When I was a kid, nobody I knew ever left the country. Most people never even left Ohio! So, although I always loved maps and globes, as well as learning countries and capitals, I never once for a moment thought I’d set foot out of the United States. Never, not once, ever!
Although I only recently learned that it was penned by William Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor, I have always been “the world is my oyster” kind of person. And, I have wandered the planet more than most people I know, gathering friends, memories, folktales, recipes, photographs, and so very many opportunities along the way. There have also been near-death experiences, several bouts of malaria, rogues with knives, as well as assorted mishaps, disasters, and even a prison story. Most of these tales were never revealed to my mother. If you consistently read my blogs, you know more than she ever did.
Ever since I can remember wanting to travel, there were two destinations that topped my “must visit” list. One was Acapulco, Mexico, because I wanted to see the cliff divers. I've never been there yet. It doesn't appear to be very likely either since Acapulco doesn't seem to be a safe destination these days. But, I've more than made up for not going to southwest Mexico. And, eventually, my travels also took me to my second childhood destination, the south of France.
As I’ve pried open that oyster, I’ve walked the Great Wall of China, stood over the line of the equator in Ecuador, straddled the Prime Meridian in London, taken at least twenty African safaris, and wandered across more than one hundred countries. My artwork was used in a project with Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. I designed two postage stamps for the Post Office in the Philippines. My clip art is used around the world. And, perhaps my biggest claim to fame is my photograph in the 100th anniversary edition of The National Geographic Magazine (not one I took, but a photo of me!) There are no signs of slowing down. My travels now involve my murals most of the time. And, right now the total is 63 murals in 27 countries. So, yep, I keep working on that oyster and enjoying everywhere I wander.
In recent years, I've been writing and illustrating children's books. But, this month I tried something different. My usual photographs of choice are portraits of people I meet along my pathways. However, I tend to take a lot of photographs of flowers as well. That probably is thanks to my mother's influence. She always grew flowers. The latest book I've created is Bloom Where You Wander (soon available on Lulu). I started off with 14 flowers from my travels as well as their accompanying stories. But, the following day, I just had to expand the book. There were so many flowers that needed to be included, so I doubled the size of the project.
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I still believe in that oyster. Shakespeare meant that you can go anywhere and do anything. There is a world of potential and opportunity out there if you seize it. It takes work to open that oyster to get the pearl, but most things that are worthwhile take an effort.
But, who knew that once again, I would find opportunity in Ohio? In my daily walks, I met a few of my neighbors who were seriously into their flower gardens. My personal favorites, yellow calla lilies, were tended by a new friend, Jessica, who had a suggestion for me. She thought I would enjoy a local museum in nearby Westerville, Ohio, where Benjamin Hanby once lived. His carol, Up On the Housetop, was my favorite Christmas carol as a child. And, if you knew me well, you’d know that I paint my own Christmas ornaments on eggs. I have a dozen eggs that illustrate that carol, and they became part of the Hanby House Christmas Tour this past holiday season. Who knew that pearl awaited me?
And now, I will be back at the Hanby House in June with my books as a guest author. After that, there may be murals in Westerville as well. Let the opportunities continue! It appears that I can enjoy oysters in Ohio as well as the rest of the world.
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