ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As you can see, I am always looking for something to get my hands into or something in general that sounds like having fun! My mind is in a constant state of motion with hundreds of thoughts swirling around like a tornado. It is when one of those thoughts "park" that creativity happens and I become a mean, lean producing machine - be it in writing or making my custom fused/dichroic glass jewelry.
Life in retirement has been a grand adventure. I have wanted to travel all of my life. As a sophomore in high school, I told my dad I wanted to be an airline stewardess so I could see the world. He sat me down that very day and said these words: "No daughter of mine will be known as 'Coffee, Tea or Me'." Disappointed, I said that I would just join the military so that I could travel and he said: "That's the second thing that I forbid you to do - no daughter of mine will be in the military!" With that realization, my dreams of travel were put away, tucked into my mental "file cabinet" entitled DREAMS.
This born and raised in Texas City, Texas girl had a happy and safe childhood. The devastation of losing your home to a hurricane (Carla - 1961) when I was 12 years old and the failure of a family restaurant at age 14 taught me that life was not always kind and not always what you hoped it would be. HOWEVER, since my cup is always half full, I chose to move on and look for grand adventures to keep me smiling.
I received a great education from the Texas City Independent School System, graduating in the top 10% of the Class of '67. Life had some interested twists and turns, but life was full following a husband who moved often due to his profession, and due to adopting our daughter from Korea at age five. Our family was complete and life was normal, if there really is something called normal!
I discovered I had breast cancer in 1996 and after the surgery, I was told I needed to get my affairs in order because I only had a few months to live. After much prayer and my friends making sure I didn't stop laughing for two weeks, the doctors said that something major had changed and that I would live! Then, five years later another kind of cancer popped up, but due to early detection, surgery was performed and once again I was given the gift of life.
Upon turning 60, my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I asked him if he REALLY wanted to know what I wanted and he replied YES! So, I told him I wanted to quit working and write and create things. Now, two years later I have my first book published and I am making beautiful hand-crafted pendants from the most amazing glass that was developed for the aerospace program to solve the space-shield problem back in the '60s.
SO, here I am today, having a ball. Life is just different once you have had cancer and survived. I look at the sunrise each morning in a slightly different way. I have the gift of life to make this day be special, not only for me, but for those around me. I choose to enjoy each day and anxiously look forward to see what adventure might be coming my way or what extraordinary people I will have the pleasure to meet. AND guess what - the file cabinet entitle "DREAMS" has been opened and today I am experiencing my lifelong desire of traveling. So, look out - you just might find me on your doorstep one day!
Life is precious, handle with prayer. Life is to be tasted and savored, tend it with fresh vegetables and just the right spices. Life is wonderful, enjoy it! Most of all, give some of it away to others who need you.
Life in retirement has been a grand adventure. I have wanted to travel all of my life. As a sophomore in high school, I told my dad I wanted to be an airline stewardess so I could see the world. He sat me down that very day and said these words: "No daughter of mine will be known as 'Coffee, Tea or Me'." Disappointed, I said that I would just join the military so that I could travel and he said: "That's the second thing that I forbid you to do - no daughter of mine will be in the military!" With that realization, my dreams of travel were put away, tucked into my mental "file cabinet" entitled DREAMS.
This born and raised in Texas City, Texas girl had a happy and safe childhood. The devastation of losing your home to a hurricane (Carla - 1961) when I was 12 years old and the failure of a family restaurant at age 14 taught me that life was not always kind and not always what you hoped it would be. HOWEVER, since my cup is always half full, I chose to move on and look for grand adventures to keep me smiling.
I received a great education from the Texas City Independent School System, graduating in the top 10% of the Class of '67. Life had some interested twists and turns, but life was full following a husband who moved often due to his profession, and due to adopting our daughter from Korea at age five. Our family was complete and life was normal, if there really is something called normal!
I discovered I had breast cancer in 1996 and after the surgery, I was told I needed to get my affairs in order because I only had a few months to live. After much prayer and my friends making sure I didn't stop laughing for two weeks, the doctors said that something major had changed and that I would live! Then, five years later another kind of cancer popped up, but due to early detection, surgery was performed and once again I was given the gift of life.
Upon turning 60, my husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I asked him if he REALLY wanted to know what I wanted and he replied YES! So, I told him I wanted to quit working and write and create things. Now, two years later I have my first book published and I am making beautiful hand-crafted pendants from the most amazing glass that was developed for the aerospace program to solve the space-shield problem back in the '60s.
SO, here I am today, having a ball. Life is just different once you have had cancer and survived. I look at the sunrise each morning in a slightly different way. I have the gift of life to make this day be special, not only for me, but for those around me. I choose to enjoy each day and anxiously look forward to see what adventure might be coming my way or what extraordinary people I will have the pleasure to meet. AND guess what - the file cabinet entitle "DREAMS" has been opened and today I am experiencing my lifelong desire of traveling. So, look out - you just might find me on your doorstep one day!
Life is precious, handle with prayer. Life is to be tasted and savored, tend it with fresh vegetables and just the right spices. Life is wonderful, enjoy it! Most of all, give some of it away to others who need you.
PARTING WORDS
DON'T TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY.
GET UP EARLY AND SIT QUIETLY AND LISTEN AS THE WORLD AWAKENS.
ALWAYS SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE YOUR BEST.
ACTIVELY LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP OR BLESS OTHERS. YOUR SMILE IN THE GROCERY STORE CHECK-OUT LINE MIGHT BE THE ONLY SMILE THE CLERK HAS GOTTEN ALL DAY.
SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH OTHERS.
DO THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT EXPECTING - IT KEEPS THEM GUESSING AND IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF LIVING OUT A MYSTERY!
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, TRY TO FIND GOOD IN EVERYTHING AND HAVE FUN!
MOST OF ALL, GIVE GOD THE GLORY FOR ALLOWING YOU TO BREATHE YOUR NEXT BREATH AND THANK HIM FOR YOUR MANY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. LIFE WILL THEN BE FULL, FUN, JOYOUS, AND PEACEFUL - WHAT MORE COULD ONE WANT?
GET UP EARLY AND SIT QUIETLY AND LISTEN AS THE WORLD AWAKENS.
ALWAYS SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE YOUR BEST.
ACTIVELY LOOK FOR WAYS TO HELP OR BLESS OTHERS. YOUR SMILE IN THE GROCERY STORE CHECK-OUT LINE MIGHT BE THE ONLY SMILE THE CLERK HAS GOTTEN ALL DAY.
SHARE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH OTHERS.
DO THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT EXPECTING - IT KEEPS THEM GUESSING AND IT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF LIVING OUT A MYSTERY!
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, TRY TO FIND GOOD IN EVERYTHING AND HAVE FUN!
MOST OF ALL, GIVE GOD THE GLORY FOR ALLOWING YOU TO BREATHE YOUR NEXT BREATH AND THANK HIM FOR YOUR MANY ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. LIFE WILL THEN BE FULL, FUN, JOYOUS, AND PEACEFUL - WHAT MORE COULD ONE WANT?
©2020 – WINGSANDARING.COM René Palmer Armstrong