Oh well, you came here for some dirt on me, so here goes …

First and foremost, I’m in my early 50’s, and will fully admit that it’s going by too fast. Please make it last.

I have three beautiful grown kids (girl, boy, girl) and two precious grandbabies (girl and boy). Yes, my world has shifted on it’s axis to permanently revolve around them. Are you really surprised? It’s amazing how deeply and unconditionally you can love someone. And even more amazing is that you can feel that way for more than one person. Wow — the heart has no limits.

My entire family, Including me, is creative in one way or another. My mother and grandmother were crafty, as well. It’s definitely a family tradition . I knit, crochet, sew, diy, draw, cook, etc. I love to sing, but have tremendous stage fright. I’ve been told that I’m good, but the talent (if that’s what you would call it) is wasted on me.

My oldest daughter is super crafty — crocheting, knitting, sewing, miscellaneous crafty things, and gardening. She’s also an amazing cook. My son writes songs, raps, draws, and creates his own comic books. My youngest daughter can draw, dabble on the piano, and is a creative thinker in general. If there’s a will, there’s a way, and she’ll find it.

My oldest daughter is the one who blessed me with my grandbabies — so far. (Sorry, not counting my grandanimals this time.)

My granddaughter is multi-talented. She crochets, knits, and does all the other crafty things, just like her mom. She loves to put together Lego sets, and I’m talking about the big ones with a million pieces that you have to have a Masters Degree to put together. She plays multiple instruments and plays the flute in the high school band.

My grandson is younger still, but has taken to drawing comics like his uncle. He had and “Art Sale” a couple of years ago. I purchased a multimedia coloring of 5 hatchets for $5.00. I expect it to appreciate in value. He’s musical as well. He plays on my piano every time he comes over. I sit in the corner clapping and cheering “Bravo”!

I was talking to them both the other day. I’ve bought the two of them various musical instruments since they’d been born. But the only one he couldn’t remember were the bagpipes. Found out Momma has those hidden up on the shelf in the closet. Hmmm …

Both of them are Honor Roll Students, by the way. So proud. (Granny brag! Granny brag!)

My husband is a big, quiet kind of guy, except when he’s in the kitchen or watching sports.

He’s been doing the cooking lately and has become quite the “Chef Boyardee”.

He’s really book-smart, too. He kills it when we watch Jeopardy. I keep telling him that he needs to go on and win him some money. He would, too, no joke.

Oh, and I’ll let you in on a little secret — he loves kitty cats and they love him. It’s adorable.

Okay, now I know I’ve talked about my family and this is supposed to be about me. But, to know a bit about me, you need to know a bit about my family.

So lets start from the beginning. I was adopted at birth and words cannot express how grateful I am to be blessed with the woman I was gifted with as my Mom. I miss her every day.

I grew up in the country on a farm as an only child. But there were lots of cousins to play with, so I was definitely not lonely, and you could always find something to do on a farm. It was my grandparents farm, but we spent every weekend there and eventually moved there when I was 11. Gosh, I miss that place.

I was raised mostly in Massachusetts, minus an two year stint in Virginia when I was young. In my late twenties, we moved back down south to North Carolina and I been here ever since.

I consider myself what you might call a “Yankee Bell”. I have enough of an accent from both places to make people ask me where I’m from no matter where I’m at. I know it’s “y’all” — not “you all”, and you only use it for two or more people. I know that BBQ is pulled pork and don’t even get me started on what really good seafood is. I’m polite enough not to immediately beep my horn at you when you don’t see that green light (bless your heart). BUT, keep texting away on your phone and I might just go Yankee on yo ass.

I have an accounting degree and have worked as a freelance accounting consultant for 23 years. I’ve also been a CFO and a Controller. I love how accounting is like organizing and seeing the details. I love building spreadsheets, too. You can be very creative with them and make them do all kinds of wonderful things (Legal! I’m a good girl.). My consulting motto was “To the Penny, To the Point”, and I meant it. My clients knew where every penny went.

I’ve been divorced twice and married thrice. Lessons in life, for sure. Learned a lot about myself each time.

So, I guess you’ve learned a lot about my personality just from what you’ve read so far. However, what you didn’t know was that I’ve been diagnosed Bipolar, PTSD, and I also get Panic Attacks. And to answer the question before it’s asked — yes, I’ve attempted suicide.

I’m putting it out there because I’m not ashamed. That’s why I created this website. I’m writing this blog, for all of us. Me, too. I’m here to let you know that I get it. I feel you. I’m right here with you on these pages because I need it, too. This is like therapy for me. Y’all make me happy. I hope that I can lift your spirits a bit because happy feels good. Get it? Happy. Feels. Good.

Like others have said before me, mental Illness runs hard in my family, my DNA, and I was raised in an abusive alcoholic home. So the cards were stacked. But you know, diabetes runs in the family, too, So who knows — someday I might have to give up my M&Ms.