This is it, my first real blog on my own website.
Who’d a “thunk” it?
I am nervous and excited about this. I get to talk to anyone who’ll listen, so thanks if you’re listening. Deciding what to focus on in my website challenges me, but I’ve narrowed it to a few things. As a two-year breast cancer survivor this September, look for insights I’ll share especially to those currently dealing with cancer. Talking about breast cancer may add relief from some of the deep fears broiling internally.
Also because I taught secondary English for 26 years it seems crazy not to put some of the best lessons out there. While working on them, I find that even now, I continue to change and revise plans that I used. It’s hard to let go of that teacher inside.
Finally, I just can’t build this website without some recipes. First, I like to eat good food. Second, sharing recipes follows my family through many states and generations. My cousins even produced a family recipe book. My world of cooking consists of only easy and delicious, so look for recipes with that fit that description.
I didn’t come up with this web plan all by myself. My webmaster, Deb Kunzie, jumped right in and shared her magic by helping me find my comfort zone. Since I’m writing a book following my journey through breast cancer I wasn’t sure if it merited blogging about it too. She assures me it does. If you’re looking for a webmaster, or more importantly “The master”, contact her. She knows the business and how to help you. She is simply the best. I know I haven’t a lot of experience in this arena, but I think that may be the most telling about her skill. She helps me understand what I’m supposed to do and then challenges me to do it. Then she makes it all happen – easy peasy! Once you find out all her talents and background, you will hire her.
I also write a blog for the magazine Women Out West. It’s a great magazine that shares beauty through writing and photo. That’s how I met Deb, as the webmaster for the magazine as well as for the editor, Susan Stoltz. Our friendships grew out of this connection. Susan’s confidence in my work led to the publishing of one of my poems in the second edition of the magazine. Her trust really kick started me into accepting my need to write. Even though I wrote poetry prior to that I was still scared of it going into the world. That fear still lingers but because of blogging and working with the magazine, I have become much less shy about my writing.
My mentor and great friend Laurie Wagner Buyer, poet and novelist, persuaded me to write and actually convinced me to travel this writer’s path several years ago. Her guidance propelled me to believe in more than my work, but also in myself. If you need the best editor, contact Laurie. She is editor extraordinaire. She and her husband, singer/songwriter, W.C. Jameson, have boosted my ego and built my confidence allowing me to trust my abilities. I do believe that people come into our lives when we need them to help us find our way. All these people have been huge in moving my life in this direction.
Since I live on the western slope in the mountains of Colorado, summers are short, so in order to enjoy and not miss out on beautiful days, I rise at 5:00 am to write, meditate, read, and get ready for the day. When I finish those things, I generally mountain bike or walk for my daily exercise. I golf too, but I’ve decided that I’m a much better golfer if I ride in a cart rather than walking for the exercise. I just get too hot and tired when I walk and swing and walk and swing and walk and swing. Besides, driving the cart brings back my childhood when Dad let me drive while he golfed. I always thought driving the cart was the best part of golf.
My gardens have been my soul mates for many years. They grow, I nurture, they wilt, I water, they choke, I weed, they bloom, I breathe. When the frosts come usually before September 1st, I’m ready for them to finish. We both tire of each other by then. By February I’m planting seeds in trays on the windowsills getting ready for another partnership with my gardens.
I hope you’ll return again and again to see what’s new on my website. I plan to write daily and hope you’ll gain some ease for yourself and richness for life from my experiences.
