Let me introduce myself.
As you can see, I am an art car artist, among other things, and, in fact, being an art car enthusiast got me into a book by Marilyn Root called Women at the Wheel: 42 Stories of Freedom...
And that is what this website is all about--having the freedom to be yourself and enjoy life at every moment. I choose to enjoy life today and at this very moment, even as I write this.
Recently a friend wanted to give me a makeover: cut my hair, dress me in more conservative clothes, and most abominably, take away my hats. Bless his heart; he thought it would make me more successful, and I guess at the base of it is that he didn't want to be embarrassed to be seen with me. I really thought about his suggestions, and while some of them were agreeable, what he really wanted to do, without knowing it, was take away my free spirit. He didn't even want me to paint my pickup and make it into an art car. Hmmm...sad.
Needless to say, I won't be taking most of his suggestions, because I AM successful. I have been a successful marketing and promotions person for about 35 years, and I have made alot of money for alot of people looking like a weirdo. But most of all, I have had a ball!
I lived in France as a Motown and jazz singer, I lived on a barge in Holland and on an island in the Seine outside of Paris. I sang jazz in restaurants in old Nice. I lived on a boat on the Connecticut River, and I have driven far and wide across this country. I was part owner of a Gallery of Holography and co-sponsored a bill against government involvement in the arts when I lived in New England. I was an investigative reporter and researcher specializing in nuclear and toxic waste.
I worked in the book business for twenty five years and promoted the likes of Kinky Friedman, Captain Kangeroo, Jimmy Carter, and Buzz Aldrin, to name a few. I got my college degree in Interpersonal Communications (Relationships Counseling) at the age of 52.
I have worked in the singles biz for 10 years and worked as a matchmaker and marriage broker during those years. In 2005, 12 couples were united in marital bliss from my introductions, and I have about 6 engaged couples to report in 2006.
I was a delegate representing Dennis Kucinich in the 2004 presidential election, and I worked at the public access television station and have volunteered at the public radio station for many years. I have been both a librarian and a bookseller working for freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
I love jazz and promote it wherever I go, trying to give venues to musicians of all kinds and used to have wonderful jazz guys, now famous, playing in my bookstore for books instead of money. I even sang with Sonny Stitt once upon a time long ago...
I am a professional astrologer since the age of 13. I love doggies and kitties and commonly would have 4 dogs and one cat; I now have 3 cats and 1 dog. Life is really fun, and I am always meeting people and getting to go cool places like Africa, Zion National Park, and Yosemite.
As a teenager, I said "thank you" to people who called me a weirdo. And today, I think many people wish they could be as free as I am. I am living the good life. As an aging hippie who has never given up her principles, my advice to you is let your hair down, keep your hat on, paint your car, get a dog, dance & sing with wild abandon, and most of all, don't wait till you're rich or ready!
Now let me introduce you to some other really cool ladies... |
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| “Women at the Wheel” is the story of 42 women and their relationships with their automobiles. Photographer Marilyn Root realized our relationships are not only with people or animals, but also with our possessions.
“Among our most treasured possessions,” notes Root, “our cars loom large, helping us, as they do, to live our lives to the fullest.” It’s with these thoughts that Root sets out to interview women and the “objects of their affection.” With women buying almost half of today’s automobiles, Root figured, “Women and cars? Why not?”
Over a five-year period, Root interviewed more than 100 women asking them about their cars, motorcycles, trucks and buses. These women also shared their tales of independence, growth, having children, divorce and loss. Throughout these conversations, she learned about the nicknames women bestow on their cars, the urge to personalize and decorate them, and the lure of traveling the open road.
A car — or any vehicle — for women has meant tremendous freedom, independence, flexibility and self esteem. The list could go on and on.
Although hard to choose just one favorite of all Root’s interviews, the story behind the Bookmobile from Houston is one of them. Andrea Foster, book lover, seller and owner, came about her creation quite by accident. Her pickup truck had been stolen, so a friend — a fellow book lover — gave her a 1974 Ford Pinto. Having “worked in every bookstore on the face of the earth,” Foster felt it a natural that she decorate the Pinto with books.
“The car kind of developed itself,” she says. The reading material attached to the Pinto is of all categories, and is ever-changing. Andrea’s purpose? To encourage everyone to read. Andrea also has pencils, pens, scissors, stickers and Wite Out glued to the hood of the Pinto.
What if a book flies off the Pinto? Simple, says Andrea. “I always keep a glue gun in the back seat.”
Reviewed by Susan Frissell for cars.com | |
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