Thursday, February 7, 2008

Accepting a Challenge

You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for several days. That is because I have been tagged by Cheryl to list seven famous people I have met. I have been wracking my feeble little brain almost constantly since Tuesday to come up with someone I have met who is at least slightly famous.

I asked my friend Linda VerPlank if she could think of anyone I know who is famous and she said, "Me". I told her the only reason she was famous is because she knows me. So there you have it.

The only people I have met who have any fame whatosever are authors. And most of them only know my name because they signed the books I bought from them at library conferences. Anyway, here goes:

1. Robert B. Parker - of the Spenser series.
2. Cynthia Rylant - Children and Young Adult author.
3. Harlan Coban
4. J.A. Jance
5. Mary Higgins Clark
6. Mary Jane Auch
7. James Marshall

The list is much longer, but since none of these people really recall "meeting" me, I won't list all the others who don't know me either.

The good thing about this challenge is that it made me think about the people who really matter to me. Who are famous because they have influenced me in really important ways. Although I'm going to list a few of them here, I have decided to choose a truly remarkable woman from my life each month of 2008 and write about her and what she has meant to me. I'm sure there are more than twelve women, but I'm going to start there.

Today I want to share a few of the women who have contributed to the woman I am today:

1. My grandmother, Mary Cora Reed. She was my caregiver, teacher, disciplinarian, love of my life for the first nine years of my life. Without her my mother and I would never have survived.

2. My Mom, Lucy Reed Huston. She was one of the strongest women I have ever known. She was a survivor and taught me to be one too.

3. Inez Chapel my fourth grade teacher who taught me to love learning and especially learning about history.

4. Jessie Ruvo who sparked my creativity.

5. My Mother-in-law, Elva Wolfanger who is to this day someone who loves me unconditionally.

6. Mag VandenBout, my spiritual mentor.

7. My Aunt Mary who prayed daily for my salvation.

I am going to stop at seven, but the list is so long. I can hardly wait to write about each of these outstanding women as well as others.

While I have been agonizing over this challenge, I have also been busy. I am going to share a few of the valentine cards I've been making.






That has been the really fun part of my week. Well, actually, most of this week has been fun if you don't count the two spots of unhealthy cells I had frozen on my face (on my birthday no less). Tuesday, I spent the day shopping with the two Lindas. We probably did more talking, coffee drinking, lunching and laughing than shopping, but it was a really nice day nonetheless. Wednesday, my birthday, included the dermatologist, as I said, but also a wonderful late lunch/early dinner with my hubby at PF Chang's. Because it was my birthday, we splurged and had "the great wall of chocolate" for dessert. Today, I had breakfast with my Thursday friends, indulged in a pedicure and had my hair done.

So you can see, it hasn't been a bad week after all. The weekend looks really promising with a bridal shower for Meghan. I'll post about that along with pictures on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend.

Oh, I almost forgot. I am tagging Tracy, Nancy, Chrissy and Stephanie to tell us about their famous friends.

7 comments:

camport said...

Wow, Mary Higgins Clark! My mom loves her books! The list of women you love is so sweet and really makes you think about the people who shape you.

You didn't tell us it was your birthday! Shame, shame...we need to know these things! Happy BELATED b-day. And PF Changs, my mouth is watering. Sean just went there tonight with some work friends and didn't even bring me a single candied walnut shrimp!

:)

Nancy said...

I hope the Nancy you challenged wasn't this Nancy! LOL I have just had no time to write anything since the "big" snow. I'm looking forward to reading what you write, though. I am just now checking emails, and there are 741 in my inbox! It is now 4:06am, and I am calling it a day! Always enjoy reading your new posts!

Nancy said...

It's me again! I forgot to tell you that I just love your valentines! You are so creative!!!

Mississippi Songbird said...

Happy Birthday! I hope you had a good one..
Those are beautiful Valentines. How talented you are!
Thank you for tagging me. I will get to work on it right away..
Have a great Valentines Week. Bunches of hugs!

Mississippi Songbird said...

Okay, I've got my list of Seven done..lol
Thanks for the tag..

Diane said...

Found your blog through Nancy. She's my friend and neighbor. Love your Valentines! Made me want to get creative. Happy belated Birthday.

Loved your list of those who have inspired you. We should all do the same. Keeps us humble. I would hope that some day I would have inspired someone...that too keeps us humble.

Tracy said...

I didn't know it was your birthday! BEST WISHES! I'll have to think about the "famuous" list.