Seriously, not one mention of rum today. That’s got to be a record. LOL!

Thank you everyone who came out and made Irish’s big debut a smashing success. We appreciate all of you who come aboard and play our Pirate games with us.

Our paths sound very similar. I feel the exact same way about my writing… I may never get published, but it’s okay cause I’m having the time of my life, stretching (as you put it) and meeting such awesome people in the process!

My sister has been trying to get me into Eve and Roarke forever! I finally told her to get me the audio (I thought hearing Roarke would help me connect!). She knows me pretty well and says if I can just get into the first 2-3 books I’ll be hooked. Characters with baggage that help each other heal sounds right up my alley!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your debut blog!!!

I read it this morning and had to let it percolate and sink in.
I love the woman I am today, and would not go back. I am incredibly blessed to be married to my best friend, who has believed in me even when I didn’t.
I am mom to a 10 yr. old boy, and an 8 yr. old girl who are smart, funny, loving people who bless my life everyday.
I am a sister, friend, daughter, aunt…to my family.
But for me, I am a writer. And I have finally learned that it is okay to make the time for something that I love. I may never get published, and it’ll be alright, because I am having fun, learning alot, and stretching my boundaries.

Some of my favorite characters with baggage are Eve and Roarke from the In Death series-two people with huge loads of luggage, who help each other heal.
And I loved the growth of Whitney Stone in Judith McNaught’s Whitney, My Love.

Di

You bring up a very good point. Angst, pain and suffering aren’t necessarily needed for the change that day to day life and experiences will bring about no matter what. I, and I’m sure most of this blogging community, am happy you didn’t decide to sit back and become complacent.

While my basic values from childhood have remained steadfast, other aspects of my character have changed throughout the years. Though shy, I was always popular and had a great childhood and high school experience. My independent travels at ages 14 and 16 engendered a love of exploration and taught me to respect other cultures. At 18 I liked myself as a person and thought I was a finished product. Only now, in retrospect, am I able to see that I was naught but a grain of sand and that it would take the waves of time to polish me into the multi-layered, and much preferred, piece of glass I have become. I have survived the fires of life - a near fatal injury and the deaths of my husband and parents - and emerged a stronger, more capable woman. I am no longer afraid to take risks and I have rediscovered my love of global exploration. I’m willing to test my limits. No longer content to drift through a comfortable life, I’ve learned to live each day as if it was my last. As others have mentioned, I sure wouldn’t mind having my 20 year old knees back but, other than the aches and pains, I’m delighted to be an independent, happy, energetic, inquisitive, risk-taking, lifetime learning, giving and confident 56 year old woman.

A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.

A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.

The second one is my favorite!