This is how I used to feel about my life:

And that is why I now travel, take photographs, and write…..life is about the journey, not about the destination.

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Sippin' Key West Internet Cafe is tucked away on a side street in Old Town

For years I have had a love/hate relationship with Key West. Although its an entertaining place to visit, its “party town” image makes it seem plastic and phony. The island is rich in history, local lore, and is home to a vibrant, multi-ethnic culture, however I have never been able to break through the tourist facade to discover the real Key West. Until now.

A week ago Sunday, on my way home from having dinner in Old Town, I heard music coming from a side street. This is not unusual. From the street musicians on Duval to the raunchy honky-tonk of the Country and Western Bars, to the lady boys belting out their Streisand impersonations, music is ever present in Key West.  What caught my attention was the type of music – somewhere nearby, a woman was singing and playing an acoustic guitar. Even from a distance I could tell she was spectacular.

Leah Orlikowski is an amazing talent, destined for fame

I followed the music to Sippin’ Internet Cafe and Coffee Shop, a tiny storefront on Eaton Street that might easily have gone unnoticed but for the open mic night that was underway. It was obviously a local crowd, and I stood outside on the sidewalk, wondering if I would be welcome. Noticing my hesitation, a grey-bearded gentleman sitting near the open front door motioned insistently for me to join the crowd. I ventured inside and grabbed an open spot on a sofa. As I sunk into its deep, comfortable cushions, it became obvious that this was no common gathering of talent. Leah Orlikowski, the singer I had initially heard, was incredible. Her hauntingly spiritual voice and original compositions gave me goosebumps; rarely have I heard a voice so pure and on key. But Leah was just the first performer of the night to blow me away. She was followed by her “significant other,” Eben White, who arranges the Sunday night events and is also a fine singer and composer who puts me in mind of James Taylor.

Poetry was next. A tall African American woman stepped up to the mike. Waist-length dreadlocks framed her mahogany face; white eyes bored through us as she surveyed the audience fiercely. From the back of the room, someone yelled: “Hey Dada – you angry tonight? Be nice to these white folk now!” She delivered her original poem with a passion that made me shiver. Such intensity – like no poetry I have ever head before. I half expected the spectators to snap their fingers, like beatniks in smoky coffee houses during the 50′s, but this venue was smoke free and the performers were instead rewarded with applause, whistling, and hooting. Dada grinned shyly, revealing a brilliant white smile, and handed off the mike.

Iris M.Lewis, performance poet, accompanied by Erroll Emak McKenith on bongos and congas

Next, Iris Lewis offered up more of this unique genre with her original poem “The Storm.” As her partner, Emak McKenith, beat out a rhythm on the conga and bongos, she leaned in close to the mike and with her eyes half closed, began to recite in a sing-song cadence. Her soft, dusky voice became the howling winds and hissing rains and the indifferent government. It was powerful beyond description. When I later spoke with Iris she described her work as “Percussion, Crooning, and Poetry – or “PCP” – adding with a grin that it “carries you to a different dimension.” Being a child of the 60′s, I understood immediately. You can hear her work on her My Space account – take a listen.

By the end of the evening I knew I had finally begun to discover the real Key West. Anxious to know more, I sought out the owners of the shop, Onett and Penny Johnson. The Johnsons never imagined they would own a coffee shop. Onett worked as a salesman for Hewlett-Packard for 22 years. Although he was based out of North Carolina he also serviced customers in Florida, so his company had no objections when, in 2002, he asked if he could relocate to Key West. When HP reorganized three years later, the company insisted he move to Miami because it “didn’t send the right message that a manager of his status was not in the office every day.” Rather than leave his beloved Key West, Onett took early retirement. He began looking around for a local business opportunity and discovered that the coffee shop was for sale.

Owner Onett Johnson behind the counter at Sippin'

“When we bought it, a young teen crowd was doing hip-hop poetry once a week, and I thought it would be really cool to make it like an old Beat cafe,” said Onett. He capitalized on an emerging genre known as “poetry slams” that began in Chicago in the early 1980′s and are closely associated with the vocal delivery style found in hip-hop music and draw heavily on the tradition of dub poetry, a rhythmic and politicized genre belonging to black and particularly West Indian culture. Over the ensuing years, the popularity of poetry slams skyrocketed, with contests being held around the country.

