Sweet friends, first and foremost, if you have been hanging out with me over the years and are still out there – a huge hug of gratitude goes out to you. You know how loopy and dingy and hit-or-miss I can be and yet, you are somehow still here. You are still here, right? Anyone??
I wouldn’t blame you a bit if even my staunchest pals have abandoned my ship as it is usually mid-capsize at any given moment. But I am feeling (naively?) optimistic about 2023. Enthusiastic about this new year – for some reason I cannot pinpoint. Here on the 9th day of the new month and new year, I am buoyed by the delightful weekend we just enjoyed, the busy week ahead and the words of my devotional today. It is a Monday and Mondays are becoming my favorite days. The day to get back on track, to start that diet, finish that book, begin the great purge I’ve been promising to undertake, to run that mile.
…And to visit the blogs of my blogging buddies, the pages of my Facebook friends and the posts of my Instagram pals. I have begun that very thing, and in doing so came across my friend Dara’s post and link-up. Dara, Adrienne, Jen, Joanne, Lauren, and Sarah all host a series call “Not Just a Mom.” And while I enjoy their posts, I am far older than these gals and have not joined their link-ups for that reason. Today’s link-up, though, is multi-generational. For moms, grandmoms and great-grandmoms alike. Wonder if I will live to be a great grandma??? Today the girls are (re-)introducing themselves to their readers.
Sooooooo, today I am re-introducing myself to you, if you’re still out there!!
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It’s Just Me
I really liked the way Dara just used bullet points to sum up who she is. Dara is always concise. Oh, to be concise!! But I also have 20 years on Dara so that should allow me a few more bullets, right? Here we go.
I…
- have been mom to my precious Brennyn Alexis for 38 years
- and mom to my precious Lauren Allegra for 36 years
- refer to my husband Paul as PC for Paul Clingan AKA Prince Charming, we’ve been married since 2008, together with some starts and stops since 2003…he is truly my PC in most every way
- kissed too many frogs and was married too many times before PC – another lifetime ago – told you I was old
- loved almost every minute of my 25+ year career as a children’s librarian
- have a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s in Library Science from the University of North Texas
- recently lost my 95-year-old mom and lost my father in 2012
- have a creative, funny younger sister Valerie and a passionate, funny younger brother Kevin; 2 nephews and 1 niece
- am the proud Mimi, Meem, Gabba and Gabby to 4 of the bestest babies in the world – my grandchildren Cadence Ellie (12), Lucia Carolina (6), Camila Jean (3), and Declan Ashraf (1)
- am mother-in-law (and all the evil that title conjures) to my patient and loving sons-in-law Mustafa (from Afghanistan married to Brennyn) and Francisco (from Mexico married to Lauren)
- am an introvert and not very social. I feel anxious in most social situations but I like to think I have a number of friends whom I hold near and dear…even if we don’t ‘do’ lunch.
- love animals and am the mommy to Purrsimmony and Purrsnickitty, our 2 nine-year-old kitties
So, that’s who I am in relationship to others. Kind of a summary of my roles, or a list of the most important hats I wear or have worn.
What Else?
But there’s more to each of us than just who we are in relationship to someone else. I am also a combination of all the things that I love to do and those things that interest me.
I…
- love to be creative…although I get very anxious about it sometimes, for fear of making a mistake. I scrapbook, paint a little, have done mosaics, and other craft projects. My sister Valerie and I Facetime and scrap several times a month when LIFE allows.
- read. And I host a Facebook reading club? group? page? called “Come Read With Me.” We have 122 members which just amazes me and are reading So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde for our January book. So good!!
- like to hike, run (less now than in earlier years), swim, exercise. We have a small at-home gym in the garage and I enjoy doing virtual reality workouts, too.
- enjoy writing and keep saying I am going to write a book. In fact, I purchased Write Your Story through CreativeLive just before Christmas. Now to do the course and write the story.
- like to take pictures. Ad nauseum if you ask my fam. But so what. Doesn’t cost anything. Doesn’t hurt anyone. And I love sharing my photos on my blog and on Instagram and Facebook and Pinterest…all the things. Everywhere. Shameless plug…I am doing a winter photo challenge. Hoping to photograph something for each of the prompts below and share here, there, everywhere before the first day of spring.
