Once upon a time…
I’ve explored many creative paths. The signpost “Writer” led me down a path I’m still traveling. Here are my key scenic overlooks:
- Three historical romance novels published by Harper Collins for their Monogram imprint
- A one-woman play, Warriors Don’t Cry, based on the memoir by Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the Little Rock Nine who integrated Central High School in 1957. I co-authored the play which was produced by a Connecticut performing arts center and enjoyed several national tours for student audiences
- I host and produce Page 1, a community television and YouTube show about writers. I launched it in 2004. I’ve hosted and produced two other shows: Full Bloom, and Weddings with Zita.
- Contributing the foreword and several chapters of the book 101 Ways You Can Help: How to Offer Comfort and Support to Those Who Are Grieving by my dear friend, the late Liz Aleshire. While Liz was in the ICU waiting for a new heart, I recruited five more friends, all writers, to complete her manuscript. The publisher, Sourcebooks, extended the deadline long enough for the six of us to complete what became a true labor of love.
- Twelve years as a certified Life-Cycle Celebrant officiating more than 150 weddings, funerals, baby blessings and other rites of passage.
- When my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I knew I needed to phase out my work as a wedding officiant. That’s when I deepened my exploration of rituals in general and launched my first podcast, Ritual Recipes. I created rituals to celebrate the seasons the way I imagine my Celtic, Germanic, and Nordic ancestors did. Astrology and Goddess spirituality inspired additional rituals.
- Six months before my husband died, I launched my second podcast: My Spouse Has Dementia. I was motivated by the alarming statistic about the number of family dementia caregivers — people like me — who die before their loved one dies.
These days, I’m gathering material for a memoir of my caregiving experience. I can see how my journey led me to this new chapter of my life. Destiny is a wide road.
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