Begin Anywhere

Begin Anywhere

~John Cage

Beginning something new is such a delicious thrill.

I am fascinated by the stories of my family and friends and take great joy in listening for the details that make the people I love who they are.  I have had this urge for as long as I can remember to list, research, collect and commemorate the ordinary and the beautiful in everyday life. I journal, I keep notes, I try to organize my photos regularly. I've captured some poignant interviews with family, which has spurred me on to do more.  With my family dispersed all over North America, the conversations are all the more precious when we do have time together.  Since my son was born last spring, documenting his growth and rapid daily changes seem all the more important as the weeks whirl by.

As exciting as any new endeavor may be, it can also be daunting.  So often we well-intentioned humans procrastinate and put our dreams on hold indefinitely. It is true, the cosmos rarely come together in perfect sync, daily lives are busy, we give priority to others, we hesitate to commit until some vague later.  The composer John Cage gives me a good nudge and yes, my friends, today is the day!

Begin anywhere.

My intention here is to curate a space to pause and savor the joy in this life of mine.  I also hope to galvanize you to talk with your families, ask questions and laugh over special shared times in the far and recent past so that your stories live on, so they shine.  Be it a conversation with my mom over tea or a one-minute video clip of my son's giggles to a 30-minute interview with my father, I want to seek out true tales, inspiration and delightful ephemera.  And -- here's the main point of this all -- along the way I want to try to be more present each moment while creating these memories that make up my life.

I am jumping in with both feet to celebrate, share and continue the story-telling.  You are cordially invited to stop by and dip your toe in anytime.  Come sail through the waters of memory with me.  Let the conversations flow.  I hope you’ll join me often so this may become a collaboration; my “I” becoming more of a “We.”  I hereby smash an imaginary champagne bottle (excellent vintage, of course) over the bow of this ship and christen this adventure:  Shine Memoirs.

Welcome!