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Diana Zimmerman
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After the Mennonite/s Writing Conference



I graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School many moons ago, so I must have passed my Mennonite History class. Did they not explain the difference between “ethnic” Mennonites (think Canada and the western portion of the USA) and “religious” Mennonites (of the pious Pennsylvania variety)? Or did I not get the memo? Most likely, even the teacher didn’t get it. I get it now.

I thought I had no flock, but I do have a flock. Imagine my surprise. And I am not even the strangest bird in it.

The best part of all, was seeing a pictureof myself reflected back by those around me, that looks like my own image of me. The other 361 days of the year, I am a WIC certifier with a weird pastime: scribbling in notebooks. But this last weekend, for 4 consecutivedays, I got to be a writer with a day-job. This, of course, is what I’ve secretly believed all along. I just didn’t know anyone else was convinced.

It’s almost enough to make a girl start humming 606.



This reflection first appeared on Diana's Blog, Hablando Solo/ Talking to Myself.



About the Author

Diana Zimmerman Diana Zimmerman is a poet and memoirist who was born into the Mennonite community of Lancaster Pennsylvania, graduated from Goshen College, and resides in Costa Rica. Her multilingual works blend English, Spanish, and Italian. A Lucky Breath, Zimmerman’s most recent memoir, was released in December 2023 by Workplay Publishing. Her previous memoirs are: Marry a Mennonite Boy and Make Pie (2018, Workplay Publishing), and When the Roll Is Called a Pyonder (2014, Electio Publishing). Diana’s poetry collections include Certain as Afternoon/Certa Come il Pomeriggio (2019) and Tell Me About the Telaraña (2012).