I live a great geographic distance from the family I was born into, but our heart-distance is close.  There are three of us left - my father, sister and myself.  My Dad wants to be loved.  My sister and I enjoy meeting up somewhere once a year to spend time together on a travel adventure.

My husband is a private pilot and I enjoy writing.  Our wants work well together.  For my husband, the airplane is the destination - being in flight.  He wants to fly me to different locations to write.  It's a small plane so we'll have to travel very light - I enjoy simplicity.

Our son and daughter-in-law want to own a home of their own.

I am of the opinion that happiness is something that fluctuates based on external circumstances.  Joy, on the other hand, is something that is resident - regardless of the circumstances.  It resides within my heart-space.  It is inexplicable peace.

1. What is the last movie you saw and did you like it?
   It is rare that I go to the theater (I much prefer reading).  But sometimes I check out a movie at the library and watch it on my laptop.  The last one was "Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn."  I enjoyed it very much.  It was great to hear her voice as she narrated the global tour.  For Cinematography and soundtrack my three all-time favorite movies are:
   Man from Snowy River
   Out of Africa
   The English Patient
   
   
2. What was one of your favorite films as a child?
   The Trouble with Angels (Hayley Mills)
   
   
3. Do you like scary movies?
   No way!  Although when my sister and I got home from school each day we got to watch "Dark Shadows" and then "The Wild, Wild, Wild West" as our mom made dinner.  We watched the evening news as a family (with Chet Huntley and David Brinkley) and then it was time for bed when our parents watched their show, "Peyton Place."
   
   
4. What type(s) of films do you like best? (comedy, documentary, history)
   Romantic comedy
   
   
5. What film(s) have inspired you?
   With my limited viewing, the first two that come to mind are "Pay It Forward" and "The Ultimate Gift."

I have gathered knowledge from academics and wisdom from life experience.  I sift through these lessons and retain what I resonate with; discarding what does not serve me well.  I integrate what I keep with the life that I live.

A person can learn a lot by observing the trees.  I have learned to be respectful of the earth and its natural resources.  My goal is to leave the slightest footprint possible on the planet; while at the same time, making a lasting impression on its inhabitants - one that is positive, uplifting, constructive and healing.

I respect all spiritual paths and traditions.  Politically I am an active member of the Green Party.  I am both a teacher and a student of purposeful living.

A few of my favorite pastimes include cultivating sacred awareness, writing, hiking, travel, reading, and the peaceful ritual of tea.

I love to laugh.  If you take the time to listen, you can hear the trees laugh too.

A value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful.  I believe that when I maintain inner-peace and calm I can do, be or accomplish anything.

Freedom from fear - I would like to set people free from their fears.  I would like to gift the world with peace of mind.

I designed a symbol which represents my life's purpose - to be a Channel of Grace (hence the channel-like appearance).  I had it tattooed above my left ankle on my 50th birthday.  I recommit to this purpose daily.  The colors are associated with the energy centers in our body.  The energy is oftentimes referred to as Life Force.

Do you enjoy star-gazing?
Like twinkling diamonds against black velvet, there is nothing better than admiring a star-studded night sky.

I would like to get an aerial view of the book publishing world and the way it works - literary agents, editors and publishers.  It seems hard to gain entry and easy to get lost in.   

06-14-2009
Heading to my secret hideaway to write.

As I was leaving my husband said, "Laurie, you look like a bag lady!"  

And then we both sat down and talked about how wonderful it would be if in our society this was the only type of "bag lady" that existed; if no person were to be helpless, homeless, or hungry ...    

I refrain from harsh or unkind words and actions.

Beliefs are either limiting or empowering.  I would like to give up the limiting belief that "I have to work hard for money" and replace it with the empowering belief that "money works hard for me."

Freedom is not something which can be given to you by someone else.  It is something that you have inside of you, a way you choose to be.  This was never portrayed more beautifully than by Viktor Frankl, a long time prisoner in bestial concentration camps where he found himself stripped to naked existence.  Even in the degradation and abject misery of a concentration camp, Frankl was able to exercise the most important freedom of all - the freedom to determine one's own attitude and spiritual wellbeing. 

When I am aware of my breathing I remain fully present.

Do you believe in angels?
Without a doubt.

What is your favorite magical creature?
The Trees of Endor.

Did you believe in the tooth faerie, Santa or the Easter Bunny as a child?
I loved the tooth faerie!  She always carefully tied my newly-lost tooth with dental floss, hung it from a toothpick that was laid across a shot glass filled with water that had a brand new, shiny fifty-cent piece waiting for me in the bottom.

Do you believe in faeries?
Well of course I do, don't you?  This photograph is of my muse - Paden Faerieleaf.

Do you like faerie tales or fantasy stories?
When they inspire, yes.

I arrived on September 28, 1957 tipping the scales at 9 pounds, 8 ounces!  When my parents brought me home and introduced me to Julie, my 13-month old sister, Julie bent over to presumably kiss me on the cheek, but bit me on the nose instead!

Our mother swore that neither Julie nor I grew hair until we were three.  She said she had to tape bows to our little bald heads so that people would know we were girls.  When mine finally did grow in my head was covered with thick tight curls.  My family used to say to me, ‘There was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good she was very, very good. But when she was bad she was horrid!' And that's how it all began ...

I liked school, but had to work at it - my worst subject was math, my favorite subjects were spelling, reading and science.  Fifth grade was by far my favorite school year.  I adored my teacher, Mrs. Kline - she gifted me with the book ‘Swiss Family Robinson'. During this time I was deciding between becoming a magician or a mad scientist - I was fascinated with both.

My sister Julie and I grew up with a great love for animals.  Our family was very fond of camping, which we did on a regular basis.  Our dad took us panning for gold and to Eagle's Peak to look for bats (not baseball, but the flying type).  To my knowledge we were the only kids who took rattlesnake rattles and tarantellas to school for show and tell.

When we lived in Del Dios we played outside until we were exhausted - going places that were absolutely forbidden.  These included the witch's house.  She had a large black cauldron and bridge in her front yard.  And of course there was riding a horse named Trixie without permission.

One time while fishing in Idyllwild Julie cast her line and the hook got caught in my ear.  My father removed it with a pair of needle-nose pliers.  Needless to day, that resulted in a tetanus shot for me.

It was rare that Julie did something wrong on purpose.  As such, I decided it was high time that she got in trouble for something, so I engraved her initials into the dining room table - thinking my parents would think that she had done it - after all it was her initials.  My plan backfired and I was in more trouble than ever!

My mother was a great one for the holidays - mailing cards, baking, and decorating well in advance of its arrival because she just couldn't wait.  One of my favorite holidays was the year our parents surprised us with bicycles for Christmas.  Then again, there was the year we got white go-go boots, sunglasses, and three-tiered bell bottoms!

In addition to being the only family I knew who had a fallout shelter in their back yard, some of my other odd remembrances include:
- Julie shellacking my teeth
- Having my stomach pumped because I ate a box of Exlax
- Drag racing out on Jesmond Dene
- Being part of a quartette called the Pastel Lollipops
- Smoking cigarette butts I found in the gutter
- Julie and I getting shot at in Elfin Forest
- And then of course, there was running away from home ...