Welcome to my site! Thank you so much for joining me and I hope you enjoy my posts. I plan to have a little bit of a lot of things to keep you interested.
I wear a lot of hats. I’m Mom to John and Sam, wife to Scott, dog owner to two Chihuahuas, Chippy and Daisy (although my dad claims that the description of “dog” is questionable); a Realtor, an organizer, a planner, and a scrapbooker. These are my most important roles- the ones I hold most dear to my heart. I’m also a storyteller and writing is my favorite way to tell a tale. Luckily for me and my writing interest, I’m a magnet for funny experiences and weird people which makes for great material. But occasionally, I’ll pour my heart out on a page when I’ve witnessed something inspirational or learned a life lesson. Although you’ll hear about my family pretty regularly (they are what I enjoy talking about the most), I’ll cover a myriad of topics that will hopefully tickle your funny bone and maybe even inspire and motivate you. I might even throw in a favorite family recipe now and again, as it relates to my topic or offer you something to think about in my areas of expertise. I try not to take myself too seriously.
I was born an Army brat in Fayetteville, NC where my dad was attached to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg. After a couple of moves, we eventually settled in Aledo, IL. Never heard of it? Maybe if I tell you it’s the RHUBARB CAPITAL OF THE WORLD? Ahhhh, now you know exactly what I’m talking about! My parents both taught junior and senior English at local high schools and we often spent our longer holidays, as well as Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and various weekends working in the flower industry for my grandparents who owned Watkins Flowers, Inc. on 95th and Western on the Southside of Chicago. I worked in flower shops locally throughout college, and then when I graduated from Monmouth College in Illinois, I worked in a juvenile detention facility as a transport officer and counselor. I moved on to governmental accounting and then I became a stay-at-home mom. When my kids were a little older, I started my own business, where I specialized in painting, decorating, design and cleaning. I staged homes getting ready to go on the market and I had several clients for whom I cleaned houses. One day, while on my hands and knees, scrubbing a floor, I decided this was no longer my calling and I was signed up for classes within the month to obtain a Realtor license. Selling houses was way more fun than cleaning or painting them and I found that I felt very comfortable in my new career. I still am a Realtor, and because I live in the Quad Cities, which lies on both sides of the Mississippi River, I am licensed in both Illinois and Iowa. I love what I do, but most of all, I love the connections I have made with all the people I’ve helped. I’ve never felt more comfortable in a work setting, with one exception…and you’re about to experience it as well, because writing is my next adventure.
I’m 47 years old. I’m embarking on something completely new, and yet something that’s been with me for a long time. The difference is, that this time, I’m putting it out there for a larger audience than I’ve ever had before, which is nothing less than petrifying. There’s something about getting older- you become a little braver, I suppose. Not necessarily confident, but maybe it’s because you’re starting to make the trek downhill toward the last half of your life and the momentum has kicked in. You start to feel a pull in your soul to leave a mark. I’ve undoubtedly left a mark with my boys- but this feels more personal, somehow. I hope you take something away from every post and that you’ll keep in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
