Intro...

So I need to write an intro. Hmmm . . . intro is a word stem that can be as flexible as a component of a traveler’s wardrobe. It certainly is a garment in my life.

One meaning: “introduction to a song”. You see, I am a musician. And I hope you will let me hum a verse or two of my life’s song for you. I want you to sing along. Or better yet---sing for me some of your life’s songs. I’ll listen. Joyfully. Unless you troll me.

I’m a gypsy-poet; a child of a sailor who dragged my mother and me to 8 different locations before settling in Brevard County, Florida during the Space Years of American History. I had a front-row seat to every rocket launch until the space shuttle program took off. And lots of stories to tell about life in Rocket County.

My Dad’s genealogy was a mix of Scottish, Dutch, English and Native American. My family was proud of the American Indian part of our family legend, and I began a quest to determine how much of my family legend was fact and how much was fantasy. I will be sharing some of my discoveries. Sidebar factoid: I even lived on a reservation…which is where I met @rhondak.

My mother’s side is Welsh and Irish (all the way back to the High Kings!), but she was also French. She was the descendant of a French Dauphin whose surname was Lambert. I will be traveling to La Belle France in just a matter of days now…and one of the places I will be visiting is her ancestral home Aix-en-Provence. There will be blogs wrapped around that adventure.

Another “intro” in my life is the concept of “introversion”. A little more than a year ago, I received a diagnosis of High-Functioning Autism…which used to be called Asperger’s Syndrome. This diagnosis solved inner mysteries while simultaneously opening emotional chasms and chaos in my closest relationships. I will be writing from the perspective of someone who has stumbled and fumbled throughout her life, only to find out in the last quarter of her life why.

[So-called] Mild autism doesn't mean one experiences autism mildly. It means you experience their autism mildly. You may not know how hard they've had to work to get to the level they are.
--Adam Walton

The last “intro” I want to apply is “introspective”. As I am certain you can imagine, living life mostly clueless can either drive you into…shall we say, diversions--or to introspection. Diversions (and I am referring to recreational substances and toxic relationships here) usually do not benefit you mentally, physically---or most importantly, spiritually.

However, living in an ever-present “why?” can just as easily make you introspective and philosophical. I consider myself fortunate: I survived those malevolent diversions and became introspective. I am sure you can see how it is inevitable that I write from those experiences as well.

Along the way, there’ll be lots of humor---although this introduction belies that---along with gardening, poetry, dog stories, and spiritual applications. I hope you will walk with me…and introject your life story as we promenade through this overwhelming, perplexing, mystical and wonderful journey we know as life.