- have fun dressing up. On a typical day it is gym clothes minus the gym. But I like having an occasion to dress for the day – subbing or church or date day/night with PC.
- love to love. Family, friends, children, animals.
That, I would say, sums me up fairly well, if not concisely.
Your Turn
Now it’s your turn. Come join us and link-up an About Me post if you are a fellow blogger. Or give me your best Reader’s Digest condensed summary of who you are in a comment below. I do have an About Me page that I haven’t visited in some time. Might be (over)due for an update. There’s more of the minutiae – what a weird word – of who I am on that page.
Thanks, Dara, for sharing this link-up with your readers. Thank YOU for sticking with me. I think I might have happened across my Word of the Year in thinking about and writing this post. Consistent. Or a prettier synonym that means the same thing. Going to try to be more consistent. With everything.
Off to make the bed and get that purging started. Have a productive, pleasant week.
Hugs and kisses,
This was so fun to read Leslie.
I am that same way in big social groups. But I try to push myself to go and meet new women. I find the one-on-one time is so heartwarming.
And I love that you are willing to be creative. There is no perfect, right?? And it’s good for our brains to try new things.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you so much for coming by and leaving me this sweet comment. I cannot believe you feel uncomfortable in large social groups. You seem so natural in front of the camera. So confident. You sure fooled me!!
Oh I am so glad you joined us!! This was a really fun read; though I knew a lot of this it was nice to learn a few new tidbits. I rarely am very concise when it comes to my blog and using words either. I can get pretty long winded.
Glad I am not the only ones who borders on wordiness!! I am in good company!! Really enjoyed this prompt and hope to maybe link up with you gals again.
I’m here 😺
I love that you are.
Loved this post, Leslie! Makes me feel like I already know you, because there were no surprises in your descriptions. Super-condensed summary of who I am: Seventh child in a family of ten, mother of two (Danny and Cara), grandmother of two (Helen and Edith) and one on the way who will be our first grandson, retired elementary school teacher, wife to Alan (aka: Big Eagle), love to read, listen to music, blog, work out, garden, cook, bike, kayak, and travel. Love Jesus. Happy New Year!
Love your condensed version of All About Gale. I didn’t realize Edie was really Edith. So, I learned something. I remember your gardening, and a bike journey I think you took with your sister a few years ago. Had forgotten you were an elementary school teacher. I bet you were a darn good one. Hope you will join the book club. Just emailed you!!
Also…that book sounds like a good one! Is it too late to join y’all in reading it?
Just emailed you. Please come read with me!!
Hi Leslie – I’m one of those readers who’s still here after several years (and my comments going into your spam folder regularly!) Lovely to read a little bit more about you – and I was surprised you consider yourself to be an introvert because you seem very outgoing in your blog. I’m actually publishing a post next week on hating large social gatherings – finally I’m admitting that they’re just not my “thing” after trying for so long to pretend to enjoy them! Happy 2023 and I hope it’s as good as you’re expecting it to be. x
I can see how you would not enjoy large social gatherings. I think we are probably a lot a like. And I have heard more than a few bloggers admit to the same thing. We are more comfortable writing than talking. Thank you for taking time to stop by my blog and to leave a comment.
You are the best BFF along with being the best mom and gma! My most talented and gifted friend for over 53 years! That’s a LONG time. Love you long time! 🥰
Awww, this comment came through!! Thank you so much for sticking with me through thick and thin. I love you, Sharonia!!
I loved reading all of these, Leslie. It seems like I never have enough time in the day to accomplish anything, but when I look back at my day, I didn’t do anything either! I need to stop that!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you for coming by, Marsha. Hope to reconnect with you this year. I have missed your mug!!
Oh, how I miss our long and meandering emails! Yes, let’s get those going again!
Absolutely!!
