Monthly Archives: August 2009

As a little girl, there was something magical to me about a tea party, even the ones that were around a little children’s table lined with teddy bears and favorite dollies. I wouldn’t say that I was ever a “girly girl”—I migrated more toward dirt and trees than sugar and spice and everything nice. But the exception for me, my journey into the world of ribbon and bows, was the tea party.

I would like to say that I was a good student and that I excelled in school. But, truth be told, I was not. To this day I am still not one who would thrive in a brick and mortar classroom.

On a recent trip to my hometown, it seemed that every street in the little community held a memory for me—some of the memories good and others not so good. As I sat outside the old school house, I was a little surprised that I wasn’t engulfed in memories. Instead, the only thing that came to mind was a quote that I love by Mark Twain: “I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

There are cat lovers and then there are dog lovers. I am the latter. I love dogs! My dog Abby died two years ago at the age of 14. She was a fun and spunky little miniature schnauzer, and she was all attitude. I adored her and she loved me.

Growing up, my mom had poodles, the little “teacup” breed. Wherever my mom went, so did her poodles. Back then I would never have dreamed that I would be “that kind of gal.” You know, the woman you see driving down the road with a dog in her lap.

Now my son Cole has Drake. Drake is a six-week-old, AKC-registered chocolate lab that Cole hopes will be a hunting partner, even though he’s currently so little that he can barely pick up a sock.