My Story

I have been telling stories since I learned to talk. It's a skill I learned from my dad, who, in my opinion, was the best storyteller I have ever known.

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Dad had a process when he told a story. First, he set the scene. He told you about the weather, what he ate for breakfast, and he always told you what he was wearing. He painted a picture with his words, and once you were hooked, he would lean in and give you a hint of where his story was going.

 

His hand gestures and facial expressions kept you connected, and just when you thought he was getting to the point, he would introduce the side-story, which always made the comedic conclusion of whatever adventure he was narrating that much more poignant.

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Dad's stories always left his audience in tears of laughter, but more importantly, he left the people he came into contact with a little happier than he found them.

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As I grew older and began honing my own storytelling skills, I noticed the way he watched others as they listened to my stories. I still remember feeling so proud catching a wink he sent my way when a particular story landed, or when I was able to make him laugh that big, contagious laugh of his.

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I started writing in high school and briefly pursued broadcasting and journalism in college before life led me to a career in early childhood education. When I couldn’t find curriculum or books that fit my program, I created my own—planting the first real seed of becoming a writer.

After fifteen years, I felt pulled in a new direction and took a leap into real estate in 2014. It was a terrifying shift, but one that allowed me to blend creativity with storytelling in a new way. I found joy in staging and marketing homes, especially in uncovering the stories behind why people loved where they lived—and bringing those stories to life for potential buyers.

I continued writing throughout, mostly through blogs and journals, until life shifted again.

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Dad passed away on July 4th, 2017. That day, the world lost a great man, and I lost a hero. I can still hear his voice, his laugh, and his stories in my heart and my mind. My family re-tells his tales often, and although we smile through tears now, we smile. He still leaves us feeling the joy of a story well-told.

 

I have stories to tell. I want to tell them like my dad, in a way that will leave my readers in a better place than where I found them and hopefully, with a smile on their face.