Key West had for years been hosting the Annual Key West Robert Frost Poetry festival. Onett arranged for Sippin’ Cafe to become a sponsor of the event and the venue for the first ever Robert Frost Poetry Slam. He then announced the Cafe would have an open mic night, hoping to attract slammers who wanted to practice prior to the contest. Not only has the open mic night been enormously successful, the Robert Frost Poetry Slam was so well attended that the crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk and into the street.

Customers enjoy the varied performances of open mic night

“The really interesting thing is that you can come to our open mic one Sunday and hear great performers, and then come back the following week and hear a completely different group of performers that are equally good,” said Onett. Curious, I returned this past Sunday and once again was blown away by the local talent. One young man, using only his mouth, made rhythmic clicking and percussion noises that sounded for all the world like he was playing a full set of drums. Another performed Hawaiian tunes on a ukulele. And of course, Leah performed again, this time singing mostly her original songs. The video below was made a couple of years ago during a New Orleans road trip and the quality is not great, but it will give you an idea of her pure voice and powerful bluesy style as she performs St. James Infirmary:

Midway through the evening someone yelled: “Hey Crazy Dave, come play something for us.” A tall dude stuck his red-bandana wrapped head in the door, grinned, and said: “I ain’t got no guitar with me.” No worries – there was one he could borrow. Clad only in khaki pants and an open vest that revealed his broad barrel chest, he perched on a stool and effortlessly launched into a series of songs. Crazy Dave was one fine guitarist; I was not surprised to hear that had toured with Ray Price and cavorted with the likes of Willie Nelson.

Crazy Dave - an astounding guitarist - toured with Ray Price

All this talent, along with the way I was welcomed, makes me wonder whether I could live here. After all, I do have an empty apartment that I could just as easily move into as rent out. And now I have a coffee shop to hang out in. But whether or not I ever live here, I will always be grateful to have finally discovered the “real” Key West.

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I’ve added a new blog to my list of favorites – BriefcaseToBackpack.com.

Now, you might think that I’ve chosen it because the authors, Michaela Potter and Sherry Ott, recently published a feature article about me. And indeed, my initial introduction to BriefcaseToBackpacker occurred when Michaela contacted me about an interview. But from the moment I began surfing around it, I was hooked.

From left to right: Michael Bontempi (who accompanied Michaela on her career break), Michaela Potter, and Sherry Ott

The concept for Briefcase To Backpacker evolved as a result of Michaela and Sherry’s career breaks. Having worked for many years in the corporate world, Michaela needed a change. She left her job, strapped on a backpack, and hit the road for nine weeks. At the time, Sherry was well into her 16-month backpacking trip around the world. She, too, had grown tired of her corporate career and a fast-paced life in New York and hit the road. Then, fate intervened. During her travels, Sherry taught English for a month in India through the volunteer organization, Cross-Cultural Solutions. As a Program Manager at CCS, Michaela was made aware of Sherry’s trip and followed along on her travel blog.

Although their individual trips were different in many ways, they came away with similar realizations. They met people from a wide variety of countries and backgrounds, but very few Americans. In turn, most people were surprised that as Americans they were traveling so far and for so long, since long term career breaks are not common in America. The second revelation was more personal; both knew that they could not possibly return to the corporate rat-race that had previously defined their lives. Michaela subsequently decided to pursue a freelance career, while Sherry got her ESL certificate in order to keep traveling and teaching English. Their well-deserved career breaks were not only educational and stress-reducing, they were also life-changing. The two soon realized that, although headed down different paths, they both wished to “inspire others to take a cultural career break and gain insightful lessons on life.” Thus was BriefcaseToBackpacker born.

