Fates, we will know your pleasures: That we shall die, we know; ’tis but the time, And drawing days out, that men stand upon. —Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
Life’s not over until the fat lady sings. And I don’t hear her yet.
A midwesterner for decades, my husband and I moved to Florida in 2020. All five of our children are grown and flown, delightful humans and my best contribution to date.
A fiber artist since 1996, I used to publish a knitting blog (called Living and Dyeing) back when blogs were shiny and cool (2003-2008) using Typepad (I’m really dating myself here. Good thing I’m a fun date). I own three spinning wheels, two weaving looms, multiple spindles, countless knitting and dyeing supplies and my knitting goal for 2026 is to make a Dale of Norway sweater. I’ve done some traveling, skiing, boating and I even co-piloted a small two-seater plane from Chicago to Idaho and back. I’ve lived a pretty good life and I’m grateful.
Why, do you ask, am I here?
Many years ago as my kids became teens, I was an Office Manager in downtown Chicago, on track for a higher level admin job when one of my teen daughters was diagnosed with anorexia. It was serious and required me to be closer to home. I pivoted to a position nearby at a tile store where I catalogued, organized and sold architecturally significant and historically accurate tile to designers and homeowners alike. I fell in love.
There was something about this small detail of the past that was precious and worth saving. The experience took me by surprise and I realized I loved serving these clients by providing them with the information they needed to make the world a more beautiful place.
Suddenly my husband’s employment swept us away to Florida, and I dealt with a health situation which began in 2021. Here I am, alive for now, facing mid-life with hope, excited to increase my digital content skills through this class and hopefully head into a world where I can direct people to resources that educate and bring meaning to their lives. Whether at a museum, an archive or a library, I look forward to “drawing days out” for this next act, whatever time is allotted.