Intro: “Bowl Full of Dreams” When I was young, if I witnessed something remarkable I would think I could do that. This excerpt is taken from the book “Dream Big”, where the artist makes a personal commentary on each of the paintings. To read the full commentaries, the book is available for purchase.
Figure Skater: “Near Perfect Performance” When I was a kid, ice skating was my passion. In Michigan, where our license plates read “Water-Winter Wonderland” ice skating came as naturally as breathing the frigid, Midwest winter air. Nearly everyone I knew lived near a lake. This excerpt is taken from the book “Dream Big”, where the artist makes […]
Mother: “Motherhood – More Than a Walk in the Park” For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of being someone’s mother. Admittedly, in my dreams that someone was always a baby. Never a tantrum-throwing toddler, or a surly, argumentative teenager. She was invariably a sweet, fragrant, perfectly pink, baby girl. This excerpt […]
Nurse: “Romance in Uniform” I thought for a long time that I wanted to be a nurse. I was drawn to the clean white uniform, and the pert little starched cap whose design indicated where each nurse had been trained. I dreamed about pinning one of those hard-earned caps on my head! This excerpt […]
Writer: “Great American Novel” Once upon a time…I wanted to be a writer. I used to lie in bed and compose stories in my head. And then I would reach under my bed where I kept a spiral notebook and pencil, and trying not to wake my sister, I’d jot down my ideas. What I […]
Dairy Farmer: “Fantasy Farming” My dream of being a farmer was rooted in visits to my paternal grandparents’ farm in the Finger Lakes region of western New York. Times spent there were idyllic. We slept in the loft above the grape house, ascending to bed on a rough wooden ladder. This excerpt is taken from […]
Tap Dancer: “For Want of Rhythm” What could be better than the deep, rich sound of tap shoes on a wood floor? I found it mesmerizing, and dream-worthy. But unlike ballet, tap was never an option for me as a kid. No classes. No black patent leather tap shoes. And absolutely no rhythm. This excerpt […]
Pastry Chef: “Let Them Eat Cake” I am not sure which came first, my love of baking or my love of eating baked goods. Either way, sugar runs thick and sweet in my veins. I don’t have a single sweet tooth; I have a veritable mouthful. This excerpt is taken from the book “Dream Big”, where the […]
Ballerina: “My Pointe Is” Ah-h-h, Miss Samuelson, I had high hopes for you, my first and only ballet teacher. But in hindsight, I am fairly certain that you did not harbor the same for me when I stumbled into your studio, my terribly long, terribly skinny legs protruding from my bagging, black leotard. This […]
Pianist: “All in the Timing” My first exposure to the piano came at my grandparents’ house in Attica. Grandpa Healy, who they said played “by ear,” would play Old Man River over and over, singing the lyrics in a low, gravelly voice. Perhaps that was his entire repertoire. It’s the only song I recall him […]
Cheerleader: “We Have Lift-Off” When I got to W. E. Groves High School, I had my eyes trained on only one thing – the green and white uniform of the cheerleading squad. I wanted nothing more than to join their ranks. I dreamed about that green pleated skirt and the white wool sweater with the […]
Skydiver: “Don’t Tell Mom” When I was in college I got it into my head that I wanted to learn to skydive. This was a stunning departure for someone who disliked flying as much as I did – never quite trusting the weight of an airplane to stay aloft. But the thought of floating through […]
Lawyer: “Because I Said So” I grew up watching Perry Mason and, much later, developed a mad crush on Jack McCoy of Law and Order. Well into my 50s, I dreamed of standing before a duly impressed judge and jury, arguing to save the life of my innocent client. This excerpt is taken from the […]
Editor: “Read Between the Lines” Once I resigned myself to a non-nursing career, and took stock of employment opportunities for an English literature scholar who had no desire to teach, I decided to minor in journalism. And after my first class in editing, I became enamored of that infamous non-photo blue pencil commonly used in […]
Singer: “Hitting the High Notes” I dreamed of being a soprano, a rare songbird with a voice that was other-worldly. However, my first roadblock came when Miss Skully, the choir director at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, consigned me to the alto section. Shortly after that demoralizing demotion, my career as a singer spiraled even […]
Artist: “Self Portrait” I can’t recall a time when I didn’t make art. I remember, as a kid, walking to Greens Art Supply in downtown Birmingham to buy pastels. Never a full set – just a few sticks at a time. And going back home, pulling out my sketch pad, and faithfully reproducing the beautiful […]