The blog is chock full of information necessary to plan a career break, including subjects such as where to go, what to do, letting go, culture shock, how to stay in touch from the road, and even an area devoted to re-entry once the trip is complete. They site also features interviews with Americans who have thrown caution (and their careers) to the wind to follow their dream of extended travel (like me).

In my opinion, Michaela and Sherry are definitely on the right track. Not only did my six-month around-the-world trip allow me to realize a lifetime dream, it  pointed me toward my true purpose in life. If career breaks were an accepted part of the American cultural landscape – as they are in Europe and Australia – I believe everyone would benefit. Travelers would return from their journeys full of vigor and fresh, creative ideas. Corporate America would reap the benefits of this new paradigm. I wish Michaela and Sherry the best of luck in their efforts to bring about this change in our cultural mentality. I will definitely be following their progress.

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Using everything from wood to cardboard to found and salvaged objects, Reuben Margolin creates one-of-a-kind techno-kinetic wave sculptures. His inspiration comes from observing things in nature – things as simple as a caterpillar’s movement or the patterns created when a drop of water splashes into a pond. When he moved into his new shop, Margolin decided to create a giant kinetic sculpture that would take advantage of its high ceilings without using up any floor space. His inspiration in this case came from a rafting trip. Every time he paddled he noticed a spiral eddy coming off the back of the paddle. After ten days he had the spiral wave figured out. Margolin returned to his shop and built “Spiral Wave,” a giant creation of redwood from old decks, 30 aluminum arms, and scores of mono filament threads that drop down to a flower-funnel spiral that appears to float as it undulates. Numerous examples of Reubens diverse artwork can be seen on the following YouTube Video:

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Lydia Raurell has always loved to dance. Like so many little girls, she dreamed of becoming a fairy ballerina. When she was chosen to perform in the children’s Corps de Ballet it seemed that her dream might come true, but after two years her dance instructor said that her bone structure was too fragile to go into pointe and her parents refused to pay for additional lessons.

A Year of Dancing Dangerously by Lydia Raurell

Raurell didn’t return to dance until her late twenties, when she ran across an advertisement from a dance studio that offered a free Tango lesson. Although she couldn’t afford additional lessons, that free introduction to Tango rekindled her passion for dance. It took another ten years before she returned to that very same studio, finally able to afford lessons. She threw herself headlong into the world of dance, but at the end of a year realized that her life was out of balance – she had gone back to college to pursue the degree she’d never completed and both her studies and her family were suffering from lack of attention. Again she walked away. Little did she know it would be many years before she had another opportunity to pursue her lifelong passion.

Twenty danceless years later, at age 54, Raurell picked up the local paper and read an ad that said “Walk in Monday, dance out Friday.” By that time, her life had changed immensely. Raurell’s son was raised, her home paid off, and she  had the support of a loving husband who encouraged her to fulfill her dream. She thought, “Why not?” That same day she made an appointment with Angelo Caruso, the studio owner and teacher who would reshape her life. At the end of the lesson, Raurell was hooked; she signed up for a whole regimen of classes.

Three months after that first lesson, Caruso talked Raurell into entering a local dance competition where, to her surprise, she won the award for Top Student. Raurell was aready well on her way to dancing addiction but that first prize pushed her over the top. For the next year, Caruso and Raurell danced their way through competitions across the country, racking up enough points for her to be named Top Female Student in the NDCA DanceSport Series – sort of a world series for pro/am dancers.

Not only is Raurell’s new book, A Year of Dancing Dangerously, an intriguing look at the world of ballroom dancing, examining everything from the way ballroom gowns are made to the intricate rules for the sport, it is also a testament to the positive effects of living your joy. She puts it most succinctly, when she says: “At a certain season in our lives we realize that our time may be running out. For me…I realized there could be no more waiting.” Raurell has done what most of us yearn to do – she has made her dream into a reality.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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The footage of an angry ocean crashing onshore and sweeping beneath an oceanfront cottage is indelibly imprinted onto the memory of anyone who saw the movie “Nights In Rodanthe.” The storm scenes are so jaw-dropping that people may think they were computer generated, but the house is real. It is located in the development of Mirlo Beach in Rodanthe, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The ocean sweeps beneath the house where "Nights In Rodathe" was filmed

Other than the blue storm shutters that were added to the exterior for the filming, in real life it looks exactly like it did in the movie. And just like in the movie, it stands like a solitary sentinel on a deserted strand of beach.

