What do you want to be when you grow up? Another variation of the question would be “Who do you want to become when you grow up?” I wonder how many people change their answers to both questions as they progress through life.
We always ask young people what they want to “be.” That seems life an unfair query of an 18 year old who has not experienced any real-life work situations. Depending on their conditioning, expectations of their parents and potential availability of higher education, the answers to that question are probably pre-programmed. When I was in high school, the choices laid out to me by a guidance counselor were pretty clear.
I took a couple of lessons on guitar in 1967 about the same time I was told that I was not “pretty enough” to be an airline stewardess!
She said that I could be a teacher, a nurse, or possibly an airline stewardess but she added, on second thought, to forget the third choice as I just was not pretty enough. My father, whose sisters were teachers, believed that teaching is an ideal profession for women as she can leave while raising her own children and be welcomed back at any time. I took his advice, and because I really loved Spanish and excelled in it, I dedicated myself to becoming a Spanish teacher.
After working as a swimming teacher, camp counselor, cook, word processor, university librarian’s assistant, substitute teacher, teacher of college Spanish, Community Action intake (social) worker, and a legal secretary… little by little, I have finally worked myself into a position where I can stay home and make quilts, study quilt history and write.
Did my writing skills come out of a vacuum? Of course not! I was a reporter for my high school paper and later, a Copy Editor. At one of the summer camps where I worked, I led a group of youngsters in producing a camp newspaper. I always enjoyed writing research papers for university classes. So, when I submitted my first article for publication in 1999, my career was “good to go.”
What I realize today is that I like my life. As Life itself is unpredictable, I know that situations are never static. Inevitably, something will change. I’ve already weathered the loss of my parents and two brothers, beloved aunts and uncles and cousins. I have no control over the future. For now, I can only say a prayer of thanks for all that I have been given and for all that I have been able to share. I appreciate YOU, oh, unseen reader! There are folks who come back here every day to read my words and I am humbled by your loyalty. I can only hope to be worthy of that much attention.
When I was eighteen, I had far different goals. Funny, though. I do use my knowledge of Spanish with some frequency, in practical use, to communicate with my friends who speak no English. At my age, I feel that components of my life have jelled. I have grown up. I am not self-conscious. I do not worry any more about the petty-minded naysayers of the world. I am a quilter and I impart my thoughts. Life is good.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
