities
between you and the Dorothy of Oz. I know that you
know that your parents care about you but you always
want to remember that there is really, "no place like home."
I love your story.
Thanks for writing.
Donna
My Story: This Reminds me of Oz...being on stage with my fellow strollers down the yellow brick road, I currently played the role as the scarecrow in my middle school production of "The Wizard Of Oz"
Why My Story Is Like Oz: Because I love Oz.
Crow, Scare
April 2nd, 2001
My Story: It has been my observation, that every day there is some reference to The Wizard of Oz story in each of our lives. Listen for it and you will hear it.
Karen
March 25th, 2000
You are absolutely right. Is it because we see ourselves in this story or was the story actually written about us?
Happy Ozing,
Donna Stewart-Hardway
My story: Once when I was younger I was really sick and I watched "The Wizard of Oz" with my mother a bazillion times and it made me feel a lot better.
Why like Oz? Dorothy was sick of Kansas and she felt better after her dream or "vacation" to Oz. I felt like I had a vacation or good relaxing time when watching Oz; it really soothed me.
Briann
December 12th, 2000
My story: My youngest daughter loves to swim and we spent many days at the pool this summer. Sarah learned to use goggles this year, and she just couldn't get them to fit right. She would go under the water and shoot back up out of the water and yell..........."The're Melting" She would rip them from her face and throw them as far as she could!
Why like Oz? This "I'm melting" line is used in so many ways. I thought this was a bit unusual but it still the same Oz message.
Patricia Linderman
October 12th, 2000
My story: Many years ago my father worked for the Los Angeles Examiner in Los Angeles. The comic section of the LA paper was one week behind the San Francisco paper so my father would bring home San Francisco's paper and I would read the comics. Then would go back to school the next week and tell everyone that I was a fortuneteller and that I knew exactly what was going to happen to all these people in the paper. No one believed me at first but then week after week when I was right they began to believe me. Then one week a friend found my paper and I was caught. Everyone was really mad at me for a while for fooling them. I felt awful for what I did to my friends and told them I was sorry. To make up for what I did I tried my best to help them with homework and to solve real life problems. They soon got over it.
Why like Oz? This reminds me of the Wizard in Oz when Toto catches him behind the curtain. He too felt bad and then tried to help all of the characters feel better about themselves and for Dorothy to get home. It is always best to be just who we are and not try to fool anyone.
Donna Stewart-Hardway
October 7th, 2000