Article by Wendy McCance
I was just sitting here with my laptop opened up, trying to decide what to write about today. It occurred to me that I have gotten many awards on this blog, but haven’t shared too much in the way of the “about me” part of getting those awards.
You might have been reading this blog for a while and have come to understand what my personality is like. Heck, I will write any type of topic that is on my mind and in full detail. What you haven’t had much access to is the little intricacies about my life that make up who I am. Even the littlest of details like a favorite ice cream hasn’t been really mentioned.
In feeding a readers curiosity about what makes the person who they have enjoyed reading blog articles tick, I have put together a list of random things about me. You might find this utterly boring, or maybe you will delight in creating the bigger picture in your head of just who I am. Either way, below is my contribution to this blog for today.
1. I have lived in several states. As a child I moved several times because of my father’s job. I have lived in Ohio, Kansas, Montana and Michigan. I still miss living in Montana.
2. I have three children. I have a pre-teen, teenager and a child who is currently in college.
3. The bulk of tragic moments in my life occurred in my middle 30′s to early 40′s. Thankfully, that part of my life is well behind me and I am now experiencing the most joy I have probably ever had in my life.
4. I will be 46 in December and yes, I am a Capricorn (if that sort of thing interests you).
5. The best pet I have ever had in my life has been our ferret Lola. I have never laughed so hard or so often with any other pet I have ever owned. I have had 14 pets in my life all together that I can remember. I am probably forgetting a few. The most pets I have had at one time was 5. For less than a year, our family had a cat, dog, ferret and two fish. The fish didn’t live long.
6. I enjoy my own company more than the company of anyone else, although my husband and kids follow close behind. I love when I have time alone. I dream of the day when I can write for hours or even days without an interruption.
7. I feel that each of my kids needs to enter adulthood knowing how to navigate a formal dining experience with multiple forks, spoons, plates and glasses. They need to be able to discuss art, literature and music. They must know all about wine, how to pronounce the different varieties, what to pair each wine with, how to sample it and how it is made. They will have to experienced a variety of foods so that they may have a more sophisticated and adventurous palate. They should also be able to speak a foreign language.
Except for my failure in really grasping a foreign language, the above list has served me well. It’s fascinating what experiences have shown up where having the above abilities really paid off.
8. I used to want to travel with no home base. As I get older, I’m not so sure about that plan anymore.
9. I am currently reading The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway.
10. I am obsessed with learning more about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. Zelda in particular fascinates me. F. Scott Fitzgerald interests me in how fraudulent and shallow he seems to be. I can’t imagine living a life in such a manner.
11. I have a gift for being able to go into a room full of people and describe with great accuracy what most of the people are really like. I can’t do this in a psychic kind of way. I just watch how they move, interact and what they say and can figure out who they are at their core. I can also do this when someone describes people in a situation whom I have never met. I can tell you what made each of them act in a certain fashion.
12. I have had some interesting jobs in my life. I began taking classes to learn how to fly a plane. I flew a Cessna and my biggest achievement was taxiing down the runway, talking with the control tower and taking off into the air. I was determined to become a pilot (that is until the money for lessons ran out).
I have been a bartender, interior designer and a lab tech working with containers containing bodily fluids. I have sold beer, wine and spirits to upscale restaurants, clubs and even strip joints. I have worked on an assembly line building trucks and I have studied to be a paralegal and worked in a law firm. I have been a real estate agent and had my own company selling old-fashioned candy in metal lunchboxes from my youth.
I loved that I have had so many experiences. It has given me a much wider view of the world. I have found that I like being a writer best.
13. If you want to know anything about how beer or wine is made or what makes them particularly good, I know the answers. If you want to know the names of different pieces of furniture or brands that are outstanding, I know that too. I can even tell you all about french modern art. I studied French impressionism in college.
14. I am an introvert with extroverted tendencies in particular social settings.
15. My favorite present is when I get flowers. I love flowers, but I hate when they come with babies breath or too much greenery. It is distracting and looks a bit morbid like you are getting a get well bouquet or are at a funeral.
I love sunflowers for a garden. They are so natural, and have a positive energy that radiates off of them. I am always disappointed when they are photographed. I don’t know why, but sunflowers don’t seem to photograph well.
16. I have been married twice. The first marriage was doomed from the start. The guy was difficult and abusive and I was too insecure to know any better.
My second (and final) marriage is the complete opposite. I have never been in such a good, healthy and happy relationship. I got lucky. I figured out my flaws in choosing partners and fixed my mistakes.
17. My biggest regrets have to do with how long it took me to find true happiness. Insecurities plagued me and I couldn’t figure out how to find the success in my life that I desired until I was in my 40′s. I always had moments of being on a good path, but the people I chose to put in my life derailed any attempts at growth or satisfaction. I despise the effect it had on my kids, but I’m grateful they have been able to see the positive side finally emerge.
18. By the way, my favorite ice cream is coffee, and it must be Haagen Dazs.
Wendy McCance
To contact Wendy McCance about a writing assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]
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I also prefer my own company over the company of many others
I wonder sometimes how many other people out there feel the same way.
We have a few things in common, Wendy. We would do most anything to be able to write. I’m an introvert with occasional forays into being an extrovert (although I can carry on a conversation with a stranger). I love coffee ice-cream! I also think many people don’t figure out their life until their forties and beyond. Thanks for sharing about yourself. I enjoyed getting to know you better.
Thanks Beverly. I actually like talking to the strangers the best if the situation doesn’t feel forced. When you hit your 40′s, my experience was like learning all about a completely different person. So much of what I liked, did and thought had changed tremendously.
I hate trying to think of something to write about. I’ve tried that and it doesn’t work for me so I if I have a thought that seems like something interesting I start writing about it. It’s nice of you to share your personal details. I like number 14 as I too am an introvert until I am forced to come out of my shell from time to time but then I hurry back in as soon as possible.
I have gotten into the habit of pulling out a book and reading whenever I get stuck for something to write about. It somehow helps to give me a creative boost.
I do love learning more about you. My niece had a ferret too as a young girl and misses it so to this day. Sunflowers are so warming to me and I do love them at this time of year.
Ferrets are really quite cool. The only bad part is that they have a very small life span of 5-7 years. Our ferret has been with us for 6 years now and we are already heartbroken about the idea that she won’t be with us for too much longer.