Car Selfie
Thought I'd say "hi"
Hi readers -
I thought that, for once, I’d quit hiding behind one of my personas and tell you a little about myself and what’s going on over here in Northern California. Where to start? Jeez. There’s a lot of baggage behind my writing, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, but I’m a tough broad and prefer to just get on with things. Life is too damn fun (and short) to dwell on all that stupid shit unless, of course, it’s for a good laugh.
The reality is I love to laugh, and I am very naughty. Been this way my whole life. That, and OCD, and not just in that cute way people describe themselves to let potential suitors know that they can load a dishwasher and slam dunk their stinky socks into a clothes hamper. I’ve had many careers and most benefitted greatly from this disorder (you are welcome, former bosses and orchestra directors), but I am now pretty entrenched in writing, though still figuring out which genres I love most. Right now satire is #1.
Yes, I am no spring chicken. Well into my sixties, I am, and I’ve done everything from being a high school band director and working for the ACLU to being the office manager at a major university library, a professional chamber music and orchestral flutist, a secretary for head legal counsel at Amoco, the head of a company that created weather graphics systems (wtf, right?), a flute teacher and author of flute method books, a camp director, a music booking agent, the program director for a music festival, a long stint as a wedding planner/designer (holy shit, what was I thinking), a wedding officiant, director of events and hospitality at two wineries, and now I’m a journalist and writer. Coming up for air… gonna need some albuterol after that stupid list. Memory lane is full of allergens.
I’ve so very many stories to tell that I’ll probably be writing until I fall off the face of the earth or I get shoved off — which is likely to happen if anyone I know recognizes themselves as one of the characters in my stories.
My childhood — a hot mess. Mom disappeared when I was five, and Dad remarried and moved us all over the place — 11 moves before I’d graduated high school. And no, my father was not in the military. I’ve had wonderful friends and amazing teachers and lived in great neighborhoods where other families and parents helped fill in the gaps. I’ve had a good life. I’m having a good life.
I’ve also quite a few college degrees and was always top of my class and mostly principal flute wherever I played. Brag, brag. I grew up mostly in Battle Creek, Michigan, but also lived in Urbana-Champaign, St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco, and for the last 21 years in Napa Valley. I will not be leaving here. 👇🏼
I’ve got two amazing GenZ kids who are well into adulthood and I’ve been married twice and had another long-term relationship. Yes, those are all past tense (😳 not the kids!!). I currently enjoy life with my wonderful guy, John, at his ranch in the mountains. He’s truly the love of my life, after Ben and Ellie, that is. Though I’m an atheist, I’m praying for grandkids and that Kamala Harris wins the presidency. Holy mother of god, PLEASE.
Here’s where you’ll find all my various websites and social media links: ABOUT ME. And if you’re looking to read more of my writing, go here: MY STUFF.
And these are my absolute fav pieces I’ve written so far:
Hope you’ll give all my publications a try 😘
Your friend, Chris
Right here resides a damn big fan…. John’s oft been called “a lucky man”…
And, BTW, the brows look great,
don’t you be listn’n to no sista hate…
P.S. Pathetic poet pooped out after 2 measly rhymes! Guess my rapper name… were I a rapper (hahaha) might be: “No Rappa”
Keep writing
very interesting life......