TRAVEL HERE: DFW WRITERS’ CONFERENCE – AUTOBIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR SEMINARS

From famous authors like Jonathan Maberry, to well-known agents like Donald Maass, to new authors whose books are being printed right now, presenters at the 2014 DFW Writers’ Conference had a lot to share.  Let’s start with autobiography and memoir.

Fictionalzing Autobiographical Material by Nan Cuba

I’m working on some autobiographical material about the most frustrating trip I ever took, but I’m writing it as if my troubles were the work of the ancient gods who’ve returned to earth to harrass unwitting travelers.  My critique group likes it, but I get bogged down in the minutia.  So I was glad to see a class which addressed my personal dilemma.

Nan started out by identifying several different categories of autobiographical material: memoir, faction, non-fiction novel, auto-fiction, autobiographical novel and semi-autobiographical novel.  As usual, what I’m working on seemed to slip somewhere in-between a few of those, but that discouragement was off-set by her list of great authors who had written autobiographical material – for instance Charles Dickens and Leo Tolstoy.

Though I didn’t get the answer to all my particular writing dilemmas, she had some great advice for people who might want to mine their own lives for material.  First, she said to make a list of all the “legends” in your family – things you know about but didn’t personally observe.  Well, my list was pretty long.  In fact, my list was so long that I never got around to the second thing she suggested: choosing a character who did observe the legendary situation and imagine the letter they’d write to explain it – making up your own “facts” as you go along.  Several people did a great job in the few minutes she gave us to speculate on the project.

She also gave us an exercise on Proust’s idea of “creative wrong memory”  where you take something you know about vaguely and buildi on it. I went to town on that one.

The Q&A period provided just the right inspiration for a budding new writer who wanted to use her background as a criminal attorney as her writing inspiration.  “Write from the prospective of the person you least understand in the situation.”  Writing from the offender’s point of view was something the hopeful author wants to explore.

Perhaps my most valuable take away was the list of family legends I need to explore.  I’m looking forward to attacking some of those.

Memoir by Bob Stewart

Since I began the conference in autobiography, it was only fitting that memoir was the subject of my last class.  Bob covered some of the same material as Nan’s class, but his focus had more to do with theory than practice.  Like if you’re ghost writing for someone, he encouraged you to not just dutifully report what you’re told, but to insist that you get to take the information to the next step.  He also suggested that an explanation of why you harvested the wrong kind of mushrooms might be more interesting than a report on the resulting visit to the hospital.  To quote Bob, you want to go for “steak and eggs” not “lollipops and marshmallows.”  Bob invited a friend named Les to share some of his experience in memoir with the class.  Les’s opinion seemed to be if it would sell books write it.  I’d be afraid to publish some of his memoirs.

Come back next week and we’ll explore some of the other things I learned at DFWcon.

TRAVEL HERE: BUY MY HOUSE

If you’ve been following my Friday posts, then you know I’m moving to Heath. If you’re moving somewhere, then that means you’re leaving somewhere else behind. We’ll be leaving our our creekside home in Far North Dallas behind, but we want to leave it to people who will love it like we do.

To FSBO or not to FSBO

For the uninitiated, FSBO is the acronym for “For Sale by Owner.”  Having spent several years in residential real estate, “FSBO” is an ugly word to me.  I know what a real estate agent does for their clients!  But for my husband, that real estate experience was exactly what convinced him we should give FSBO a try.

The first thing I did was give him chapter and verse about the advantages of using an agent.  They sell property faster and for more money.  They attract a more sophisticated and savvy buyer.  They facilitate the negotiation and lower the possibility of conflicts.  They have a stable of vendors, if help is needed around the house.  They have an ear on the market and access to buyers that an indiviual will never have. But all my persuasion fell on deaf ears.

So We FSBO’d

The good news is that most of the things you do for a FSBO are the same ones you do if you’re using an agent.  We spruced up the yard, restained the deck and gave the front door a fresh coat of paint.  Inside I poured on an extra dose of spring cleaning and staged the rooms for showing.