It wasn’t always so. Houses used to stand all along this beach. But since 1999, when hurricanes Floyd and Dennis roared onto the Outer Banks, the oceanfront houses on this particular stretch of severely eroded beach have toppled into the ocean, one by one. During my years as a real estate agent I had the opportunity to show many of these houses; I have even had to talk the occasional client out of buying one of them, explaining how threatened they were. Just two months ago another one succumbed, crumpling onto the beach as a nor’easter ravaged the Outer Banks.

"Nights In Rodanthe" by Robin Bagby

The “Nights In Rodanthe” house is one of a very few that remain. Someday it, too, will lose its battle with the encroaching ocean, but it will be remembered, not only because of the vivid images captured in the movie, but also because Outer Banks artist Robin Bagby has now captured it on canvas. Although Robin’s childhood passion was painting, she’d gotten sidetracked by the business world. One day she woke up and said, “I’m an artist and I miss it.” She picked up her paintbrush again and began creating the most astounding art. She paints with a unique perspective that falls somewhere between realism and abstract art and her work elicits a visceral, emotional reaction. I think Robin is one of the most talented artists I have ever known and I predict that her work will one day be in great demand. You can view more of Robin Bagby’s art on her website, www.RobinBagby.net.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Although I have visited some downright unpleasant places in my travels, the majority of the places I visit are lovely, interesting, and entertaining. However, it is also true that some places “grab” me more than others. I like almost every place I visit, but occasionally I find that I love a particular place. This happened to me recently when I traveled to the northeast U.S. to see the fall colors. I liked New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, but I loved Maine.

Since then, I’ve been wondering why I found Maine so captivating. Of course, the scenery was spectacular. In Acadia National Park I hiked through vibrant red and gold foliage along craggy cliffs that plummeted to azure and turquoise seas below. In town I talked to any number of Mainers who live simply and maintain traditional values. Still, I couldn’t figure it out. Why did Maine feel so different? What was it about Maine that attracted me so?

Soon after returning home to Florida, I received an email from Brian Kliewer, an artist who lives in Camden, Maine. He discovered my blog and wrote to tell me about his latest project:

“I’m doing 100 small paintings in 100 days. All are for sale and you can probably guess the price…”

I was intrigued enough to check out his website, http://kliewerstudio.com. On his ‘About Page,’ Brian explains his philosophy:

“Believability is very important to me in my work, not just in realism, but in the emotional, human connection I often feel toward the subject.”

High Sun, Pemaquid Point, oil on canvas, 10 x 10, available from the Geary Gallery in Darien, Maine for $1,000

Suddenly I understood why I was so attracted to Maine. It is a believable place. Despite the fact that Mainers deal with hordes of tourists for at least half of each year, they haven’t turned into nondescript people who pander to those tourists. Maine felt real to me – authentic rather than phony. And I suspect this is what Brian is referring to when he talks about believability, since he is devoted to accuracy as to time of day, season and weather in his paintings. He doesn’t paint palaver with the goal of selling his work. He paints the real Maine; the sometimes sunny and beautiful Maine, as well as the fogbound and wintry Maine.

Since receiving his initial email, Brian and I have been corresponding. Believability is critically important to him not only in his work, but also in his life. Although gifted as an artist, he’s had to struggle for his success. Brian was born with a debilitating arthritic condition that has thrown his joints out of whack; since childhood he has been at risk of dislocating his knees at any time. Early on, doctors told him he would never be able to hold a normal job, but he tried anyway. For a while he worked as a janitor in a bank, but the time spent standing on his feet worsened his condition:

“By that point, my ankles were just about shot. The best way of describing it is that they felt like bloody stubs. It really felt like I was walking around on nothing but bone. I didn’t feel my feet. But I kept working because I needed the job!”

