I grew up in the deep woodland of the Blue Ridge Mountains and have, for the most part, lived in the south all of my life. I have enjoyed my travels to other places as I am very eclectic about life and people; I enjoy all the new experiences of both. As a young girl I spent much ti me deep in those woods, alone with my thoughts and litt le dreams. You must spend enough ti me alone in order to fi nd yourself but if you spend too much ti me alone then you will begin to lose yourself- ti me always cuts both ways. I wrote poetry in my head or short litt le stories that seemed happier than life in general at that age. I sti ll have all of the original handwritt en poems I have ever put to paper so I have held them close and dear to me for a very long ti me-they have become like an old friend. I have always wanted to be able to do something that would reach many people and maybe touch them, comfort them, inspire them; and now I have that chance- I hope these words, some from another place and ti me, will speak to you each in a special way.
I have been writing poetry since seven years of age. It began in church, of all places. Instead of lending my full att enti on to the service, my mind began to think of heaven so I sat there and wrote a poem about God. Poetry is my passion, my outlet, and at ti mes a therapeuti c purging. I am pleased to share these words with you- may they touch you and move you. This book is a book of life; which means it entails the journeys, the lessons, the mistakes, the failures and triumph's, the long up-hill batt les and the deep, dark holes. It is about the joys of life and its many gift s. It is about friendship and love; about gain and loss. It is a reassurance that we can always become who we want without losing who we are. It is a book of celebrati on; both of life and of the self. It is about learned wisdom while on my many paths and opti mism that we can fi nd joy in the travels and some of those happy endings. I have writt en some poems as if having a conversati on with a dear friend, in the hope that you would also be inclined to do so. I have found, in my poetry or it may have found it in me, the one thing that I believe people really seek in life; inspirati on. Completi ng this book has taken ti me, many years in fact, and I have tried to put forth my soul. Perhaps you too will be inspired- I hope so.
