I am a firm believer in being passionate, passionate about life, love, work, hobbies.  I believe passion drives us to be better people, to learn, to know, to accept.  Whether your passion is racing or woodworking, square dancing or comic books, I don’t think it matters, as long as there is something in your life you can speak passionately about.

I’ve wanted to have a TV show for a number of years now that would be called In Pursuit of Passion – a show that went to all the various conventions and events around the world and talked to people about their passion, on their turf, in their territory.  While it may not all interest me, just being around people who love something so much that they spend their time and money on it is enough for me.  I think I’d make a kickass show.  Of course, I’d probably have to change the name or someone would think it was about sex, bah, how times have changed.

Today I started meeting two of my goals, you’ll find those on the “What’s it all About” page.  The first goal I worked on is to call 50 people.  This is to help me reconnect with old friends, people I’ve lost touch with but who were important to me sometime in my life.  Today’s call was with Linda.  I met Linda in 1988 when she recruited me to be a charter member of the Blackfoot Jaycees.  I had no idea that this woman would change my life in so many ways.  It wasn’t just her, but all that she introduced me to.  Linda is a bright star in the lives of everyone she meets, she has an innocent quality that lets her say things that most people would filter.  She has brought a ton of laughter to my world over the years, probably more than anyone else.  She moved away back in the mid-90’s and the last time I saw her was 2005, so today was a call straight out of the blue.  I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.  Linda’s outlook on life is precious, she loves and cares deeply for those around her and has always had the best friendships in the world. Whenever I’m getting to know someone and giving a history of my life, I always include Linda, there are some truly funny stories surrounding this woman.

We took a trip together back in 1991 to “Mindianapolis”, nine of us in the “Jesus” Van, we called it that, because one look at it, and you said, “oh, Jesus, are you driving that?” The trip was eventful from day one, but my favorite story from that weekend was the second night we were in Minnesota at the convention, our delegation from Idaho was sitting together at dinner when David from South Dakota sits down next to Linda.  He was pleased to see her and started chatting, she began to introduce him to the crowd around, from Ron and Tori, to Randy and Kathy, to her friend, Larry.  We had to stop her there, all of us together were like “wait a minute, Linda, don’t you mean your husband, Larry?” Everyone laughed, including Larry, I felt so sorry for young David, he looked crushed when he found out she was married.  Thanks Linda for being part of my life and for changing it as much as you have.

The Dremel

The second goal I worked on was to try new things.  I have owned a Dremel tool for eons, but I never knew how to use it.  I didn’t understand the whole attachment thing, you see I’m considered “packaging” challenged, from Saltines to doors, anything that opens or closes seems to stymie me.  Today, Rich taught me how to use my Dremel.  We talked about all the various attachments, and how they can be used and then he set me to work on a project I’ve been wanting to do for awhile. I have a fascination with buttons, so I want to make some.  A couple of weeks ago in Austin, I bought an antler from an antique store, and today, I set out to make buttons.  I used my killer Dremel tool to saw the pieces off the antler, I haven’t gotten to the right width for button making yet, but I made some beads.  Can’t wait to string them and make some jewelry.  I love trying new things, I will like it better when I master it, but I have to start somewhere.  Who knows, maybe button making will become my next passion?