Eventually Brian decided to believe in himself enough to pursue painting full time. And thank goodness he did! He has the most amazing ability to capture scenes and subjects as he feels them, in addition to how he sees them. When I look at his paintings, I feel the real Maine and I realize that this is the same reaction I had when I visited the state. Today his paintings, which in many cases command thousands of dollars, can be found at galleries across the state. And though Kliewer’s work is in many private and corporate collections throughout the United States, perhaps his most famous collector is former President Jimmy Carter.

On November 10th Brian began his latest project, producing 100 paintings in 100 days. Each miniature painting measures between 3″ x 5″ and 4″ x 5″ and is priced at – you guessed it – $100. The project will end on February 18, 2009 and any unsold paintings will be removed. You can view the paintings he has already created on his gallery page. Note that those marked with a red dot have already been sold – and there are a lot of red dots on the page. Way to go Brian! You’ve made a believer out of me.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Eight years ago Orrin Hudson was watching the news on TV and heard that seven restaurant employees were shot in the head, execution style, for $2000. He said to himself, “That’s it, I have to do my part.” Hudson, who had previously been an Alabama State Trooper and subsequently owned a car dealership, used his savings an even maxed out his credit cards to start a program to help inner-city kids. His unlikely tool for helping these kids? Chess.

Hudson had himself been a problem child. He was in and out of trouble, associating with the wrong people. A teacher took an interest and taught Hudson chess, using the game as the means to introduce him to critical thinking. Now Hudson is imparting these same lessons to thousands of at risk kids through his non-profit organization, BeSomeone.org. Through chess, he teaches them that every decision has consequences, providing the kids with decision-making and problem solving skills so necessary in day-to-day living. Check out the video:

There are many great programs out there to help kids, but I see a common denominator in all the successful programs. The key to reaching kids is finding something that truly interests them. Whether the tool is chess, hockey, gymnastics, or an academic endeavor, when kids becomes truly invested in an activity, their self-confidence and self-esteem soar. Thankfully, there are people like Orrin Hudson, who are giving back what they were so freely given, in order to help kids reach their full potential.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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While I am still searching for a way to give back something to this world, Kaziah Hancock has already figured it out. She is an artist who lives on a rural Utah ranch with 100 goats, painting landscapes in oil that sell for thousands of dollars. Then one day, she heard about the first Utah boy to be killed in the Iraq War and decided to paint his portrait to memorialize him. The following video documents what has happened since then, but I warn you, it’s a tear-jerker:

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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I met Kathleen Flinn one evening last October when Sarasota News and Books held an author’s event to promote her new book, “The Sharper Your Knife, The Less you Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World’s Most Famous Cooking School.”

Wait! Don’t back up and re-read the last paragraph. I realize those of you who know me well are astonished that I would be interested in a book about cooking. It’s not that I can’t cook. It’s just that I have no interest in it. I try; I really do. I go to the grocery store and load my cart with fresh veggies and other healthy stuff like tofu and tempeh. But regardless of my good intentions, more than half of it ends up spoiling and then I feel guilty because I have wasted food. Over the past few years I have gradually accepted this quirk in my personality and just started eating out once a day. (I am still capable of fixing myself fruit in the morning and a small snack in the evening).

I was interested in Kathleen’s book because it is as much memoir as it is a book about cooking. It was fascinating to hear her story first hand. In 2003, she returned from vacation to discover that her job had been eliminated. After her initial panic passed, she realized the situation might be for the best. Not only had she long been unhappy with her present position, the job had also required her to live in London, while Mike, the man with whom she’d been developing a relationship, lived in Seattle. Thinking this might be an opportunity to see if the relationship would really work, she phoned Mike and told him what had happened.

“Do you think I should move to Seattle so we can be together?”
“No.”
Great, she thought, I’ve lost a job and a boyfriend in the same day.
Then he added: “I think you should do what you’ve always dreamed of; go to France and attend the Cordon Bleu School of Cooking.”
“But I just lost my job and I don’t have the money to do that.”
“You have your IRA’s. And if you don’t do it now, you’ll wonder ‘what if’ for the rest of your life.”
“But I don’t speak French well and I don’t know anyone in France!”
“Well, you know me and I’ll go with you.”

