I used to be afraid to fly, which kept me grounded in the SF Bay Area.

While my Dad was dying, he said to me, 'I always wanted to see the Grand Canyon.' One would think, ah, how sad. But I thought, that's awful! It was so close! Why didn't you do it? What an easily achievable goal, and a needless regret.

My Mom told me that she always wanted to travel, and that she wanted to be a stewardess, but then came marriage and a family, and travel was no longer an option.

That was when I feared regret so much more than flying. I took my first trip to Europe in 2002 and I was hooked! I now travel with both my Dad's and my Mom's spirit at my sails.

To help support my travels, I make and sell dolls/ornaments made from old fashioned clothespins. I've been making them for more years than I care to admit! I am, in fact, The Clothespin Lady. (Check out my clothespin photo Flickr, The Clothespin Lady)

During a trip to Costa Rica, I caught the bird bug, and now birding has become my thing. I'm just learning, but most of all I find birding to be my place of Zen. 2016 I will again merge my love of travel with my birdbrain and I'll be going on a bird focused trip to Costa Rica.

Who knew clothespins would take me to such places!