The Twists and Turns of my Crazy Life
We've been watching the news about the terrible blizzard in the northeast.
The worst blizzard I can recall was the Blizzard of '67 in Chicago. The city was at a standstill. All I remember was that we didn't have school.
I was a little like Hermione Granger. I was afraid my grades would suffer if I stayed away too long, so I fretted more than enjoyed the time off.
From what Greg told me, he was just the opposite. He'd go out at first light, building snow forts, snowmen, and having snow fights. He'd come home only long enough to change into dry clothes and then be off again.
I like to listen to Greg's childhood stories. He led such a colorful life. My daring exploits didn't start until I hit my teens.
Most of my adventures (before marriage) had to do with extra schooling or summer jobs. My parents didn't think art was a good career choice so they refused to send me to art school. I decided if I wanted any kind of art training, I'd have to pay for it myself.
I worked summers and after school to pay for life drawing classes. It was the first time I'd seen a naked man. Back then no one thought to prohibit a then 16 year old girl from those kind of classes. Hand to heart though, I was such a serious student the model could've been Gerard Butler and I would've still concentrated on sinew and bone.
My next challenge was to make enough money to attend the Art Institute of Chicago--but then fate intervened. Greg married me and whisked me away to Texas.
I hated Texas at first. It was so different from what I had known and it looked as if I'd never finish college. But what I thought were obstacles and setbacks were really training grounds for even grander adventures.
My first job was as a veterinary surgical assistant. I absorbed everything I could from a great vet who encouraged me to follow in his footsteps. As much as I loved animals, I knew it wasn't where I wanted to stay. I drifted not knowing what I wanted to do in this outback when my first dog died suddenly. It was the worst day of my young life.
It was Joey who made me go back to college. The cemetery where we buried her was a stone's throw from the university. One day after I'd gone to visit her, I stopped in at the Registrar's office and picked up a catalog. The rest is history.
And then there was the homesteading dream. Back in the day, we had soaked up every issue of Mother Earth News. (I still have all the early issues from the 70s.) It was our shared love of nature that kept us dreaming for a little parcel of land. Over the years it seemed like it would never happen, but hardheadedness and patience has its virtues.
Kismet has played into our life too. At least we don't have blizzards.
Good luck, my northern friends. Hunker down until it's over.
Have you ever found obstacles and hardships to be a blessing in disguise? Maybe it's the way we handle the hard times that decides the final outcome.
What was you're favorite adventure when you were a kid?
The worst blizzard I can recall was the Blizzard of '67 in Chicago. The city was at a standstill. All I remember was that we didn't have school.
I was a little like Hermione Granger. I was afraid my grades would suffer if I stayed away too long, so I fretted more than enjoyed the time off.
From what Greg told me, he was just the opposite. He'd go out at first light, building snow forts, snowmen, and having snow fights. He'd come home only long enough to change into dry clothes and then be off again.
I like to listen to Greg's childhood stories. He led such a colorful life. My daring exploits didn't start until I hit my teens.
Most of my adventures (before marriage) had to do with extra schooling or summer jobs. My parents didn't think art was a good career choice so they refused to send me to art school. I decided if I wanted any kind of art training, I'd have to pay for it myself.
My next challenge was to make enough money to attend the Art Institute of Chicago--but then fate intervened. Greg married me and whisked me away to Texas.
I hated Texas at first. It was so different from what I had known and it looked as if I'd never finish college. But what I thought were obstacles and setbacks were really training grounds for even grander adventures.
My first job was as a veterinary surgical assistant. I absorbed everything I could from a great vet who encouraged me to follow in his footsteps. As much as I loved animals, I knew it wasn't where I wanted to stay. I drifted not knowing what I wanted to do in this outback when my first dog died suddenly. It was the worst day of my young life.
It was Joey who made me go back to college. The cemetery where we buried her was a stone's throw from the university. One day after I'd gone to visit her, I stopped in at the Registrar's office and picked up a catalog. The rest is history.