Of course, she married the guy because, as Kathleen says, you don’t let a man like that get away.

“The Sharper Your Knife, The Less you Cry” is a sometimes touching, often funny account of her time at the Le Cordon Bleu school, where she struggles with ego-maniacal chefs, competitive classmates, and her limited French, while simultaneously treating the reader to vibrant descriptions of life in Paris. And those of you who can and DO cook haven’t been forgotten. Kathleen closes each chapter with a mouth-watering recipe, direct from the Cordon Bleu kitchens.

The paperback edition of “The Sharper Your Knife, The Less you Cry” will be out September 22nd and Flinn, who still resides in Seattle, will again be touring during the months of September and October to promote the book. If you happen to live near a bookstore where she will be appearing, it’s worth the trip to hear Kathleen speak about her experiences. You can see a schedule of her tour HERE. Otherwise, you can follow her around vicariously through her blog, HERE.

Kathleen’s story resonates with me because I am on somewhat the same track. I, too, abandoned a career I detested and set out to remake my life. I, too, am writing a book about my experiences. After listening to her speak last October, I eagerly purchased the book and stood in line to meet her. While signing my copy, she was kind enough to listen as I told her briefly about our similar life paths. Smiling, she handed me the book. I flipped open to the inside cover to read what she had written:

“Remember, life is not a dress rehearsal. You have a story to tell. Now tell it.”

Words to live by. Words I am living. My book is almost complete. Thank you, Kathleen.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Hidden at the end of narrow Freeschool Lane is the last remaining acre of undeveloped land in Key West’s historic Old Town. How this priceless parcel escaped development is nothing less than a miracle, but even more miraculous is the tropical rainforest that today grows upon the site. This is Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden, a virtual oasis where, for a $10 entrance fee, visitors can walk among orchids, Bromeliads, ferns and more than 150 species of palms, including several rare, near-extinct species of palm. Scattered amongst the trees and plants are Mana’s rescue birds: colorful parrots, macaws, and cockatoos that squawk from perches in their cages, competing for attention.

For 40 years, Nancy Forrester has been tending this garden and inviting the public to share in her love of the plants and animals. Unfortunately, this may soon change. Realizing she could no longer afford to personally shoulder the expense of the garden, she recently transferred its stewardship to the Mana Project, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization created specifically for this task. For her 70th birthday last week, in lieu of gifts, Nancy requested donations to continue the legacy of the garden. So far, the donations have been few and the fate of the garden is uncertain. At the moment, however, Nancy continues to run the day-to-day operations under the auspices of the Mana Project, hoping for a miracle that will save it for future generations.

With my time in Key West coming to a close, I made it a point to visit the garden. During my visit, in addition to wandering the dirt paths winding through the lush vegetation, I was fortunate to meet Nancy and spend a couple of hours with her. That she loves the plants and her parrots is evident, as is her determination to save the land from the roar of the bulldozer that could turn this natural wonder into nine vacation homes. I wish her well and dearly hope the community will support her effort to protect this hidden jewel in the heart of Key West.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Exploring the back roads of Hatteras Island in search of old homes that have weathered scores of hurricanes and provided shelter for generations of fishermen is one of the many delights of any visit to the Outer Banks. The Old Gray House, tucked into the woods just off the main road in the tiny village of Buxton, is one such structure. If only this house could talk it would tell many tales. Fortunately, the home’s current owners, Dewey and Mary Parr, are happy to speak with visitors about their homestead.

The Old Gray House takes its name from a seafaring family by the name of Gray, whose descendants have inhabited Hatteras Island since the early 1600′s, beginning with Dewey’s great grandmother, who was shipwrecked on Hatteras Island. She was on board a ship coming from Newfoundland that ran aground and, transportation being difficult in those early days, she just stayed on. Dewey’s early years were spent in Buxton, but during World War II the family relocated to Huntington, West Virginia where his father was stationed as a Navy recruiter. After the war was over Dewey remained in Huntington, where he met and married his wife, Mary, and pursued his career in education. Dewey served as teacher, principal, and central office administrator, but he and Mary returned to Buxton every year to vacation at the family’s cottage.

