About Me

I have never walked the cobbled streets of Paris in the rain or sipped tea beneath the Russian sky.  I have seen Right Whales frolic in the open sea and I have watched as an Alaskan seal basked in the cold sunshine of an August afternoon.  I have been to school and I have worked for a living.  Now I am writing for me, from my heart and from my dreams.  What I do not understand I approach with words and hope understanding creeps from my fingertips.

Words are ephemeral.  By their very nature they are flitting by easily washed away.  The goal, I believe, of every writer is to have their words invoke a feeling, a memory, something that will last.

The written word should have a vibrant life but if no one reads your words do they matter?

For almost 4 years I wrote a short story once a month for the residents of a retirement home.  For more than eight years I have been writing a newsletter for the people who live in my apartment building.  I guess writing a blog was inevitable.  At least that’s how it was presented to me.  I started writing in University as an English major.  30 or 40 essays a semester you get into a habit.  I enjoy writing.  And I enjoy sharing what I have written.

I have witnessed more than a half of a century passing.  I have been an integral component in the passing of that time that I have witnessed.  Okay so I haven’t created anything incredible, or found a cure for anything tangible, or left an indelible mark anywhere.  But bloody hell I had a great time doing it!

I was born more than 50 years ago.  I had a mother and a father and two older siblings: a brother and a sister.  I still have the siblings, and I have also gained a brother-in-law, a nephew, a myriad of wonderful friends and non-blood related relatives.  I am significantly taller, relatively heavier and only slightly more outspoken.  Evidently when I was a child I had a set of lungs in me that demanded to be heard.  I have had some fun times, some sad times, and even some incredible times.  And that makes me a pretty incredible person even if I am the only one that thinks so.  Forgive me if I appear a little arrogant but I’m pretty sure there are other people out there who think I’m pretty incredible too.  Now here’s a wonderful thing about reaching 50: I don’t have to pretend to be humble!  I like presents and I like compliments and I’m not ashamed to admit it.  So there!  My goal in life (today anyway) is to work towards becoming a rich, cranky old bitch.  Now the ‘cranky’ I pretty well have down pat.  The ‘bitch’?  Yeah I pretty much have that down too. Now of course the ‘old’ part is inevitable and I am well on my way.  As for the ‘rich’ bit?  I buy my lottery tickets and I lose.  Life would be no fun if we got everything we wanted.  But still we keep trying.

Something else I have discovered as I grew older: other people’s opinions are less important.  That was a surprise to me.  All my life and I am sure I’m not the only one who was this way, what other people thought was of paramount importance.  I guess I wanted to be liked; I wanted to be important to other people.  Now it’s not that I don’t care at all, but it’s just that my opinion is more important to me.  Isn’t that silly!

I like people.  I like me. I sometimes go down the street with a silly grin on my face.  It is a beautiful day, I had a wonderful thought or maybe for absolutely no rationale at all.  You see it doesn’t matter.  I feel as though I have been liberated!  I am 50, I am fabulous and I’m having an incredible life.  You cannot reign on my parade because I have an umbrella!  Okay so back to me.

I have a few wrinkles on my face but only a few and I earned every single one of them.  So I’m very proud of them.  People say I don’t look my age and I would love to take credit for that.  But I cannot.  Like any lazy person I mistreated my skin by omission.  I guess I just got lucky.  I didn’t use expensive creams on my face because they were, well, expensive and way too much work.  So I credit my youthful skin to my parent’s DNA.

I guess in every perfect life there is always a fly in the ointment.  Mine is an itty-bitty incurable disease called multiple sclerosis.  MS does not control my life, it is simply a part of my life.  It does not define who I am it is merely part of the definition.  We all have personal issues, mine just happens to be very apparent.  The wheelchair is a dead give-away   But I am still the woman I always wanted to be, except I’m not as skinny or as tall as the image in my head.  In my mind’s eye I’m drop dead gorgeous!

What Do the 50s Look Like?

Well, actually, 50 looks like me, and perhaps you.  Fifty is a successful business woman who owns her own company and does business in the millions every year.  Fifty is a grandmother out with her first grandchild. Fifty is the woman who is about to enter her third body building contest.  Fifty is the proud mother preparing her child for university and thinking of joining him next year.

Fifty is a number that has no power except that which we give it.  I look forward to each and every day because every moment is a treasure to be thoroughly exploited.  And I mean that in the nicest possible way.  Cheers!

ME 2

193 thoughts on “About Me”

  3. Elizabeth Melton Parsons

    Good for you! Most especially the part about your opinions mattering more to you now. They should. I’ve always felt that way. Not that I haven’t mostly given other people’s opinions priority. But that’s because I love them and wanted them to be happy. I very much enjoyed reading about you. 🙂

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  5. bobmielke

    The face you’re showing on your tiny picture reminds me a lot of a dear friend of mine. she is the mother of my best friend and comes from Canada. Her conversational speech has a French accent that reminds me of Celine Dion.

    Enough about my friend. You certainly sound like an interesting, intelligent, articulate woman who has come to know herself well enough to set priorities and goals for her life. That can be rewarding in its own right. I appreciate your routine visits to my blog as well as the comments you often leave. I finally got around to checking out your blog and quickly added you to a short list of sites I follow. Thanks for writing. – Bob

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  6. quiall Post author

    Bob what a lovely comment! I too am Canadian but my french is minimal, but what a great memory. Bob I love your work and I learn quite a bit on your site. That’s a major bonus. I look forward to your blog each day. You do beautiful work!