Meanwhile we also played real estate agent, special ordering custom signage and setting up a website , www.HomeOnTheCreek.com, devoted to the home. We started with our own photos, but also hired a photographer to take pictures and create a virtual tour.Then we had a “soft opening.”  I had to get the house perfect for the photographer, so there was no reason not to take advantage of the perfection, even though we hadn’t done much in the way of marketing.  Most of our visitors were our neighbors, but that’s what happens when you’re a real estate agent, too.

Full Court Press

Once we got our hands on the pro’s photos, we reworked the “HomeOnTheCreek” site and set about raising our footprint on the web.  Now we’re on ForSaleByOwner, Yahoo Real Estate , Zillow and coming soon Realtor.com.  That alone was reason enough to hire an agent.

Connecting with Our Buyer

The one thing you can never know, whether you’re a pro or a FSBO, is who will buy the house and how they’ll find out about it.  Hence this posting on my blog.  One of you guys might know someone looking for a home in North Dallas. If you do, our house is a good one.  Please pass the word!

HEADING TO HEATH:  MOVING FORWARD BY LOOKING BACKWARD

Leaving areas south and west of Dallas behind, we headed over to the east side where we had some history.

Familiarity Breeds … Comfort

Bill and I are ever-ready to try try new things, but in doing so, we often discover we’ve already found what we were looking for.  When I met Bill he lived on a golf course.  One of the reasons we were back in the home market was that Bill missed that golf course.  As much as he’d loved the golf course house, it had been somewhat of a compromise, because where he’d really wanted to build was Chandler’s Landing.  If you’re not familiar, it’s a mater-planned, gated community in Rockwall.  I can’t tell you how many times we’ve invaded the neighborhood and drove around, dreaming of what life would like there.  Chandler’s Landing had been on Bill’s mind even before we broached the possibility of moving.

So, our next target was Chandler’s Landing, but along the way we made a few stops in places like Wylie, Sachse, Murphy and Rowlett.  We drove through some other lakeside communities in Rockwall, but eventually ended up in Chandler’s Landing.  We didn’t even have to sneak in, because it was their Open House weekend.  After driving the entire community and visiting an open house we reached a conclusion, Chandler’s Landing wasn’t quite what it used to be, but that didn’t rule out Rockwall altogether.

We drove out of Chandler’s Landing and turned to the left to investigate the other lakeside developments.  What we didn’t realize for a while was that we weren’t in Rockwall anymore.  We’d wandered into Heath.  What we did realize was that we loved what we were looking at.  We weren’t finding anything we could afford, but we felt like we were getting a lot closer to our dreams.

All This and Snuffer’s, Too

After spending the greater part of the day finding our way to Heath and then several hours wandering the streets of our discovery, we were a little hungry.  So we went to Snuffer’s.  Now Snuffer’s makes my favorite hamburger in the world, but I’ve been a good South Beach Diet-er since November and burgers are not exactly at the top of the list of things I should eat.  Still, we felt like we’d accomplished something and needed a bit of a splurge.  I only splurged as far as a turkey burger and a light beer.  No cheese fries for these thighs – yet the mood was festive.

If we’d been playing the Colder/Hotter game, we’d say we were definitely getting warm.  Bill informed me that I had a lot of research to do about Heath.

Our First Romance in Heath

As we’d driven around Heath we’d collected a handful of flyers from houses which were on sale.  We hadn’t figured we could afford any of them, but we do believe in miracles.  A few moments on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) confirmed our guess, but I went on to find out if Heath had anything in our price range.  One possibility moved directly to the head of the list.  It was a the top of our price range, the view out the back seemed iffy, but otherwise it was exactly what we thought we were looking for.  All I had to do was find out what was planned for that vacant land behind the home.

We were hooked on Heath, but had we found our dream house?  Come back next week and find out!

