I was born in Leavenworth, KA in 1950 and lived in Valley Falls, KA on my grandparents' dairy farm until I was five years old.  I am the 3rd of 5 children.  I am now living in Aabama and have 2 children and 3 grandchildren with one more on the way and have been married for 33 challenging and very content years.

I have always been very passionate about writing, especially poetry.  My love for writing began at the age of 14.  I wrote a poem about John F. Kennedy and sent it to Mrs. Kennedy.  In reply, Mrs. Kennedy sent me a black and white photo of the family in front of their church doors; this kind gesture was quite an honor for me and I believe that was what started me to pursue poetry in greater depth. 

Writing is my first passion, my second passion is art.  I have always loved art but never took lessons.  Just like poetry, it was a gift, a passion; I acquired from my mother and she from her mother.  When I married, I stopped drawing but did not stop writing.  In 2006, I was diagnosed with stage 3 / 4 breast cancer; after my mastectomy, chemo treatment, and radiation; I had a dream which prompted the poem, "My Most Awesome Paranormal Experience" to go back and draw again.  When I'm not writing, I'm drawing for grandkids or some member of the family, someday I will draw for myself.  I would love to paint but my mastectomy prevents me from stroking with a brush; however, I do use colored pencil some but mostly graphite and pointillism.  I am a member of CPSA (Colored Pencil Society of America).

When I joined Poetry Soup, I was looking for challenges and I found it here; lots of challenges!  I am a realistic artist as well as a realistic writer.  I write on real events or something that triggers a memory, emotion, or I place myself in another person's shoes and write what I feel they are thinking.  I pretend to have a good sense of humor too and try to use it at every opportunity.