ABOUT US!
WHERE DOES ONE EVEN START AN ABOUT US? OR ME? AT THE BEGINNING??? A WEEK AGO? THE FIRST TIME I DREW SOMETHING?
LET'S GO WITH A QUICK TRIP THROUGH LIFE… BORN AND RAISED IN MAINE, THE NORTHEAST (NOT CANADA BUT CLOSE), THE UNITED STATES. I GREW UP WITH A MOTHER, FATHER AND AWESOME LITTLE BROTHER. QUITE EARLY ON I WOULD SPECULATE THAT MY PARENTS KNEW THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE THE EASY RAINBOW, UNICORN, BIRDS SINGING AS I WALKED THROUGH THE YARD KIND OF DAUGHTER… NOPE… I WOULD EVEN SUSPECT THAT IF I HAD A THEME SONG IT WOULD BE THUNDER, LIGHTNING AND FIREWORKS!
I THINK DISSENT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO SUM IT ALL UP. IF I HAD AN ISSUE WITH ANYTHING, I DEFINITELY LET EVERYONE KNOW. SOME CALLED IT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE, I CALLED IT NOT COMPROMISING ANY BELIEF I HAD. I’M CERTAINLY NOT SAYING I WAS RIGHT ALL OF THE TIME… LIKE IN FIRST GRADE THE TEACHER WANTED ME TO STOP WRITING WITH A TINY PENCIL AND I ABSOLUTELY LOST IT, THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS DOING THAT, PROBABLY BECAUSE SHE SUGGESTED IT.
I CANNOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES MY SWEET MOTHER HAD TO ASK A SCHOOL TO GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE. THAT ISN’T TO SAY I WAS ALWAYS WRONG. I JUST FELT STRONGLY ABOUT WHAT I FELT STRONGLY ABOUT BUT SOMETIMES IT WAS TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND QUESTION AUTHORITY. LIFE GROWING UP WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY. I GREW UP WITH TWO PARENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY WERE GOOD AND THEY WERE FAIR. MY MOM WAS A STRONG WOMAN IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL LINE OF WORK FOR A FEMALE AT THE TIME. IT WAS INSPIRING FOR ME TO SEE HER lIVE HER DREAM OF MOVING OUT OF HER SMALL TOWN, GRADUATING COLLEGE WITH TWO DEGREES AND WORKING. SHE SPENT MOST OF MY CHILDHOOD AS THE DETECTIVE FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES AND I KNEW HOW MUCH SHE CARED FOR EACH VICTIM. MY FATHER HAD A WONDERFUL, CARING HEART. BUT TO SAY WE HAD A POWER STRUGGLE IS LITTLE BIT OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT. I LOVED HIM AND HE LOVED ME BUT I DID NOT LIKE BEING CHALLENGED. I SPENT MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AT A SMALL RELIGIOUS SCHOOL (AFTER BEING ADAMANT I WOULD NOT BE RETURNING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL).
THE YEARS AT THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WERE CHALLENGING AND YET I WOULD SAY SOME OF MY STRONGEST, LONGEST FRIENDSHIPS REMAIN. THERE ARE MANY THINGS I DO NOT AGREE WITH FROM THAT PART OF MY LIFE. I WILL NOT GET INTO MUCH OF THAT EXCEPT THAT MY GOAL WAS TO SMASH THE PATRIARCHY ON THE REGULAR AND I AM MORE THAN SURE THAT THE STATEMENT “USE YOUR BRAINS, NOT YOUR BODY” FOREVER WRITTEN IN MY YEARBOOK BRANDED A MARK IN MY BRAIN THAT I WOULD NOT BE RAISING MY KIDS TO BE CONSTANTLY WORRIED ABOUT JESUS COMING BACK IN THE NIGHT AND BEING LEFT BEHIND… OR EVER CONSTANTLY EMPHASIZING THAT FEMALES BODIES COULD TAKE DOWN A NATION. I DO NOT REMEMBER LEARNING ABOUT THINGS LIKE JUNETEENTH OR THE TRUE STORY OF COLUMBUS BUT I DO REMEMBER THAT SPAGHETTI STRAPS CAUSE A BOY TO STUMBLE AND THAT THE PANTS I WORE WERE LESS PREFERRED TO A LONG SKIRT WITH NO SLITS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MY FORMER TEACHERS THOUGHT I WOULD BECOME BUT I HAVE SEEN A FEW WHO HAVE MENTIONED THEY DID WONDER WHERE I WOULD BE… (NOT SURE THAT WAS A COMPLIMENT).
