The See-Saw Life

Ever since the topic of "What would you be or do, if you were not a writer or writing?"came up, I have been wrestling with my answer. You see, I am not primarily a writer. In fact, most of my schooling and adult years have been devoted to practicing and exploring in the world of visual arts. Therefore, for myself, I will reframe the question and ask: "What would I be or do, if I were not a children's book illustrator or painter?" and my immediate answer is-- a writer! Yes, I have fallen in love with many endeavors other than writing or painting throughout my life- gardening still holds fast to my heart and before having kids, I dreamed of moving to the country and opening an herb farm. I love cutting things out of wood and assembling them into something that moves- wooden toys. I would love to be a toymaker, probably taking up a nomadic life, following art fairs and Renaissance Fairs around the country, selling my wooden toys in a colorful wooden booth on wheels. But every time I read a poem, I want to take up the life of a poet and every time I read a great novel, whether middle grade, YA, or adult, I am moved to work on my writing, taking time each day from my drawing and painting to devote to writing. I feel like a single-celled amoeba trying to become two separate selves while retaining the nucleus of life energy in both. It's a see-saw life!