In any case, I remember the most instruction my mother ever gave me on what to be coming from when I was about 8 years old and Striptease with Demi Moore came out. My family was pretty open about sex and all of that so for my dad’s birthday the three of us, my mom, dad, and myself, went to see it. When Demi Moore was stripping at some point my mom leaned over and told me “That is what you don’t ever do. That is not a career for you.”

Ironically, that same year I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. My mother and I were with a group of other moms and kids who sort of all knew each other and grew up together in a mall. We stopped by the candy shop and all the kids were told that they could get one thing. I looked all over while other kids grabbed anything. I kept coming back to my mom to ask if it was really ANY one thing. She assured me I could pick any thing I wanted as long as I only got one. So I proceeded to hand her a $20 bar of Toblerone. She laughed and bought it for me. I love to find loopholes in things and to make sure the agreements I enter into don’t have any. That’s why I’m going into contract law.

Next dream … I wanted a job involving horses, this realization came in 9th grade as well. My dream was answered, rewarded, and realized. I studied Equine Science and trained, bred, boarded, and showed horses for 20 plus years. Plus, I got a job with Montie Montana Jr’s Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in which I was able to use a multitude of my skills: horsemenship — via accepting a Roman Riding role, acting, and stunt work (including the Wheel of Death), etc. in this two-hour stage play. Many years later, I was able to use my horse husbandry schooling and experience to be a fill-in Vet. Tech during a thin work-related time in my life (divorce).

I did not pick up the dream of being a paid writer until I became a mother, it started out as my way of contributing to the family horse business as I stayed close to home with the newborn. That was over 16 years ago and I’ve been playing with words since then. But as with all dreams, once they are reached I look to find and fulfill another, new dream. So, now I dream of having family members take my writing serious, making enough income as a writer to make a living as a writer and that includes selling a manuscript or two, of course. Another dream of mine is to see my grandfather’s manuscript about San Francisco’s Barbary Coast picked up and published. And I am certain there are more dreams to come.

kk

Whenever I’d talk about writing, my parents would poo-poo the idea as ridiculous. One night at dinner I really wanted to “announce” that I was serious, so I gathered my courage, cleared my throat, and said, “I’m going to be a writer when I grow up. I’m just going to do it.”

My parents said wasn’t that nice and then told me to be realistic and go into banking. I did. For years. I hated it. For years.

A few years ago I got sick and couldn’t work like I once did – so I once again turned to writing. And haven’t looked back. It taught me a lot about listening to your dreams and not trying to please everyone else. I had to deal with health issues in order to “get it” but sometimes that’s what it takes in order to wake up and live your own life!

When I was in the 5th grade, I decided I would be a comedian. I had spent kindergarten through 4th grade and I had some pent-up freedom of speech to let out. It was how I made my first real friends. I could make them laugh but sadly my parents and siblings didn’t think I was nearly as funny.

Then I decided I got bitten by the notion of being an entrepreneur or librarian – it depends on your outlook but I would loan out my Garfield comic books to my classmates for $.10 a week (it was the 80’s, what can I say?) Oddly enough this was in the 5th grade also. I must have decided for world domination also because in the 6th grade I wanted to run for President. I had the most interesting cabinet but the school didn’t share my love for my extended summer vacation policy and birthdays as an exempt day from school proposal either. That same year I decided to be an artist when my “Just Say No” campaign poster of Garfield (which I drew of course) won 1st place. Unfortunately, Garfield is the only thing I figured out how to draw – so my venues are limited.

In high school, I got serious. I wavered between an English teacher and a writer. My “creative” assignments always went on longer than our directions permitted and I had a knack for telling jocks and cheerleaders to cross their t’s and dot the i’s. My dad took one of my short pieces into the community college to one of his instructors who told him that I had talent and should pursue the dream.
I didn’t. Until now. Who knows? Maybe there is a YA fiction piece in my little trip down memory lane!