As they grew older, Dewey and Mary began to consider how they would spend their retirement years. Mary had always dreamed of having a little gift shop, full of hand-made items she could share with others. Dewey’s dream was to spend his days puttering around with plants, entertaining tourists, and roaming the beach in his four-wheel buggy. By this time, Dewey had already retired, however Mary could not be persuaded to stop working. For three years, Dewey secretly worked on his grandparents’ old homestead and on Valentine’s Day, 1992, gave Mary the Old Gray House Gift Shop on the condition that she would finally agree to retire.

Today the entire home is open to the public for viewing and for browsing. Much of the Old Gray House was built from the scraps found on the beach, rafters from ships, and even shipping boxes that had been discarded from ships (sailors who used to pass by Hatteras Island would toss items overboard to help those who lived on the isolated island). In the main house, Mary has filled each of the rooms with unique and locally handcrafted items. The other structures on the site are Dewey’s domain. The old outhouse is now a library and the chicken coop is one of four buildings that offer shells from all over the world. The pathways that connect the various buildings are decorated with shells, old fishing floats, ropes, nets, chunks of coral, and an assortment of antiques. A teepee of fishing poles stand stacked and ready. Even an old bowling ball has been put to use: painted neon blue, it sits in the center of a birdbath that is tucked into an out-of-the-way corner where Spanish Moss hangs from the heavy limbs of Live Oaks.

Tourists who find their way to this slightly dilapidated, very funky shop are regaled with legends and lore about the Outer Banks and the house (ask about the ghost that inhabits the house). A visit to The Old Gray House is more than a shopping experience. It is a history lesson, a biology lesson, and a geology lesson, all willingly and delightedly provided by Dewey and Mary Parr, who make it their mission in life to preserve the folklore of the Outer Banks.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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“I’m an American. That comes with an obligation. People are fighting to become citizens of the United States of America, willing to do whatever it takes, but we’re taking for granted what that legacy means.”

So says Cory A. Booker, the 38-year old Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. The city is perhaps most famous for the 1967 race riots, when Life Magazine featured a dead child on its cover under the headline: ‘Shooting War in the Streets: Newark, The Predictable Insurrection‘ and many believe Newark has never recovered from this image. Today the murder rate in Newark is twice that of the Bronx, almost a third of its residents live below the poverty line, and only 40% of the city’s youth graduate from high school. But Cory Booker is not deterred by the dismal statistics, despite being repeatedly told by the most sincere, well-intentioned people that the problems are unsolvable. Instead of joining the chorus of doubters, he is seeking out ways to end the madness.

Booker, who is convinced we are suffering “a spiritual crisis of people not believing in the greatness of who we are,” has made changes in every department of city government since taking office. A year later, Newark has seen a decrease of 70 percent in murders because he and a group of very committed grassroots activists and police decided they were going to choose a different way. He borrows the words of Martin Luther King to make his point: “It’s not the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the evil people that threaten us as a nation, it’s the appalling silence and inaction of the good people.”

Bill Moyers, who has been following Booker’s career, recently interviewed the young Mayor. The video is inspiring and hopeful, and certainly worth watching. You can find it here, on Bill Moyers Journal.

In the end, Booker insists that the onus is on us as individuals. “I say simply this: don’t look at government to do it, don’t look at somebody else, look in the mirror and ask yourself, I benefit from this nation. I benefit from incredible sacrifices. What am I willing to do different this year to make a difference in the problems in America?”

It is a question I have been asking myself for some time now. How to I contribute? What can I do to make a difference. Can I donate a year of my life to service work? Or maybe even one day per month. Whatever means I finally choose, I have no doubt that Mayor Booker is on the right track. It’s up to us.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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OK, I know some of you think I am nuts because I walked away from a perfectly good real estate career to try become a freelance writer. But believe it or not, there are people out there who are pursuing wackier paths than me.

