I blame Nancy Drew

From the time I could read, I knew I wanted to be a private detective.

Specifically a strawberry-haired teenage sleuth named Nancy Drew.

I'd love to make a living looking for clues, having amazing experiences & most importantly, solving mysteries.

Damn you, Nancy Drew.

She's ruined me for all other employment.

Nothing else compares.

Two best friends and a cute boyfriend...and a flare for hidden stairs.

A Familiar Face...in Vienna

Making my rounds yesterday  of some favorite blogs, I was surprised to see a familiar face at Merisi's Vienna for Beginners. Hop over and take a look. She's in the first photo of Merisi's post and at the top of the metal gate in the second. 

A very familiar face. I have what could be her sister hanging above the entry to our dining room.

Over fifty years ago, she was dusty and forlorn in the corner of a tiny antique/cabinet maker's shop in Tampa. (It had become time to 'do something' about my room as I made the transition from child to teen and my mother was attempting to guide me on the path of interior decoration.)

I saw this carved head hanging on the wall and was a goner. I'd always wanted a ship's figurehead, ever since reading Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Wooden Lady. 

  
This wasn't a figurehead but it was as close as I was likely to get. I named her Magdalene (pronounced mawdlin) and she's been with me ever since.

The cabinet maker who sold her to me said that she was likely an apprentice piece -- something made by an apprentice woodworker in order to move up to the next rung on the way to becoming a master.


Quite probably faces of this sort were something of a standard in the decorative arts of a certain era.  Still, it's fun to feel she has a sister in Vienna.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I was inspired by a post on Valarie Lea's blog recently about what she wanted to be when she grew up (and to see her hilarious post, click here, the answer will surprise you!). So, I'm going to grab and run away with her hilarious idea and share my own childhood dreams.

One of the first people I wanted to be like desperately was Anne of Green Gables. If you've never seen these movies, you should run to your local video store or Netflix and order them immediately! Especially if you have girls.

My next beloved object of adoration was Nancy Drew. She was awesome. She was brave and smart, solved mysteries no one else could. She was a woman to be admired! And, I developed a love of mysteries from these books.

Then as I grew older, I fell in love with Jane Seymour as Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, a fabulous TV show. Something about her leaving the East coast and taking on the wild west...a female doctor was kind of unheard of at the time, and she tackles so many difficulties (and finds a hunky man). I LOVED this show. I wanted to be her.

In high school I changed my mind and decided I wanted to be a lawyer. My mom was graduating from law school at this point, and it seemed like such an admirable and justice cause.
But, this didn't last too long.


I soon returned to my previous desire of being a doctor...and this has stuck with me very strongly. I really want to be a doctor.
And, I've always had a serious love of writing. As a child, a teenager, and even now. I passionately love writing.
But, the reality is that these days I am a tickle monster....


and a maid...
to my 11 year old inventor in the making...

and his little brother who wants to be a pokemon movie producer.

Now, my hubby on the other hand...he knew as a child he wanted to be a lawyer and never wavered from this determination. He graduated from law school a few years ago and achieved his dream. He loves this doormat...I think I'll get it for him for Father's Day. hehe

What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you change you mind or did you achieve it? What do your kids want to be? Run with this and share whatever you want!!