TRAVEL HERE: DFW WRITERS’ CONFERENCE

Though I didn’t travel very far to get to this year’s DFW Writers’ Conference, I’m hoping what I learned will take me very far.  Some of what I learned had nothing to do with writing.

Lesson One:  Know Thyself and Do Something About Your Shortcomings

This wasn’t my first writers’s conference.  My first was 2011’s DFW Writer’s Conference and I’ve been to a few others since, both DFWcons and those held by other organizations.  From my previous conferences I learned one very important thing, mingling is not my forte.  Well, not mingling in general, because I mingle well among friends.  And it’s not that I’m shy.  You need something announced to a roomful of strangers?  I’m your girl!  If you want me to go over there and introduce myself to one stranger who’s in a group with several other people, I’m all undone.

One of the most important opportunities, at a conference of any kind, is networking.  It’s especially important in writing, but the truth is, I haven’t networked well in the past. I didn’t see that changing unless I did something.  So this year, I volunteered.  I signed up for a couple of stints at the registration desk.  The difference was remarkable.

I may not be big on networking, but I’m a natural hostess.  By working at the registration table, I was suddenly transformed from a mere conference attendee to the hostess with the mostest.  I was greeting people left and right, answering their questions and solving their problems.  When my volunteering was over, I had a whole building full of new friends.  It made networking a whole lot easier.

Lesson Number Two:  Even to the Experts We Can All Be Experts

At previous conferences, I assumed I had nothing to offer.  I felt brand new at this and assumed other folks already knew everything.  If I talked to them, I’d just be a drain on their resources.

Well, there were a lot of folks with a lot more experience than me.  Some were already successful authors, both in traditional publishing and in self-publishing.  Others have become agented and are waiting to hold the first copy of their manuscript in their hands.  But there were also folks who basically woke up earlier in the week and thought they’d see what writing was all about.

I may not be on the New York Times Bestseller List yet, but I’m further down the road than a lot of people.  I have a degree in Creative Writing.  I’ve submitted to literary journals and had poetry published in them.  I’ve actually made money for freelance articles.  I’ve written a blog for three years.  I participate on a number of social sites.  I’ve attended workshops and conferences.  I completed novel, read for critique groups and found beta readers.  I’ve re-written my novel, written the first draft of another and have a very rough start on the third one.  I’ve researched agents and agencies online.  I’ve sent query letters.  I’ve pitched and had consultations.  Though these things have just become what I do every day – there are a lot of people who’ve never done any of them.  To them, I’m an expert.

But once I started talking to people, I found out  I had something to offer, even to those who’d made it further down the road than I had.  Maybe all they needed to know was where the restroom was or some driving directions, but when you don’t know, you’re grateful for assistance.  But I also found I had career information others might need.  Maybe they’d published several books, but had never tried to submit poetry.  Maybe they were new to blogging.  Maybe they knew all about writing, but didn’t have a clue about marketing – and after decades in sales and marketing, that is something I know about.

So I networked this time.  I may not have made the connection that will catapult my career into the stratosphere, but I did learn a number of things I hadn’t previously known.  Come back next week and I’ll share some of the writing lessons I learned in the classes I attended.

TRAVEL HERE: LOWER GREENVILLE AVENUE IS STILL THRIVING

Several decades ago, when I was a twenty-something, Lower Greenville was a funky, cool, happening sort of place. It’s waxed and waned in the ensuing years, but according to my visit a few weekends ago, it’s certainly happening now.

Ye Olde Stand-bys

I remember Greenville Avenue.  I used to hang at Jenny Bear’s, eat burgers at Rosa’s and misbehave at Milo Butterfingers.  Cardinal Puff’s was the coolest beer garden in town.  Desperado’s was the place for Tex-Mex.  Happy Hour at TGIFriday’s in Old Town was de riguer.  Then we’d move on to Daddy’s Money or find a member who’d get us into Elan.

