Me: Age 16-   I often got asked:
“What do you want to study when you go to college? ”    An Interior Designer was the answer…. Side eyes….from mom…

Mom: ” Don’t you think you should do something more practical?”   Me:  “Like what?”   Mom:  “Take Math, English, Science?”   Me: “I guess.”

Me: Age 17-  Wondering what it’s like to go in the Air Force?  Do they have Interior Design there?   I went to see a recruiter…that was all she wrote.

Mom:  ” So you’re not going to go to Southern Illinois University?”    Me:  “No, it’s not practical.”

Me: Age 24- Forgot all about the interior design thing, went back to school, got a degree in Speech Communications, something practical, oh and easy for me to get through college wise. Got a job as a supervisor at the cable company.  Now married, small baby and in the Air Force Reserves, itching to make something.   Saw a chenille bear that someone else got as a gift, scouted out the store that sold the chenille, couldn’t find it, made a madame teddy bear instead.  Sold it as soon as I saw it.  Had orders for 7 more bears the next day.   Hmmm… might be on to something.

Mom:  ” Bears? Strumpet bears at that?”   Watch that baby, she’s chewing on those ribbons. ”

“Strumpet Bear”

“Strumpet Bear”

Me: Age 25- Someone asks ” Can you make a bear inside a basket?”   Me: “No, I’ve never done that, but I guess I could?”   My friend suggested that I just make baskets.  The next thing I knew, baskets for everything, nice ones, naughty ones, Easter ones, Mother’s Day, baskets and more baskets.

Mom-: Baskets? Me:  Yeah, baskets.

Me: Age 28-  ” I think I want to go to nursing school. Mom: ” That sounds GREAT!!!”   Me:  Naaaaa. I already have a degree. Mom:  “Sigh.”

Me: Age 30- ” Making decorative floral brooms for my team for gifts. ”  Mom’ That’s nice baby.”    Took one of the brooms to Martha’s Crib and she asked me if I wanted to consign them.   I agreed, and so I was making lots of brooms, gold brooms, blue brooms, fancy brooms,etc.  My friend Lois said:  Oh my I have such great ideas for you… she insisted that I make something for her her. I did and I named them after her.    The owner of Martha’s Cribs told me: I need you to make me an arrangement.  Me:  “I can’t. ”  Her:  “Why Not?”   Me:  I’ve NEVER done that… a bear, basket and a broom is one thing, but an arrangement?”    But I put my best foot forward.  I made her a swag instead cause it was like a broom anyway.   Showed to the gals at the job: Offer for a home party and 200.00 in orders for floral pieces.

Mom:  “What are you doing?”  Me: ” I got to go to the floral supply store and fill these flower orders!”  Mom: “Flowers? ”  Me:  “Yes, I have 2 more parties booked and I have to make all these arrangements.   I took pictures of the things and I had designed this full fledged home party floral design system, until I think a few cancelled on the party.  Mom:  Oh My I just REALIZED… she looked at me strangely.   Me: “What? ”
Mom:  “This is a form of that Interior Design”  Me: This?  Mom:  “Yes”, you are really an interior designer and it keeps coming out!.  That’s what you really wanted to do, and I kept telling you to be practical, and you keep expressing it some way.”   Me: “I don’t think so Ma.”

Me: Age 31- “I think I want to go to nursing school, but I was looking at the catalog and those classes are held during the day, I can’t work and do that Mom.  Mom: “Go ahead, when you get there, I’ll help you.”

Me: Age 32- ” I’m not going to nursing school, it’s too much going to work and thinking of that, besides, I already have a decent job and education. I’m tired of school I told her.  Mom: “Sigh.”

Me: Age 32- ” I can’t believe my mom is not here with me anymore.”     No crafting

Me: Age 33-  Still in the Air Force Reserves 16  years,  new job, new life, crazy life full of grief, sorrow. No crafting…

Me: Age 34-  Layoff of new job, life still crazy, father died…. Opened up finally: Voila… a gift shop selling, baskets, bears, dolls, and other things.  Every day off to the shop in total bliss, eating ice cream with my daughter. Mom would love this.  Hustling was a joy, craft shows, beauty shops, now this is the life.    New baby on the way…. a little too soon, had to close the store down, stay on complete bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy.

Me: Age 35- I’m going to nursing school. New baby, no crafting…
Me: Age 36- Telephone: Sgt is that you? Me: It’s Me…Telephone: I need to read you a statement: “You are hereby ordered to active duty to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom. Me: Silence. Telephone: “Sgt? I’ll see you in 72 hours.Crafts? Really?

Me: Age 39- Passed NCLEX Boards- Packed up crafts and moved to Georgia. I’m sure they craft in Georgia?   Making new things, dolls from aluminum foil…. Me: Age 44- Back to School- Not enough credentials in job- Put crafts down. Retired from Air Force 22 years was enough for me.

Me: Age 45- Back to School Again- Maybe I should teach nursing- Crafts down.

Me: Enough is enough, tomorrow is not promised…. time to get back to crafting…. BACK INTO THE PASSION SWING…. who is going to help me clean that ridiculous craft room out?