: About Me

I am a 68-year-old homemaker, who is also a writer, a singer, an avid reader, and many other things. I have written poetry since the tenth grade, and taught English for a few years before deciding to try making a living in another field. I sold jewelry, I was an Avon lady, a Mary Kay distributor, and a diamond consultant. I sold cars, and I worked almost five years at Wal-Mart, most of it in the back room as a member of the ICS team. We helped unload trucks, stacked pallets of everything that came in, stocked the shelves, etc. I also cashiered some. I finally retired in May of 2007 to stay home and be a wife and take care of our home-and write!

I have three children of my own, and four more that my second husband had by his first wife, as well as two that claim him as "Dad" from his second wife, although they are not his biological children. Together, we have over 18 grandchildren (we have to keep re-counting, and rarely come up with the same numbers twice in a row) and even some great-grandchildren through one of the daughters-in-law.

I love my family, writing, reading, and holidays, but especially love Christmas. For several years, I made my own Christmas cards and illustrated them. I decorate for Christmas starting as soon as possible after Thanksgiving, and don't take the decorations down until after (or about) New Year's.

My passion is ...

my family, first. Then reading, writing, and my home. I love to cook, especially cakes and cookies.

I know too much about ...

nothing. I would like to know more, always!

My parents always told me ...

don't ask questions; just do as you're told. That one, especially, came from my mother.

My childhood ambition ...

was to earn my mother's approval and love, not necessarily in that order. I knew that her love for me was way down the line from her love for my brothers. But I did rank above my sister.

My favorite memory ...

hasn't happened yet, I suppose. I have lots of wonderful memories, but none that I could call my favorite.

Why I write ...

because I must. Something impels me to write. It and singing are the two most important "artistic" things I do, in my own opinion!

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

I am in the process of reading three different books right now. Most of the time, I have at least two going at the same time. And yes, I can immediately remember where I am in each one, when I pick it up and start reading again. I don't watch much TV, and about the only thing I listen to is music tapes or CDs.

My first job ...

was a babysitting job when I was 11. My brother paid me to take care of his baby daughter, who was under six months old, while he went fishing in the slough behind our house. He paid me five dollars (I think it was) for something I was doing for fun! That niece is now in her mid-50s.

My best moment ...

hasn't come yet. I still have that to look forward to. But some of the best were the births of my 3 children, and being present at the birth of 2 of my grandchildren. The first of those I heard her first cry; the other, I fed her first bottle, only minutes after she was born.

My inspiration ...

comes from life and things I notice around me. And my father's example has inspired me to never give up! He never went past the fifth grade, but he could do almost anything he wanted to do, including build his own CB radio and antenna.

Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Sharing my favorite object

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I have many treasured objects that I would have trouble parting with. Among them are old pictures that were passed down to me from my mother, who received them from her mother. Also among them are my grandmother's wedding ring and my mother's first wedding ring, as well as the set that Daddy gave her after I was married to my first husband. I think it was for their 50th anniversary. And I have boxes of letters and writings of my father's, as well as letters my two brothers wrote home during World War II, when they were both in the Navy. But I think the one thing that I treasure the most is...

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