Making the most of my time

I’m a sometimes writer, a constant reader, a wannabe artist. I’m always a mother and wife and friend and bargain hunter. I find time for the things that are important to me, such as visiting my kids, walking with my husband, taking the occasional nap, and zumba-ing to a pounding Latin beat. I never miss a meal.

Imagine my delight when I can combine my interests. Friends and food = delight. Friends and food and art classes = even better.

Yes, I’ve found the perfect venue for drawing—in my house, among friends. A local art teacher suggested group classes, and I lassoed a small herd of other wannabes like me. The five of us sit, draw, and chat. Follow that up with lunch, and I’m oh-so-grateful for a husband who can provide for me.

And he does it so well.

It’s a good thing. For whatever reason, I wasn’t the kind who could stick with one job forever. Maybe I just never learned how to play well with others. I’d rather think my interests are just too varied to tie myself to one thing long-term. I’ve regaled you before with tales of my versatility through the years: typist, mail clerk, bookkeeper, secretary, stenographer, court reporting transcriptionist, tech writer, playground supervisor, medical transcriptionist, freelance writer, ESL teacher, and, when the going got tough, Spanish teacher (after an intense program of self-teaching with a little self-delusion mixed in). Phew! When I exhausted all the fields in which I could get paid, I turned to writing children’s books. I’ve got this crazy idea that someday it’ll pay off, too. Maybe the art classes will help. If I can teach Spanish, anything's possible.

Yes to friends, food, and art classes. If I start singing “I’m sexy and I know it,” maybe I can inspire them to zumba as well. Or not.

Zumba crazy

True to the eclecticism of this blog, my next entry will be an interview with Beck McDowell. She’ll be presenting a workshop at a conference sponsored by Southern Breeze in Atlanta, called Springmingle. A local high school English teacher for many years, Beck is now retired and tackling her next career—with great aplomb, I might add. If you haven’t yet read her YA book THIS IS NOT A DRILL, you should. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.