Wishing isn’t a bad thing if you follow up with actions. Even having wishes that you put off and somehow come back to, and you make real. I feel that is what I’ve embarked on now. I put off my desire to be an artist when I was 18 and started my career in newspapers.

Now retired I’m getting back in the swing of trying to be a photographer, writer and artist. None of these things I did in my paper career. I worked in Engraving, Press, Publishing Systems, IT System Administration / UNIX Admin and System Analyst.

I got to see a ton of great work by very talented photographers, writers and artists. It served to further intimidate me throughout my career to pursue those areas, even in my own personal space.

But I started to pick up the camera more as I neared 50 years of age. I found that pleasing family with shots and myself was enough for me suddenly. When I started blogging, I also added that if I could bring joy through and image or thought or perspective to even 1 more person, than that was special also.

I don’t have to make a cent off my art or writing or time now. But the thought of having to make a living as an artist at 18 was almost unimaginable. I was also waking up to the reality that I wasted my high school years in several ways.

But one thing high school did was to cement in me was my love for art. I think I took it all 4 years as an elective. The teacher was and still is kind of this inspiration. Each time I hear The Beatles music I think of him and how his art class just put my mind and body at this peaceful ease. It also touched a creative desire in me. It is what I took in my one and only semester in college.

I know I’m not artistic wonder. But I’m trying to learn and create something that my family might treasure down the road or even now. That is why I’m excited to work with my granddaughter this year and beyond if she has the love for it that I do. And hopefully with my other grandchildren also.

So out of this computer chair and into another one by my easel.