A Lifetime Of Hobbies

Where do I begin when trying to decide which “life hobby or interest” should be developed into a story for my memoir? At some time in my life, each was important and necessary for my happiness.

I learned to dance as a child and eagerly awaited each lesson. I practiced at home to the point of creating worn spots in the middle of the living room carpet. The music was like a soothing tranquilizer to my soul. At age sixteen, my dancing teacher added me to her adult dance troupe to perform weekly at many of the hotels on the St. Petersburg beaches. It earned me a bit of spending money, but it was“performing” to the music that gave me what I “needed.”

Later, a new “interest” took first place in my preferences. With five little children under the age of six, I began my sewing hobby. Since four of my five children were small little girls and dresses still being much in fashion, my sewing machine became a new best friend. How I loved making little pinafores and puffed sleeves and watching them entering church looking like little princesses. Sadly, I had no such love for ironing so play clothes and school uniforms became more the norm and my “sewing” passion died a quick death.

But stitching was still in my blood, so when I was introduced to the needlework called “counted cross stitch,” I was hooked. By this time, all the children were in school, the house work and laundry done quickly and supper casserole was just waiting to be put in the oven. I could indulge full-time in my new hobby for the entire afternoon and after the children went to bed at night. It’s always been a wonder to me that I didn’t go blind during that period of my life. I still enjoy seeing many of my needlework pieces on my children’s walls when I go to visit.

Later in my life, a dear friend invited me to join her at the local library for a meeting of a short story writing group. I participated weekly for several years until I met my sweet husband, Russell, and moved away from the area. Writing was evidently in my DNA, because I have never left it permanently. Give me a subject and I will jump on it. Sometimes the wastebasket is the recipient of the writing and other times the recipient is anyone who will listen or read. I have written some poetry and enjoy this also, but prose is my preferred form of writing. I had yet to publish my completed book of acrostic poetry when a new interest arrived.

I have done a bit of painting and sketching through the years but in the year of “Covid 2020,” my painting became an obsession. I found a couple of painted rocks just prior to the many lockdowns of the virus, so staying in and alone became more of a necessity. I started painting rocks and shells and enjoyed a daily walk sans mask to hide my painted creations for others to find and, hopefully, bring them joy during this tough time in history. Now, over three thousand rocks and shells distributed in many countries during our travels, I have also been creating acrylic canvases for the art wall where I live and some for the great-grandchildren.

The bonus and blessing of this latest hobby is the wonderful people I have met -some fellow rock painters and some “finders” of one of my creations.

Now in the twilight of my blessed life, I don’t envision any new hobbies, but I will continue my last two favorites, writing and painting, until my arthritic hands holler WHOA!

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