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  7. coastalmom

    I just wanted to stop by and thank you. I see your sweet face liking my posts as they slowly come and it means a lot that you read what I write and that you are so faithful about it. Sometimes it means more to me than you know. I loved your post today and it made me come and reread your ABOUT page again even though I LIKED it when I began following. It is just nice to touch base from time to time and I wanted to take the time today to tell you how much you matter!
    xoxo

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  14. Bradley

    Hi Pam,
    You were following me on the WordPress Viewer. I did a Plug-In update on Friday and wiped out all my followers. Would you please go back to my blog and click the “Follow” button again. Thank you!
    Bradley

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  17. T Ibara Photo

    Thank you so much for making time to visit my humble site. I notice we both follow Bob’s wonderful photo site (Northwest Photographer) and I’m happy to be introduced to yours.
    Best wishes,
    Takami

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  19. bearspawprint

    Beautiful Quiall,
    I have been trying to reach you for months via Word Press, but no links go through. I finally Googled you, to get through that way. I’ve done this before, too. Purty please, for lazy bones like me, can you connect a working blog link to your gravatar? Well, unless you filtering readers on purpose??? Danke danke

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  20. bearspawprint

    Uh oh. I think it is an issue with me. I’m sorry. Dunno what, except maybe terminal obnoxiousness. One of Mother’s nick-names for me was Ob. For all of the Ob-vious reasons. Please excuse my intrusion, yet again.

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    1. quiall Post author

      My friend you are NEVER intruding! I honestly don’t know how to attach things to the gravatar but I will look into it. I am so glad you found me. You are always welcome.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. quiall Post author

      Thank you so much for the nomination! Unfortunately I will not be able to accept. Every time I see that you have read one of my posts is all the praise I need.

      Liked by 1 person

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  30. blondieaka

    Wow so may complimentary comments and all echo each other with the same thoughts after reading your blog. I too am over 50 ish and a bit more…ha ha…but it’s numbers …..and agree with everything you say particularly when you said it’s not that I don’t care we do ….have a lovely day 🙂

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  44. Léa

    BTW, you are right about 50 and numbers only having the power we give them. I believe the same holds true for words. In that light, may I say something about a word with which we are both familiar. Years ago I lived in a town in California. The poetry community was very much a ‘boy’s club”. Few women received any support and those who did had a resemblance to ‘Barbie’ and I know you understand this.
    As a woman and a poet, I sought to give a little balance and opened a forum for the women. Men were allowed but they were not in charge and none of there ‘wham, bam, thank you mam poems were welcome. The name of this form was B.I.T.C.H. Night. I opened each reading with:
    Welcome to B.I.T.C.H. Night. It is called this as if you are Brave, Intelligent, Tough… (The word as an acronym to be plugged into words that apply to you. If you are that type of woman, at some time in your life, you have been called a bitch. It is a medal that I wear with pride! B.I.T.C.H.’s Unite!

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    1. quiall Post author

      YEAH! FIST PUMP IN THE AIR! hahaha Lea you are so right! I believe we get our strength (in some way) from adversity and as women we rise above it. Yes I am a B.I.T.C.H. and proud of it! I am so please we met here in this cyber world.

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      1. Léa

        Absolutely! I’m so glad to have found you and been allowed to join up as a follow. I love a person who tells it like it is and it is vital that you continue to do so. You are an amazing woman who is making a much bigger mark than you realise. Each life you touch, physically or through your words, is enriched. Hugs xxx

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      4. quiall Post author

        Paris is my Brother’s favourite city in the world. My Sister is in love with Provence. Sadly I have never been. If I ever do .. . . I love French wine! Je parle un peu français seulement mais je l’aime!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Léa

        When you do get here please remember, chez moi est chez toi! 😉
        Paris is amazing but there is much more to France and your sister is aware as she has fallen for Provence which is one of my favourite places to visit. I go over the top in atelier Cézanne… 🙂

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  45. Michael

    “I look forward to each and every day because every moment is a treasure to be thoroughly exploited” I completely agree. Thank you for your thoughts I look forward to continue watching your blog!

    Liked by 1 person

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  48. coastalmom

    I know I have read this before. But today I loved it even more! This is epic. I love your description of you and you can count me as another that thinks you are pretty incredible. I also felt as if you give me permission to feel good about being over fifty! Thank you!
    xo
    di

    Liked by 1 person

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    2. coastalmom

      I read this yet again today & feel the same. I’m not sure why I keep finding it just when I need it most! It is always familiar as if I’ve been here before. Cuz I have! Lol. Another part of getting old. 🥴 bui I obviously enjoy it each time because my likes & comments tell me I have! You are an inspiration!!

      Liked by 1 person

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  50. Paul F. Lenzi

    my father and brother both suffered from especially crippling forms of multiple sclerosis – wheelchairs notwithstanding, they were the finest, most spirited, life-loving men I’ve ever known – sounds like you are cut from much the same mold – bless you

    Liked by 4 people

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