I want a beautiful life!

I want a beautiful life! I want to surround myself with the beauty of nature, ideas, and vision. I also want to be connected to people who possess, and express, a panorama of internal beauty. Life is much too short for mediocrity! I long for my life to reflect the higher things. As a writer of poetry, songs, and inspirations I hunger to "turn a phrase" in such a way that it turns someone's heart. I like to challenge myself and learn new things all the time ... it's what keeps life interesting and invigorating. One of my greatest thrills is learning French; which I've been studying for five years. I have a pen pal in Calais, France and she tells me that my progress in French is "formidable."

I was very fortunate to be raised in upstate New York (Lake George) by parents who were intent on doing their best for their children. My dad, in particular, always made me feel that I was worthy, accepted, and appreciated. He was a carpenter and landscaper always busy with something, and I was a daddy's girl who just wanted to "hang" with dad. He never made me feel that I was interrupting him ... in fact it was quite the opposite. He always looked up with eyes that said, "Oh, it's you, you're just the person I wanted to see."

Sometimes I wonder if “nurture” was more responsible for my molding versus “nature.” It’s said we’re a product of both, but I rather think that who I’ve become is far more attributable to my parents. Of course it didn’t hurt that I was raised in such an idyllic place during awesome decades (mid 50s to early 70s).

I hope I’m able to pass on the blessing and impart sweet and wonderful things to my daughter. I pour myself into it on a daily basis, and she tells me things that affirm me. She’s said some things through the years that have really impacted me. When she was about seven she said, “Mom, I just love how you are.” And just recently she boosted my ego with this little gem, “You know, mom, you’re a tough act to follow. My husband is going to have to really step up to the plate in order to keep my interest. I’ve been hanging around you for so long … and life’s never dull.”

Keeping life interesting … that’s what I like to do through my writing, and I’ve been writing since I was five years old. I even have a picture of me sitting on my grandma’s lap with paper and pencil in hand. I have it in a little frame on my bedside table—it’s a constant reminder that the gift has been at work for awhile. I hope I can impact people with my gift, as well as earning a sweet livelihood.