I thought I would end this blog, but I've decided to keep writing in it. In the meantime, I have started a new blog called, The Single-Serving Life on Substack where I focus on cooking for one, mostly. Here is the link if you are interested.
I cannot leave out an important moment in my life on this blog, even though it happened many many years ago. I was 57 years old and had decided to return to college. Bill had lost his vision by this time, but we didn't know he was going to develop Alzheimer's. Because of this, I decided it was time for me to add to the family income.
Here is an article I wrote about "My Claim to Fame" back in 2017.
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Claim to Fame – Cindy Downes
Marilyn Monroe once said, “Fame doesn't fulfill you. It warms you a bit, but that warmth is temporary.” I’ve never been famous like Marilyn Monroe, but judging from People magazine, this appears to be true.
In my own life, I’ve tried to focus on achievement, rather than fame. And, as John Maxwell once said, “Without failure there is no achievement.” So fail I did! I was always trying something. It didn’t matter whether I succeeded or failed. It was the process that was the fun!
In school, I tried out and sometimes was selected for the lead in the school play. Other times, I ended up crying because all they wanted me to do was write a poem. I auditioned for and sometimes won the top spot in the high school band. Other times, I was lucky to have a seat at all. I competed in and won the American Legion’s National Oratorical contest three years in a row, but lost the 4th time around.
At the University of Delaware, I competed for the most dates! Although this is definitely not a claim to fame, it did land me a great husband!
As an adult, my achievements returned to the academic arena, and I was seldom satisfied to be “middle of the road.” I got a 4.0 in every class I took at Oklahoma State when I returned to college in 2007, I got a perfect score on my ham radio Extra exam (an exam that, I've been told, some engineers have trouble passing), and I won several Journalism awards when writing articles for local and national magazines.
In fact, writing became my passion – both in print and on the Internet. I wrote articles for magazines like iPhone Life, the Old Schoolhouse, and Oklahoma Living, but got paid very little. I wrote a picture book about “Garrett the Ferret, the White House Exterminator” and a children’s book called “Adventures at Spiro Mounds,” but even after landing a meeting with editors in NYC, neither one got published. Conversely, I wrote and self-published an educational resource book and two Oklahoma history manuals to help homeschool families. This effort provided me with nearly $100,000 in income; however, I’ve received very little fame from them.
I also wrote about my everyday life and gave advice to moms using my websites and blogs. Most of it was ignored, but this online writing did land me a spot on OETA and another one on Good Morning America, my two biggest claims to fame. In my own family and circle of acquaintances, I am the “famous” one because I was on state and national TV; however, no one outside the family is begging me for my autograph!
The bottom line is this: I’m not famous, but I keep trying to achieve something. Much of the time, it ends up a flop, but sometimes it’s worthwhile. It isn’t about fame; it’s the process. And to remind me to continue working the process, I keep a quotation on my wall that says, “Life is short. Run a marathon. Who cares if you come in last? Who cares? Just do it!”
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Here is the video my brother, Dave, recorded on his TV. Without this, I would have no record of my 5-Minute Claim to Fame!
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| National Novel Writing Month |
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| Evoluent Vertical Mouse |
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| Kinesis Advantage Pro Keyboard |
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| Billie Letts |
Yesterday, I had the
privilege of interviewing Billie Letts, author of Where the Heart Is, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, Shoot the Moon, and Made in the U.S.A. For those of you not familiar with
her work, Where the Heart Is was
selected for Oprah Winfrey's Book Club, and it was made into a movie starring
Natalie Portman and Stockard Channing.
Billie is as gracious
as she is talented. I must admit I was a bit nervous interviewing someone so
famous! In fact, I got halfway there, stopped at Barnes and Nobles to pick up
my own copy of Where the Heart Is (I read a library copy.) and then realized I
left all my interviewing notes at home! I ended up being 15 minutes late. I was
mortified! I had no number to reach her other than her publicist, so I called
that number and left a message; but I was sure when I got there, she would
refuse to see me. But she didn’t. Instead, she graciously welcomed me in.
Interviewing Billie Letts is like going to a good
movie. She’s adventurous, compassionate, and funny. She entertained me with
stories about her own life and the lives of others who provide the inspiration behind
her novels. She talked about her most treasured moments of being a famous
author as being when she reads all the letters she receives from young girls
who quit school but go back after reading her books. And, just when I thought
she was getting serious, she'd pop out a sassy joke about herself. It was delightful.
If you ever get a chance to interview Billie Letts, watch out! She will interview you back. Before I left, she found out as much about me as I did about her. I think she's looking for new characters for her next book!
NOTE: The article, "Best Author-Billie Letts," was published in the January 2011 edition of Oklahoma Living Magazine. It also including my review of Lake Tenkiller.