Lovely to read all about you! There’s always something new to learn about someone! You hide the introvert side of you well. I am so pleased I found your book club, it has made me read things I would never have found myself. Take this month’s choice for example, I would never have picked that off a bookshelf yet I really enjoyed it. I read it so quickly as I couldn’t put it down! Here’s to another 12 months of reading together x
Thank you so much for being my buddy. I am super excited about your writing link up with Gail and some of the other gals. Can’t wait to join you guys. Hope 2023 and LIFE will be cooperative!!
Wasn’t So Long, Chester Wheeler just wonderful? I would never ever have picked it up myself. And was secretly pulling for the WWII book about the girl on the platform…can’t remember the title exactly. The book club gals always pick books that I would have missed otherwise. Thankful for that group. And YOU!!
Hi there, I’m new to your blog and can’t wait to get to know you over the next year with the Not Just a Mom link up. It’s so nice to learn about you.
Thank you so much for visiting. Hope to join the gals of Not Just a Mom more often in the new year.
What a great idea for a post & a good read. Sounds like you have the tools to get started writing that book a be a published author this year. Karen
Awww, thank you, friend. I am glad you stopped by. Have lost all of my bookmarked blogs I follow and having to add them back from memory.
I enjoyed reading your post today and learning more about you. I saw your photo challenge on Instagram and took a screen shot as I think I may try to participate because I do love to take photographs too. Hope you have a great day.
Oh, yay! Come take pics with me!! I need to make a list of the gals who are hoping to participate. Looking forward to seeing your photos.
I always enjoy reading this type of post — hearing who you are and what you love to do!
Thank you. I am so glad you left a comment. I enjoy your blog very much and last night I lost all of my blog feeds. I use Feedly to bookmark the blogs I follow and I erased all of them last night accidentally. Adding you back right now.
You don’t need to be a mom at all to join our link up! I am happy you did and I am happy you are still blogging, even if it is not super often!
Thank you, sweet Dara!! I have missed my blogging and blogging buds. Loved this link up and hope to join you gals again soon.
What a fun read! Your family is absolutely beautiful. I enjoy seeing pictures of the little people and watching them grow. I’m like you in social situations. I’m anxious and really hate them. I’m going to join you on your photography challenge. I’m doing a 365 and run out of ideas sometimes, so the prompts will be useful.
Thank you so much for coming by and making me smile. I love my family so mucho!! And find they are easy on the eyes, too. Ha!!
So glad you will join the photo challenge. I need to make a list of who is interested in joining me so I remember to check out their photos. Can be so forgetful!! Happy New Year, my friend.
So nice to read more about you. And I just saved your Winter Photo Challenge prompts. I will try to join in as I also really enjoy taking pictures. I’m so glad your back and I’m happy to support you in your “consistency.” <– What a GREAT word!
What a great reflection post. I used to do a lot of crafting but don’t anymore. In fact I think I could title my memoir “the things I used to do…” lol. It’s been lovely learning a little more about you. But finally: do the course, write the book…
You are such an inspiration. I would love for you to write a post on how to find time to write. I have all the excuses. And some of them are valid. About to get to the point that I let some of my crafting go. But enjoy it. Thank you for visiting.
Such a fun post to read! I love read “a little bit extra” and getting to know the blogger behind the screen more! And I saved your photo challenge. Now, I just need to get started. I look forward to visiting regularly….and always enjoy your posts and writing!! Hope you are having a wonderful week. Hugs my friend!
I enjoyed reading your post and getting know all about you. I’m a high school teacher, but can only imagine how rewarding it would be to be a librarian. One day, when I retire, I hope to work at our public library 🙂 Thanks for joining our link up.
Oh, Jen, my career as a librarian was so fulfilling. I have worked in a public library and in school libraries. I love children and the school library positions were my favorite. But I have a book club now and try to connect friends with good books and so enjoy that. Thinking I might like public library work better now in this stage of my life. Nothing like matching a book with a reader and having it be a big success!! I am going to add your blog to my feed. I am a Tennessee gal transplanted in Texas but have family in Missouri and Kentucky. Thank you for stopping by!!
This was such a fun introduction to read, and I feel like your writing style probably reflects who you are in person. 🙂 I’m a mom of grown children, a grandmother (Nonny), and an empty nester too, and I’m glad Im not the only one in that stage of motherhood that joined the link-up!