But if you were really cool you hung out on Lower Greenville.  I learned Ranch Dressing was good on french fries at Greenville Avenue Bar and Grill, met friends for drinks after work at San Francisco Rose, danced to the sounds of Robert Lee Kolb when Dick’s Last Resort hadn’t moved downtown yet and had lunch at least once a week at Gus’s.  The original Snuffer’s was down there too, next to the Granada when the old movie house was the place to go for art films.

Even after Greenville Avenue was no longer the cool place to hang out, I made frequent visits, because The New Big Wong was one of the best places for late night Chinese food.  There was also that place with the crazy waitress over on Shadybrook, but we saved that for special occassions.

Bye Bye Stand-bys

Though some of those names still resonate, take it from me, they’re not what they used to be.  How could Butterfinger’s be the same after  Bowley & Wilson left and took their Javalina Hog with them?  What challenge is it to find Tacos Al Carbon if Deperado’s can actually be seen from the street?  And what is Robert Lee Kolb doing in a cowboy hat? What is the world coming to?

New Standards

Well, let me tell you something, the kids on Lower Greenville may not remember where the big Sears used to be, but they’re having a blast down there.  After a vist to the Arboretum on a recent Friday night, my hubby and bestie and I decided to go over to Lower Greenville to see if anything was there.  Let me tell you – there’s something there!  I had flashbacks to the good old days as we inched along in bumper to bumper traffic.  I don’t recognize a fraction of the signs and we certainly didn’t have any Taco Cabanas back in the day.

We sort of landed at Kush, because they had some vacant seating on their patio.  We settled into the comfy sofas to try out their cusine and smoke a little hookah.  (Bill and Debbie smoked.  I don’t do sheesha.)  It was not the finest of Middle Eastern cuisine.  In fact, the pita and hummas plate was supposed to come with tahini, but instead it had chimmichuri.  That didn’t stop us from having a great time.  You should go check it out yourself!

HEADING TO HEATH: WHY NOT CEDAR HILL?

Cedar Hill with its hilly Austin-ish feel looked like it might be something we were interested in.  We were almost giddy as we turned onto Lake Ridge Parkway.  Bill thought his famous luck had once again transported him to exactly where he needed to be and with little-to-no effort.

Grand Homes Are Really Grand

Though it was already late in the day, we found an agent in the gated community of Fountains of Lake Ridge.  The model was lovely, if overly large, but a spec home across the pond captured Bill’s imagination.  He loved the view of the fountain, right outside the back door.  It reminded him of a home on a golf course we’d visited once, in Bella Vista, Arkansas.  However, all I could see was the barn and farm equipment out the front door.

Escaping the real estate agent, we took advantage of the brand new Daylight Saving Time and drove around the area street by street.  At first gorgeous terrain and beautiful homes glazed our vision, but eventually, questions began to bubble up.  Questions like, “Why are these beautiful mansions completely devoid of landscaping?”  Then we noticed most of the cars parked in front of these large estates were beaters.  If people could afford to live in a palace, why wouldn’t they plant a few bushes … and why would they drive an old car held together with Bondo.  We marked the area on our map and vowed to get some answers.

The Answer Finds Us

A few days later we had a meeting with an agent about one of our rentals.  Once the business was out of the way, we asked a few questions about the Joe Pool Lake area and got an earful.  Some day there may be a renaissance out there, but we probably won’t live long enough to benefit from it.

We did make one other foray into South Dallas.  During my research of Cedar Hill, I read about another, so-called hidden gem, south of Dallas – Coronado Forest in Grand Prairie, because it was a gated community which backed up to a golf course.  This neighborhood had a lot more going for it in landscaping and transportation, but the few lots left didn’t have the WOW backyard we were looking for.

While we were on the west side of Dallas, we checked out Viridian in Arlington.  Do they have beautiful homes?  Absolutely!  Do they have any that will have gorgeous views out the back door?  No.  Back to the drawing board.

Still curious about what was drawing folks to the southern side of Dallas, we decided to have a meal in the much touted Bishop Arts District.  That did it for Bill.  There was certainly a vibe there, but it didn’t feel like our vibe.  Our interest in areas south and west of Dallas waned.

