My Roots

Writing has been a big part of my life for a long time now. The first time I REALLY got into it was in fourth grade when my English teacher, Mrs. Grant, gave us an assignment to make up a story that had to be a few pages long. Well, being a story-teller this came naturally to me, and that night I wrote a few pages, and then a few more, and then a few more, until this "assignment" had become much more than that to me. The more I wrote the more I loved it, because I could write about anything and be anyone, if only for an hour or so. At this time I was fascinated with Indians....err, Native Americans, and so most of my stories were based around an Indian tribe, particularly a protagonist by the name of Wind Flower, and then antagonist, Obacheask.

Then, I discovered my fascination with Louis L'Amour and the West. Countless stories started off sent back in the 1800's or around the time of the Oregon Trail, and there always had to be a rogue appearance from a Native American to appease my continued love of their culture(s). Along with writing, I now began to "illustrate" my own "covers", as well as drawing maps for the readers which I anticipated having someday :)

Poetry eventually worked its way into my life, and with it came a whole other type of creativity, whether it be with rhyming, free verse, or other poetic devices. I have many binders and self-made booklets of my poems packed away somewhere, for whenever I want to read them for myself or to Emma! Once poem that really sticks out in my mind was entitled "Garage Saling" and it was a poem I wrote and won a first place award for at a library in Saint Joseph :) This is one of only two pieces of writing I have had published, the second being a short story about our heritage that was written for a contest in the Missouri Conservation magazine.

From 2004-2009 my writing skills were put to the test in multiple classes and Missouri Western State University. During the five years that I attended college, never once did I write a creative piece...leading me to be convinced that Professor were just trying to suck the creativity out of your being. But, creativity isn't something that can be stamped out simply by writing hundreds of theory, analytical, or historical papers. For me, being creative isn't something that I can produce on demand....sure I could've taken Creative Writing classes if I had wished, but for me, my writing loses something when there is someone expecting a poem or a short story in two day's time. However, in the end, and after hundreds and hundreds of hours researching, writing, editing, and rewriting, I finally got my English Degree on May 9th, 2009.

And now I am married, have a 1.5 year old daughter, and blogging is the main type of writing that consumes my time. Sometimes I really get nostalgic for the days when I could go sit in the old Smoke tree at Grandma and Grandpa's and just write, and write, and write. Funny how things change as time passes, but if it's something that one is passionate about, they still manage to incorporate it into their being, even if it's shape has to morph in order to fit.