Hey Nonny!! So nice of you to stop by. Heading over to visit you as soon I finish this reply to your kind comment. I love to write but never seem to find the time to do it. I am always looking for bloggers my age and in my season of life to link up with. Can’t wait to get to know you better.
Ok, laughing at PC’s comment!! 🙂 So sweet! I also have to say I just love your cat’s names. I know you are an introvert (and I am too!), but I’d love to have lunch with you someday! I am still saddened by your loss of your sweet momma, even though she had 95 blessed years here on Earth!! Crafting can make me anxious too, I am such a perfectionist. I’m excited to see you on here more often this year. OH, and 122 members of your reading club on FB?!!!! WOW!!! I really should check it out. I have been wanting to read more this year.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thank you so much for coming by, my sweet, busy dear Carrie. I am reading a book about introverts like us right now. It is very entertaining with just a couple of chapters behind me. The author calls herself a shintrovert – a shy introvert. I think I am a shintrovert, too. She forces herself out of her introverted nature for an entire year by doing all kinds of crazy outgoing things.
Come read with me!! Never any pressure to read anything we pick. But we are a very easy going group.
What a great post! I love getting to know you a little more through this post. I have to say I am shocked that you are an introvert!!!!! I didn’t see that coming at all. You are so kind and open and inviting in all the interactions I’ve had with you and I guess I just assumed when I see you on social media that you must me an extrovert. But it totally makes sense! Loved learning that about you. Also, I am really sorry your mom passed away. It’s always difficult to say goodbye to the people we love. I excited to feel your energy about 2023. I am here for all of it!
bosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Thank you for this very sweet comment. In this third week of January, I am still feeling hopeful about the new year. Hope this time next year, I will look back on 2023 as one of the best years ever.
Hi Leslie, I don’t know if all Bloggers have these things in common or if I am just mostly attracted to Bloggers with a familiar ‘profile.’
You have inspired me to write a post like this about myself. It is probably a good time to remind people of who I am and to hopefully invite a few new people into my life. I hope you won’t mind if I borrow the idea.
So nice to meet you. I have ‘followed’ and will now receive updates for new posts. Take care.
So pleased that you are writing a post reintroducing yourself to folks. Will look for it. Glad you somehow found may corner of the Internet and left a comment so I could follow you.
I just discovered you this morning (Jan. 19) and I’m so glad – I follow several blogs but as a almost 66 year old (next week!), retired wife, mom and Grammie/Mamie to 10 and GG (great grandma) to one & almost another, I was delighted to find your blog. (How’s THAT for a run-on sentence?) I’m an avid reader, hopeful walker (just started again) and happy traveler. Looking forward to learning more on your blog!
Oh, I love a good run-on sentence. Thank you for introducing yourself to me in one glorious run-on!! Hope we will become fast friends asnd get to know each other better. Thank you for finding me.
Judging by all the comments, I’d say you haven’t been forgotten Leslie!! In fact, I was just thinking about you a couple of days ago. I thought I hadn’t seen you pop up in any of the link-ups I join lately…and I couldn’t remember the name of your blog either, so I couldn’t just pop over to see what you were up to. I’m so glad Marsha mentioned you in her recent post!
I also have a younger brother called Kevin! And an older sister, Jenny. I have five nephews and two nieces. Sadly, I rarely see any of them with us living in Portugal and they in England though.
Great post, Leslie!
Big hugs
Suzy x
Thank you, Suzy. After losing my mom in August, I really stepped away from most everything for a bit. But I have begun feeling a little better and I hope I can get back to writing blog posts and visiting those of others more regularly again. Thank you!!
Lesley, I’m so sorry to hear you lost your mum last year. I can totally understand why you would want to take a step back from everything. I’m so glad that you’re starting to feel better and are back blogging again.
Big hugs, my friend!
Thank you, Suzy. It was a very hard 11 years before her passing with 3 suicide attempts. But she also lived a long life and had a lot of good, memory-making during her 95 years. I can feel those warm hugs. Thank you!!