SO WHERE DID I END UP? VOLUNTEERING IN THE YOUTH GROUP AND GETTING MARRIED RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I’M NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD NOT…I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME WONDERFUL FRIENDS WHO DID JUST THIS AND ARE HAPPILY MARRIED WITH BEAUTIFUL FAMILIES WHO I JUST LOVE AND ADORE. HOWEVER AS HINDSIGHT IS OFTEN 20/20 I WAS RUNNING AWAY FROM MY HOME LIFE AND DESPERATE TO CREATE A FAMILY OF MY OWN THAT I COULD BE IN CHARGE OF. BESIDES GETTING MARRIED AND WORKING IN THE YOUTH GROUP, I STARTED COLLEGE- LIBERAL STUDIES- AND LOVED LEARNING. MUCH DIFFERENT THAN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE OFTEN WAITED FOR THE TEACHER TO LEAVE THE ROOM AND ONE OF US WOULD OPEN THE BACK OF THE BOOK AND YELL THE ANSWERS OUT. OR EVEN WHEN THE TEACHER KNEW THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY HOLD IN WHATEVER WAS BEING TAUGHT. (ALSO ON THAT NOTE- I HAD HAD MAJOR CONCUSSIONS AND WHAT THEY DO NOW IS A VERY DIFFERENT PROTOCOL FROM BACK THEN). ALSO ADD IN ADHD, SOME EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES AND A PRETTY COMPLEX HOME LIFE DEALING WITH A FATHER DIAGNOSED WITH BIPOLAR AND PTSD (MY MOM IS WRITING A REALLY AMAZING BOOK ABOUT SURVIVING THIS AS A FAMILY) AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH ROOM FOR MINDLESS FACTS. SO NOW I WAS IN AN ALREADY COMPLICATED MARRIAGE AND WAS A BABY MYSELF. I HAD TO LEAVE COLLEGE AND I GOT AN AMAZING JOB WORKING FOR THE LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY THAT MY MOTHER WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH IN HER CAREER. I LOVED IT BUT I WANTED TO DO MORE. I ANSWERED THE 24 HOUR HOTLINE MANY NIGHTS AND WENT TO THE SHELTER TO HELP. EVENTUALLY I DID BECOME A WOMAN AND CHILDREN’S ADVOCATE AT THE SHELTER. WHAT A TIME IN MY LIFE. REWARDING, FULFILLING, HEARTBREAKING. I WANTED TO FINISH MY DEGREE AND GO ON TO HELP IN OTHER WAYS. EVENTUALLY I BECAME A 911 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER. I LOVED IT BUT ALSO WANTED FACE TO FACE INTERACTION. I WANTED TO SHOW UP IN THAT PERSON’S DARKEST HOUR AND DO EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY COULD TO HELP THEM. I DID END UP BECOMING A RESERVE POLICE OFFICER AS WELL, BUT MOST OF MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WAS BEING THE FIRST VOICE SOMEONE HEARS IN THEIR DARKEST HOUR… OR THEIR MOST ANNOYED.
DURING THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT GETTING MARRIED AT 19 WAS NOT GOING TO WORK OUT. SOME OTHER PERSONAL TRAGEDIES COMPOUNDED THAT AND LIKE A TON OF BRICKS THE HOUSE CAME TUMBLING DOWN. LITERALLY. I BECAME STRONGER THAN I EVER KNEW I COULD. I TOOK THE EMT COURSE AND REBUILT MY LIFE. FAST FORWARD A LITTLE MORE AND I MET THE MAN OF MY DREAMS. ACTUALLY MAYBE HE WAS NOT… HE WAS ACTUALLY FAR MORE THAN THAT. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY THE PERSON MADE FOR ME. EVEN THE BEST MARRIAGE IS HARD. IT’S HARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE YOUR OWN WAY OF DOING LIFE AND NOW YOU ARE MERGING THAT WITH SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS THEIR OWN WAY OF DOING LIFE.
REALITY IS YOU ADD IN 7 KIDS, A FARM OF ANIMALS, MULTIPLE JOBS, KIDS WITH MEDICAL NEEDS, AND EVERY DAY MALARKEY. SOMEHOW WE HAVE THESE 7 AMAZING SOULS WHO WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH LOVING, MOLDING, ENCOURAGING THROUGH LIFE'S HURTS AND LESSONS, AND HAVING AN ABSOLUTE BLAST RAISING AND YOU HAVE TO FIND TIME TO NURTURE YOUR MARRIAGE. KEEP THAT PERSON A PRIORITY EVEN WITH THE WILD THINGS THAT GET TOSSED YOUR WAY. BUT OH IS IT AMAZING, FULFILLING, FUN, FUNNY, BEAUTIFUL. WE ARE NOT PERFECT BUT THAT MAN STILL GIVES ME BUTTERFLIES AFTER ALL THIS TIME. I STILL LOVE GOING ON DATES OR SHOOTING LOOKS THAT ONLY HE UNDERSTANDS.