Next?

We’d just scratched the surface, but were already figuring out, that in spite of how many houses were available in DFW, when you were looking for something with a view behind it, the choices became very limited.  Things got better when we turned our attention to the east side of Dallas.  I’ll tell you about that next week.

HEADING TO HEATH: BUT WHY THERE?

OK – so fine, you think. Heath qualifies as a part of the Metroplex, but why would Jane build a house out there?  Well, it happened like this.

The Change to Daylight Savings Time

It all started on my exercise bike.  A lot of things start there, because it’s my prayer closet.  If I’m going to be stuck in one place for an hour, I might as well take advantage of it.  On other days I do my Bible Study while I’m getting my aerobic workout, but on Sunday mornings I sort of have a free-flowing conversation with God.  On that particular morning He and I were talking about my husband.  I’d sensed a sort of resignation to the norm in Bill and in an extraordinary guy like him, that’s not good.  God agreed with me or maybe He’s the one who pointed it out.  I’m never sure about that sort of thing.  I just know when I’m on the right track.

I put together a few notes and brought up my concerns during our morning coffee ritual – the one where Bill drinks coffee and I don’t.  I’d been on target with my concerns, but Bill had a different idea about how to improve things.  He thought it was time to move.  Even though a part of me shot straight up in the air and screamed, “Are you kidding?  This is my feet-first house.  Go wherever you want, but I’m not leaving,” the rest of me managed to calmly ask why Bill felt that way.

Twenty years of marriage helps you over the rough spots.  For one thing, I’ve learned that we don’t follow through on all the crazy ideas Bill has, so it doesn’t hurt to to humor him.  For another, some of his crazy ideas turn out to be the best ones.  I just grab the tiger by the tail and hang on for dear life.

When in Doubt – EAT! 

Our tete a tete  ending up being a little longer than our usual coffee time, so we didn’t make it to Sunday School…Life Group (I’m still not over the name change). Deciding to grab some breakfast while we nailed down our priorities, we handed ourselves over to The Original Pancake House.  I took along a journal to make notes.  We could agree on most of the criteria for our new place (if we were actually going to get one) – some kind of remarkable view out back, a strong HOA, less traffic and a home to match our “working out of the house” lifestlye – but the one thing we couldn’t decide on was where.  Favorite places like Sedona and Austin were considered, but we tabled out-of-DFW solutions until we’d exhausted all the metroplex possibilities.

Will It Go Round in ‘Circles?

After entirely too much food, we bought a paper and headed north on 75, thinking we’d check out all the building going on in places like Prosper.  About the time we reached Allen we realized we were heading in the wrong direction.  We didn’t want to replace our Preston-Road-commute-to-everything with an even longer Central-Expressway-commute.  We turned left and visited a new development in Little Elm.  Gorgeous homes, but the landscape was too flat.  We drove on to I-35 and headed south.  Bill had some vague sense of a renaissance in South Dallas, but we ended up in Cedar Hill.

But Jane!!!!  Cedar Hill is on the opposite end of Dallas.  How did you get to Heath? I’m getting to that.  Come back next week.

TRAVEL THERE: HOW TO BE A TOURIST WHEREVER YOU TRAVEL

It doesn’t matter where you go or what the reason, you can always find a way to enjoy the journey.

Make Enjoyment a Priority

It was just a short overnight trip to Houston.  There would be no time for museums.  I wouldn’t make it as far as Galveston.  The two meals we’d share with friends would be inside the hotel.  I wouldn’t even make it to the Galleria.

If you think I’d let that keep me from enjoying the journey, you’re wrong.  To begin with, it’s spring in Texas.  That means the roadside is blanketed in wildflowers.  Folks usually think of bluebonnets when someone says wildflowers in Texas, but the striking state flower is only the beginning of the array of roadside flora.  I’m not an expert on the names of flowers, but there were blooms in bright yellow, florescent orange, pretty purple and deep red.

