I have come to believe that I do not fit into anything of societies mores what it means to be a woman of age in this world. I feel as if I have become in a way, a lone wolf, invisible. I am not politically correct as I grew up straddled the line of having a mother who was a stay at home mom and even had my high school counselor asked me if I was going to get married out of high school? I did not want to conform, to be like my mother. I wanted the freedom to find my own path. No way did I want to get married. I was only 17 and did not have the best example of a good marriage to go by with my parents. They had this weird love/hate relationship, one in fact that I mirrored as I grew into adulthood that ended in divorce and then me too. My advisor then suggested I become a teacher as that was the acceptable thing to do if I planned on going to college. I actually wanted to become a flight attendant as I wanted to see the world. This was the only thing that I could possibly perceive as a way out of small-town Kansas. I was not only discouraged, but I was also told I was going to be an elementary teacher. Read all about it in my book, “The Pulpwood Queens’ Tiara Wearing, Book Sharing Guide to Life”, the NEW addition by Kathy L. Murphy, now that I am single. It’s the first book you are to read when you join my book club, The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys, the largest “meeting and discussing” book club in the world.
On the other hand, being a child of the 70’s I began to see that perhaps there were other options. I just did not see a clear path on how to get where I wanted from where I was born and raised in this world. So I went to college and through many years of misadventures, broken relationships, I have come out of the darkness on the other side and now know what I want. I want to be a Champion for the Underdogs, the introverts, the readers, those who cannot speak for themselves. Those too that have been disenfranchised, broken by constant criticism, and I am here to tell you that each and every one of us has a place in this world. I want to be a mentor to children and young people everywhere that the secret to success and happiness in life is not what society has been teaching us but one where you go after your passions in life.
I have felt at my age of sixty-two I had become invisible. I went back to college and found that though the students were more than supportive, some of my teachers were naysayers. They brought me down, they criticized or would not acknowledge all my hard work as being acceptable. After a year of self reflection since I graduated, I have found my voice and the undying support of my tribe of The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys Book Club and its authors. I am embracing my own uniqueness, gifts, and talents. This coming year I plan to OWN IT!
You may laugh but I am proud to admit I am inspired by actor @Jason Momoa. I discovered him on the Netflix series, “Frontier” as searching for costume ideas for my themed HOW THE WEST WAS WON” themed 2019 Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend. I then began watching his interviews and films for some time this fall. For the first time, I started watching “Game of Thrones” this past week and love how his character was transformed by love. In person, he is nothing like that character yet he too is inspired in real life by the love of his wife and children. I love that. A good guy embracing his own uniqueness who plays roles we all can learn from in this every changing world.
When I was a child I was inspired by those battling in unfamiliar worlds. I wanted to be Tarzan, not Jane. Yes, that book above is my own personal well-read copy and one of many that I house on my book shelves at Murphy’s Law, my little cabin in the woods.
Tarzan could do anything he set his mind to, always in life-threatening situations. This I know was not “normal” per se for a small town Kansas girl like me. All my life has been a battle to survive. I have no real athletic abilities but I still try all different kind of things from backpacking for two weeks in Colorado to driving up the Pacific Coast Highway camping in a tent to Crater Lake, Oregon back down on the inner west side of Calfornia to hit all the National Parks on the way, to compete in my first ever Triathlon. Yes, unathletic me thanks to a year of training with Durrell Bowie of the “House of Pain” in Longview, Texas, again all in my book. My goal this coming year is to get more in shape, spiritually, physically, and emotionally and to take my NEW camper to all the places I have dreamed of and missed. Not all who wander are lost but truly trying to find their way. I will learn to do this by myself but welcome those who want to join me.
I also have reached the age where nature and the world of our plants, animals, trees are so incredibly awe-inspiring, the beauty takes my breath away. I am still searching for this meaning of life but embracing all the natural world while I continue to write and create my art. Being alone has given me a better perspective of who I am as a person. We all need that in life, time to be alone. But now as I am headed in my one time a year Pulpwood Queen Girlfriend Weekend, to truly celebrate my love of authors, books, literacy, and reading, I am truly euphoric thinking of the days ahead with my author friends and all the Pulpwood Queen, Timber Guy Book Club attendees!
I am not your typical Queen, as I look for the “beauty within” and crowned myself back in the year 2000, The Pulpwood Queen! More like Queen of the Underdogs, the champions for reading and sharing stories. We come from all walks of life but all are welcome to join. We are an inclusive book club because the ONLY rule we have is “where TIARAS are mandatory and reading OUR Good Books is the only RULE!” But I choose to RULE when it comes to helping those who may never get discovered in a really big way. Why you may ask? Because no matter who we are, what color we may be, what tribe we come from, we are all connected by sharing our stories.
One of my absolutely favorite authors to go to is Joseph Marshall III. He, of Lakota heritage, and is a master storyteller. I have read all of his books and look so forward to the next one coming up. His books have taught me many things so yes, I look to the spiritualism of our Native Americans, in fact, sent off for my DNA test with results to be coming soon to see what kind of a mutt I truly am. I do this all in the ultimate respect of our native peoples. I have learned that we as humans, what separates us from the animals and gives us dominion over them is that we all are connected to everything in this world. We are each here for a purpose and we as humans are the only animal that shares our stories.
Each of us has a story to tell and I encourage all of you to write them down or at least tell your story aloud in a recording. The story not told is a library lost to all your family and friends. We share both our stories of the author’s books we read and the stories of our lives as well. We are a community because we share our stories. Storytellers are in fact, peacemakers because the more you read, the more you understand the view point from other people different from ourselves. Read all of his books and I guarantee you will be a better person.
No one can tell your story better than you and unless you want someone else to try to do that, do it first. That is why I arrange for all these authors to attend our annual book club gathering. Nobody tells an authored story better than the author, him or herself. This is also why my 765 chapter Pulpwood Queen Book Clubs have the opportunity to have the authors teleconference in or visit each chapter. You hold the keys to hearing the full story. Unlock the door, keep going, and Welcome to the Wonderful World of The Pulpwood Queens and Timber Guys 765 chapter Reading Nation! You all are my tribe, KEEP GOING!
P.S. To join my book club and view the final program of Girlfriend Weekend go to www.thepulpwoodqueens.com and Click on Membership on top Menu Bar. For tickets, and packages, Click Girlfriend Weekend on the top menu bar of website and scroll all the way down to see ALL the day and night tickets and options for packages, with or without/Author Dinner. All tickets, packages are non-refundable and subject due to change by circumstances out of our control. Do note too that in everything I do, I do so in the utmost respect and honor of all people and cultures everywhere. We welcome all to our tribe of readers.