SO HERE WE ARE… I AM THE MOTHER TO 7 CHILDREN THAT ARE MY LIFE’S FORCE. MARRIED TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. 4 DOGS. 6 CATS, 2 FISH AND AT CURRENT TIME A CHRYSALIS THAT I AM NOT SURE IS EVEN ALIVE (OR ITS HIBERNATING UNTIL SPRING) BUT I AM NOT GIVING UP ON IT YET. I HAVE BEEN DEVOTING MOST OF MY TIME TO RAISING MY KIDS. MY HUSBAND IS A LOCAL TV ANCHOR AND REALTOR. HE WORKS HARDER THAN ANY PERSON I HAVE EVER MET. DAY AND NIGHT HE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US AS WELL. HE IS SOMEONE I AM SO PROUD TO HAVE AS MY CHILDREN’S FATHER. HE IS SOMEONE FOR MY 6 SONS TO LOOK UP TO AND FOR MY DAUGHTER AS WELL. MY ROLE AS A MOTHER IS DIVERSE AS WELL. MOTHER TO A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY. MOTHER OF A GAY SON WHO WILL MAKE SURE WITH ALL THAT SHE IS THAT HE IS AFFORDED THE SAME RIGHTS EACH AND EVERY PERSON DESERVES. MOTHER OF A SON BRAVE ENOUGH TO LEAVE EVERYTHING HE KNOWS TO FOLLOW HIS DREAM OF PERFORMING COMEDY. MOTHER OF A MULTI BRAIN SURGERY AND FUSION SURVIVOR, WHO IS BACK ON THE SPORTS FIELD AFTER BEING ON HIS DEATHBED. WHO LIVES WITH CHIARI MALFORMATION AND OTHER COMORBIDITIES. MOTHER OF A GAMER OR 2 OR 4 ;) MOTHER OF A QUIRKY, SENSITIVE, KIND HEARTED SON WHO WILL MAKE THE BEST PARTNER SOMEDAY. MOTHER OF A DAUGHTER WHO WILL RULE THE WORLD, WHO TAKES ZERO CRAP AND IS SO VERY MUCH MY MINI ME. MOTHER OF THE SWEETEST PRESCHOOLER WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER WHO HAS A SPECIAL SPIRIT AND IF YOU MEET HIM YOU KNOW RIGHT AWAY. MOTHER TO A BABY BORN ON HIS TERMS, WHO WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, WHO WAS BORN ON MY FATHER IN LAW’S BIRTHDAY AND LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM. WHO A PRETTY AMAZING PSYCHIC WHO DID NOT KNOW THE STORY OF HIM GOT IT ALL RIGHT, AND SAID HE IS NOT MY FATHER IN LAW (WHO PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO) BUT IS CERTAINLY A PIECE OF HIM AND THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. AND LASTLY MOTHER OF 5 ANGEL BABIES WHO I HOPE TO MEET ONE DAY…THAT SAME PSYCHIC SAW 5 ANGELS AROUND ME AS WELL AND SHE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ANY OF THAT SO I TAKE THAT AS TRUTH. IN MY SPARE TIME I ALSO LOVE VOLUNTEERING WITH MY HUSBAND AND KIDS FOR SOME PRETTY NEAT LOCAL ORGANIZATION AND HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ANOTHER AMAZING ORGANIZATION. BESIDES THAT I AM THE DAUGHTER OF A MOTHER WITH SOME VERY UNIQUE EYE DISEASES AND A FATHER WHO SURVIVED AND IS STILL HEALING FROM A RARE CONDITION CAUSED BY HIS BIPOLAR MEDS. I AM THE SISTER OF A FIRE CAPTAIN IM SO PROUD OF AND HIS FAMILY - MY HEART. SISTER-IN-LAW AND AUNT TO SOME PRETTY INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN. DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TO THE BEST IN LAWS AND THE LIST GOES ON. MY FAMILY IS SO CLOSE THAT I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT THE EXTENDED ONES. EACH INSPIRE ME IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SO I AM MADE UP OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ROLLS, PIECES OF ME.
I ALSO LOVE ART. I LOVE CREATING. I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE ENJOY THE PERSONAL CREATIONS I MAKE FOR THEM. THAT IS WHERE THIS IS ALL GOING. ALL OF MY LIFE ART HAS BEEN AN OUTLET. CREATIVE, FUN, THERAPEUTIC AND SPIRITUAL. THE SPIRITUAL, THE SOUL. I LOVE THE SPIRITUAL. I GREW UP IRISH CATHOLIC, AND IN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. I MARRIED A JEWISH HUSBAND AND WE HAVE 7 KIDS WHO I WANT TO KNOW THEIR JEWISH ROOTS AND TO KNOW THAT GOD LOVES THEM. THAT GOD IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND TO OUR FAMILY. ALSO TO LOVE OTHERS, TO SMILE WHEN THEY CAN AT PASSERBY'S AND DO THE RIGHT THING, EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING OR IT WON’T BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. TO MAKE SURE THEY STAND UP FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DISSENT WHEN IT IS RIGHT.
HERE IS MY DREAM PUT INTO FRUITION. CLOTHING, ART, A LIFESTYLE BRAND… WHAT WILL IT ALL BECOME? I AM NOT SURE. I HOPE IT MAKES OTHERS HAPPY AND INSPIRED. I HOPE OTHERS REALIZE THAT WE DON’T KNOW HOW LONG WE HAVE ON THIS PLANET SO TAKING THE CHANCE AT SOMETHING YOU LOVE SHOULD BE MUST. WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? YOU FAIL? NO. I WOULD NOT CALL THAT A FAILURE. I CALL PART OF THE PATH WE ARE ALL ON. SO AS LONG AS WE ARE ALIVE WE CAN GET THROUGH ANYTHING AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE BREATH WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LIVING OUR BEST LIFE.
HERE GOES NOTHING <3