Wildflowers growing on the side of the road might not qualify as tourist attraction to you, but it’s all a matter of mindset.  I watched carefully for the first good batch of bluebonnets.  Then, as we drove further south, I noticed the ratio of bluebonnets to other flowers shifted, so that their deep blue hue merely punctuated fields of orange or yellow flowers.  When pine trees replaced their leafy counterparts along the roadway, wildflowers became more and more infrequent.  Then suddenly we were in Houston and I’d enjoyed the whole trip without wasting any time or spending a dime.

Check Out the Amenities

On this particular trip our accommodations were a little more upscale than usual.  We got warm chocolate chip cookies as a welcome treat and the pool was lovely.  However, competition is stiff and even the no-frill chains are getting into the act.  The worst hotel I’ve stayed in recently had a bowl of fresh fruit in the lobby.  I would have been happier with a little more pristine room, but hey, fresh fruit is better than a poke in the eye.

The trick is to find things to enjoy – even if it’s laughing at the way the maid has folded the toilet paper or how thin the bedspread is.  I review hotels for my blog and for Trip Advisor, I need to weigh the pros and cons of what’s offered and what’s available, but that doesn’t mean I get extra points for finding the most problems.  In fact, I’ll enjoy my stay and you’ll enjoy my review if I focus on what’s good – not ignoring the fact the that wi-fi is iffy, but also not making a federal case out of it.

Hotels and motels are upping their amenity factor because in this electronics-driven, green-leaning, health-conscious world, four walls and a bed are not going to cut it.  You’re paying for it, so use what’s available, even if it’s just taking a break to walk around the small pool or to have a cup of free coffee.

Make Every Pit-Stop Count

Whether it’s grabbing a pre-flight snack or making a potty stop, a little creativity can go a long way.  I always try to avoid the well-known chains and opt for something outlandish when I’m grabbing airport food.  I can get Starbucks and Burger King at home.  Why eat them at the airport if there’s something else to try.  And why rush down to the gate with a brown paper bag.  Splurge on a sit-down restaurant where someone will wait on you.  You can always find ways to make your trip more enjoyable if you look for them.

Take this last trip between Dallas and Houston.  We made a brief stop in Huntsville to see the gigantic statue of Sam Houston.  We weren’t there long.  We stretched our legs a little, took a few snapshots and used the restroom.  I even got a soda out of a vending machine.  We could have done the same sort of thing at a gas station or a rest area in just about the same length of time, but instead of smelling fumes from eighteen-wheelers, I strolled down a shaded path smelling of pine needles, appreciated a little art and chatted with the nice volunteers in the visitor center.  It made my brief trip to Houston seem like a vacation.

TRAVEL HERE: AFTER BLOOMS THE DALLAS ARBORETUM IS STILL THERE

During early Spring, the Dallas Arboretum is full-to-overflowing with with people flocking in to see Blooms. Then things settle down, but the garden is still there. Membership can extend your fun and keep you coming back for more.

More Than Just a Spring Fling

A few months back, on a pleasant February day, a friend flew in from California and I took her to the Arboretum for lunch.  Yes, in February!  Were the blossoms as spectacular as they are in April?  Well, no, but that didn’t make the garden any less lovely.  When the flowers are a little less overpowering, other areas are easier to appreciate.

We strolled through everything except the children’s garden, had lunch in the tearoom and took a tour of the Degolyer house.  Never once did I have to say, “Too bad you missed Blooms, ” because my friend, in from Lompoc, famous for it’s flowering fields, was dumbstruck by how pretty everything was.  As a member, parking my car was free, admission was free and lunch was discounted, as were our gift shop purchases.

I love the gardens year round.  I’m always interested in which part is having a make-over and am eager to see the finished product.  During scalding Dallas summer days, the fern dell is a haven.  I love the Cool Thursday concert festivals.  My husband and I will drop by for a stroll, even when we only have a little bit of time to spare.  Autumn at the Arboretum is as exciting as Blooms.  Even the holidays are special at the gardens.