And then there was the homesteading dream. Back in the day, we had soaked up every issue of Mother Earth News. (I still have all the early issues from the 70s.) It was our shared love of nature that kept us dreaming for a little parcel of land. Over the years it seemed like it would never happen, but hardheadedness and patience has its virtues.
Kismet has played into our life too. At least we don't have blizzards.
Good luck, my northern friends. Hunker down until it's over.
Have you ever found obstacles and hardships to be a blessing in disguise? Maybe it's the way we handle the hard times that decides the final outcome.
What was you're favorite adventure when you were a kid?
Comments
My sister in the DC area got 24 inches of snow on Saturday. I'm glad life took me where I'm at without a lot of snow :)
betty
When I was in elementary school, we had a 30 inch blizzard on Halloween. We still tried to trick or treat, but only made it to about four houses before the snow became too much of an issue. That was an awesome day, though. And we had an extra long weekend since schools were closed.
I hope people are checking on their neighbors. This is one of those times we have to look out for each other.
We had almost 3 feet of snow this weekend but we're mobile again. It wasn't too bad since we didn't lose power.
It's going to be 70 degrees this weekend--in case you want to visit me in Texas. :)
I've been writing stories almost since I could hold a pencil, but I never intended to be a professional writer. I was going to be a doctor, and was actually applying for medical school through the Air Force when I found out I had RA. My condition kicked my plans to be a surgeon right out the window. I also couldn't re-enlist, and had to give up working in the medical field altogether a few years later when I lost the use of one hand. Twenty years later writing about the life and adventures of a surgeon 2500 years in the future got me published. I don't really believe in that "it all happens for a reason" attitude, but in this case it certainly helped push me in another direction.
As a kid my favorite adventure was rescuing baby loggerhead turtles every year when they hatched on our beaches in South Florida. Hundreds of us would spend the night turning the babies around so they could get to the sea instead of being crushed by cars on A1A. We would have bonfires and roast marshmallows and have a wonderful time. They don't allow the public to help with the turtles anymore now, which I think is tragic. Those nights with the turtles gave me a wonderful respect for nature, and immense satisfaction with being able to help preserve it.
Re: rescuing turtles
I remember reading articles about that. I wasn't aware they had stopped that. What a shame.
As for my greatest adventure when I was a kid... My friend Debbie and I decided to ride our bikes until we got lost. I remember riding everywhere. I guess we had a good sense of direction. We always knew where we were!
As a kid, I loved sitting out on the porch and reading at sunset. Seemed like little more than a simple thing then, but looking back, reading at sunset was me getting to skip off on a fantasy adventure by the blush kissed rays of the fading sun.
Determination and hardheadedness are good traits to have, I think. Way better than the sense of entitlement that seems to have become a trait of some of our younger people.
I grew up on a farm surrounded by pasture, so from our house when I was little, you couldn't see any other houses. I remember quite a few nature rambles with various dogs and the occasional adventuresome cat. On one memorable one, I stumbled into a recently vacated coyote den. I remember small animal bones scattered here and there, and the flattened grass where they'd been lying down. When I realized how little time had passed since they'd left, I got scared and hoofed it home. I also remember nearly tripping over a huge snake who was busy eating a baby rabbit. We stared at each other for a second, but his mouth was too full to do anything. I think I actually said, "Sorry," and hopped over him. That was another quick trip home.
Nature is terrifying. :)
Actually I didn't think they had their arms chopped off, but I did believe the highway signs to be speed limits. Glad I grew out of that once I got to driving age. :)
PS If you're going to try to get lost, it's always nice to do it with a friend.
I hear Chicago is cold, but at least you're not getting what DC is facing.
In my book, if you didn't earn it, you didn't get it. Simple as that.
We were walking down a trail when we came across a copperhead. The dog hopped over the snake but Greg was about to step down on him. I couldn't get the words out of my mouth fast enough, so I just grabbed him.
Luckily it was cold that morning. The snake hadn't warmed up yet.
Sometimes I wonder how we manage to survive to the next day! Great stories, Barbara!
It's important for people to keep having adventures and step outside our comfort zones once in a while. Young people always take risks but as we get older we get too careful. I don't want to leave this life with more wishes than woo-hoos!