A Cottage Near the Sea...

OK,

Here are some of my passions, large and small, cheap, free, and expensive.

I'm going to list them numerically because I'm a Virgo that way. :)

1. A warm mug of tea in my hand. A cup or mug of tea represents to me, the beginning of something good. A good morning, a good evening, or a good endeavor. Tea feels like a magical entity. You can leave tea, brewed or loose leaves, in your garden as a welcoming gesture to garden faeries.

2. My husband Derek says I have a passion for interacting with people in a way that remembers etiquette and small details. Remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and etc. and acknowledging them. To me, those acknowledgments are one of the many threads of a gracious human being, and why not thrive for that! :)

3. I'm always wanting to know the ocean better. For the last few years, that way has been through scuba diving. There is nothing more profound than lying on the bottom of the ocean, looking up at the infinite mass of water, with the sunlight streaming through pristine blue.

4. The active pursuit of the 'perfect' day. Something movie worthy. :)

5. The acquisition and pursuit of music that moves me, and makes me feel alive.

6. Expressing myself through some form of art. Poetry. The writing of, and reading of poetry. And more currently, tattoos. Tattoos have become an integral part of my person. For me, having the certainty of mind, and wanting to express those certain thoughts on my body, is a beautiful thing. A road map of my life...on my body. Even now, when I look at my tattoos, I remember what was happening in my life when I got them. And I can see how I've changed and grown as a human being.

7. Food has always been a passion. Cooking, touching, learning about, tasting, and shopping for food. Food is a root of life, and to maintain and embrace a broad and adventurous relationship with it is a wonderful thing.

8. Books. There is no greater feeling than being surrounded by the books you love.

9. Driving. Very much my father's daughter in that regard. I love the feeling of driving anywhere, music on in the background. Someplace old, someplace new...I love hitting the pavement to find it! All my best thoughts come to me on the road.

10. Pursuing my dream to live in a cottage on the North Shore of Kauai for 6 months to a year. Right now, that dream looks farther away than near...but I keep it on the horizon. :) The picture above is my cottage.

11. Learning about people. The individuals. The details. The reason why. The history. The good. The bad. The beautiful, and the ugly. What makes people tick.

There you have it. Some of my passions. I think this is a great way to learn about the women in our book club! I look forward to reading your passions!