The Arboretum Loves Its Members

There’s more to my Arboretum membership than free and discounted stuff.  There’s a newsletter that keeps me up to date on what’s happening and sometimes very special invitations arrive.  That happened a few weeks ago.  Artscape was that weekend – one of those times when the Arboretum fills up to capacity – but as a member, I was invited for a sneak peek.  All the artist’s were set up and ready to share their goodies that Friday evening, but the bazillion non-members couldn’t get in.  What a treat!

Every Little Bit Helps

When I dream of being wealthy, I dream of bestowing gallons and gallons of money on the organizations I love best.  Some of those organizations would feed hungry people and others would fill spiritual needs, but the Dallas Arboretum would certainly get a bucket or two of cash.  I’m sure the Arboretum would love for me to strike it rich and might even name a garden for me if I suddenly had multiple millions, but I know that every little bit counts.  Until I become a multiple bazillionaire, DABS is grateful for my membership and constant patronage.  For less than a c-note ($82), you can join the museum and get in free all year. Since admission is $15 each and parking is $10, imagine how quickly you’ll be on the better side of that deal.

Spread the Membership Love Around

Once you figure out how wonderful membership is for you and the arboretum, you might start looking around for other organizations to support.  I’m also a member of the Dallas Museum of Art, for all the same reasons.

HEADING TO HEATH: I’M GOING RURAL

Heath is a gorgeous bedroom community south of Rockwall, which is east of Rowlett, which is east of Dallas, but until a few weeks ago I’d never been there.  So why am I about to start calling it home – especially when I’m such a Dallas girl?

I Love Dallas

I’ve been so attached to Dallas, because as a child I was a vagabond.  My dad’s job took us to six different cities in three states during the first eleven years of my life. Finally, we moved to Dallas and stayed.  I attended Martha Turner Reilly Elementary, Robert T. Hill Jr. High and Bryan Adams Sr. High.  Sure I went away to college for a few years in Nacogdoches and spent six months in Little Rock for a job, but Dallas was home.

Even during the years I lived in the suburbs of Garland and Plano, I claimed to be a Dallasite. Then Bill and I lived on the Central Coast of California for six years, and though there were things I really liked about it, all I could think of was getting back to Dallas.  It was home to me.

Bill and I returned to Texas and bought a home in Dallas.  I saw to it that we bought the most Dallas of homes we could manage.  We live right off Preston Road in a little pocket called Far North Dallas.  That means it’s about ten minutes to pretty much anything I want – except Downtown and NorthPark, and I can get there pretty quick, too.  So why would I give it up?

Well, to begin with, I’m not giving up much.  My drive time to the Dallas Museum of Art from my home in Heath will only be four minutes longer than my current drive.  The Arboretum will be exactly the same drive time.  NorthPark will be the stretch.  It will take ten more minutes to get there (which may have been part of Bill’s plan).  So even though I’m going rural, I’m still within close proximity to my favorite Dallas things.

But I’m Leaving Anyway

I love my current home.  Perhaps you know that I look out onto a creek where everything from blue jays to a bobcat frequent my back lawn.  Well, when it comes to view, I could say, I’ll see your creek with a pond and raise you the third hole of Buffalo Creek Golf Course.  I’m already making friends with the turtles on my new pond.

As happy as I am with where I live, I married a guy with wings on his ankles.  When I met him he had a home on a golf course in a Dallas suburb. I thought I was set for life.  We’ve had five houses in five cities and two different states since then.

When I moved into our current home, I told him it was my feet first house – you know the one where they take you out feet first.  That was five years ago.  When he broached the possibility of making a move, I was surprised to discover I wasn’t completely opposed to it.  Maybe after eleven years as a vagabond and twenty-years with the ankle-winged guy, I’m not as sedentary as I thought.

That’s the past.  Heath is the future and in the weeks to come, I’ll share the adventures of building our new house, moving to the country and discovering what life’s like in Heath.  I hope you’ll come along for the ride.