Things You May Not Know About Me (But Probably Should 😉)
People who meet me now might think I’ve always been outgoing. Let me clear that up right away.
In earlier years, I was painfully shy.
Not the “oh she’s quiet” kind of shy.
The very, very shy kind. The kind who rehearsed what she was going to say before saying it. The kind who would rather disappear into the wallpaper than stand in front of a crowd.
And then somewhere in my 50's, I bloomed. 🌸 🪻
I don’t know if it was confidence, wisdom, Jesus, or just finally being too tired to care what everyone thought… but that shy little girl loosened her grip. And here I am. Writing. Sharing. Smiling a little bigger.
I’m the Second Child (The Quiet Observer)
I was born the second of four children. I had one older sister who left this world far too soon at 28. My youngest brother also passed away in 2024. Those losses shaped me in ways that don’t always show on the outside.
My other brother? (David).... He lives one mile from me. Just one mile. That makes my heart smile. Life can take much, but it also gives gifts close to home.
My “Career Years” Were Short but Sweet
I didn’t spend decades in an office building climbing ladders.
In my younger years, I worked for an oil company. Later, I worked at our local elementary school as a librarian — which felt much more like me. Quiet spaces. Books. Order. Structure. Little minds discovering stories.
Altogether, My time working out of the home was not very long at all. Maybe 8 years.
But here’s the thing:
My real life’s work was raising babies… and then keeping all my grand-babies until they started school.
That was my full-time calling. And I wouldn’t trade it for a corner office in Manhattan.
Black and White Are My Love Language
My favorite colors are black and white.
Not beige, Not mauve for sure and not coral.
Black and white.
I love the simplicity of it. The strength. The clarity. The clean lines. It feels timeless and steady.
If you dig a little deeper, these colors probably say a lot about me:
❤ I like order.
❤ I like control (let’s just be honest).
❤ I like things neat and intentional.
Black feels calm on the outside, protecting a sensitive heart on the inside.
White feels like fresh paper. A reset. A new morning.
And yes… I do tend to have a little OCD personality. Things have a place. And I’d really like them to stay there. I also prefer immediate answers or solutions.
I Owned a Flower Shop (And That Was Pure Joy)
Out of all the things I’ve done, owning my own flower shop still makes my heart flutter. 💐
I loved it.
Although black and white are my favorite colors, I do enjoy the beauty of other colors. The creativity. The smell of fresh blooms in the morning. The quiet hum of arranging something beautiful out of loose stems and greenery. 💓
I still love arranging flowers. There’s something very sacred about turning scattered pieces into something lovely. Maybe that’s why I write, too. IDK!!
A Few More Random Truths
🌼 I love the beach… but I’m more of a mountain girl. Give me cool air and elevation over sand in my shoes.
🌼 I cannot swim. Not one bit. And yes, we have a pool. The irony is not lost on me.
🌼 I’m not big on eating meat. I prefer seafood and vegetables.
🌼 I don’t like to cook. (There. I said it.)
🌼 I was born in a tiny little doctor’s office that is now a house — just eight miles from where I live now. I haven’t strayed far from my beginnings for sure.
There’s something comforting about that.
The Biggest Surprise?
The shy girl grew up.
The second child found her voice.
The quiet one became the storyteller.
And if you’d told that painfully shy version of me that one day she’d be writing blog posts for the world to read…
She would have blushed.
And probably hidden behind something black and white. 🤍🖤
Shug....💛



Good morning Shug :) I love this post so much! Thank you for sharing bits about yourself and I love the way you put it all. "The quiet one became the storyteller." I can relate so much to this! I was so shy as a child that I hid behind my dad's legs anytime we met someone new. I'm still painfully shy, even though in your 60's it might come off as standoffish. I am not a fan of small talk. I find it painful. But give me deep conversations and I flourish. So, do you wear only black? I'm curious. I once tried to trim my wardrobe down to only black shirts and I ended up needing some color back into the closet. I couldn't handle it, even though I wear a ton of black. Well, I loved learning more about you today. Have a wonderful week! And by the way...I'm a horrible swimmer, though I love swimming...in a pool (no ocean for me!).
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Debbie... No Ocean swimming for me. I want to know what is under my feet. I wear a lot of black and white but I do have a nice mix of colored tops and a few dresses in my closet that are on the brighter side. Hot pink, green, some touches of blue, usually rounds out my color pallet in my closet. Wishing you a great sunny shiny day...
DeleteShug, I didn't want this, your bio, to end!
ReplyDeleteYou've no idea how I relate to your first 3 paragraphs ... thank goodness I learned that others mistook my shyness for conceit/aloofness. (Which couldn't have been further from the truth.)
Not so much decor or clothing, but one of my favorite things in the world is black-and-white photography.
I, too, prefer the mountain air ... but oh woe, my diet probably consists of 90% red meat. Carnivore, yep.
This was fun!
Good morning Shug! I really enjoyed this. I think we are a lot alike. I was also shy in school (despite being a first born!) and like Mevely I wonder if people thought I was conceited. Then I became a nurse and really learned to talk to people, and as a unit manager I had to learn to take charge. That was all well and good, but I agree that having a family was and is the most important thing I ever did.
ReplyDeleteI also like black and white, order, neatness and the mountains! And I have a sibling, my sister who lives about a mile from me. However, I'll take meat over seafood any day. :)
Thanks for sharing this!
Look forward to your posts everyday! I'm like you in many ways and love your sharing about yourself. Blessings . . .
ReplyDeleteThat was a lovely post, Shug. I learned a liot about you! Shug, why did you close the flower shop? Here's to a good week for you and your sweetheart. Hugs. SUSAN
ReplyDelete