Take, for example, Linda Katz, who lives on a prairie in southwest Kansas, where the only features on an otherwise flat landscape are rolling tumbleweeds. Katz was trying to teach herself to design websites, so as a joke she created a fictional business that sold tumbleweeds, listing prices at $15 for a small one, $20 for a medium and $25 for large. To her great surprise, orders began rolling in. Today she earns more than $40,000 per year selling tumbleweeds. People buy them to make into Christmas trees and as decorations for wild west theme parties. Hollywood and TV set designers have used them in movies and kid’s shows. Even NASA bought tumbleweeds to test their Mars Tumbleweed Rover. Read all about it at Prairie Tumbleweed Farm.

Say the word sculpture and most people think of metal, stone, and clay, but Jason Hackenwerth has found a new medium for this centuries-old art form. Hackenwerth sculpts in balloons. Yes, balloons, and I’m not talking the cutesy little sausage dogs or balloon hats twisted into shapes by clowns at festivals. I’m talking monolithic creations that are two and three stories high and contain hundreds of skinny, brightly colored balloons that he twists together with fantastic mathematical symmetry. Hackenwerth’s sculptures, which often bring to mind giant underwater sea creatures or immense anemones perched on a coral reef, have been featured in venues as diverse as FAO Schwarz in New York City and at San Marco Piazza in Venice, Italy. During a London art fair in 2004, he set up balloons in the shape of a thousand small red, orange, and yellow flames so that it seemed a balloon fire had engulfed the lobby of the hotel where the fair was held.

Revenge of the Megadon sculpture was also featured in the Great Hall of Dinosaurs at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in June, 2006. Although Hackenwerth has taken balloon art to new heights, his interest hearkens back to his childhood, when his mother would dress up as a clown and make balloons into poodles and swords for extra money at Union Station in St. Louis, Missouri. See more of his creations here.

When Janie Foydl was laid off from her corporate job this past May she decided to start Doodie Duty, a service business that scoops up and disposes of dog doo for clients in the Sacramento area. She charges $34 a month for a “single doodie” (cleaning up after one dog) and $10 more for each additional dog (double and triple doodies.)

Marilyn Scott-Waters used to supervise a team of seven designers for Nike and created full clothing lines for companies like Harley Davidson, Arctic Cat and Yamaha. When she was laid off after a merger from her clothing design job she turned to doing what she loved most, making things out of paper. Her popular website, www.thetoymaker.com, receives 3,000 to 7,000 visitors each day, who have downloaded more than three million of her easy-to-make paper toys. Her goal is to help parents and children spend time together making things, which she herself does with her own child every week. Marilyn is the author of The Toymaker: Paper Toys That You Can Make Yourself, the best selling paper toy book on Amazon.com.

So I’m keeping the faith. There are lots of people out there who have successfully abandoned corporate life to pursue what they love and I see no reason why I can’t be one of them, although I DO have hard time believing that scooping doggie doo doo is someone’s lifelong dream.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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Bob Dylan’s song, Blowin’ In The Wind, asked the question

How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky?

I have looked up and seen the sky in its million different moods. I have seen it without a wisp of a cloud to mar its pure cerulean blue. I have watched puffy white cumulus clouds billow up over the horizon where the sea meets the sky. From a sheltering doorway I have waited out gray skies that poured rain down on Bangkok, revealing a sparkling new city as the deluge swept litter and grime from the dirty sidewalks into the storm sewers. There is such beauty in the sky, and I never really noticed it before. I was so caught up in life – or what I thought was life – that I never took time to look at the sky. It wasn’t until I decided to pursue what brought me joy that I began to notice all the beauty in this world.

There is risk in what I have done. I walked away from a very successful, albeit unfulfilling career. I moved to Florida despite the fact that my house in North Carolina has not yet sold. I am unemployed, with large mortgages to pay each month, no income, and a declining balance in my savings. I spent lots of money on a six month round-the-world trip because my goal is to recreate myself into a writer with a focus on travel. To be honest, it’s all a bit scary. I realize I could end up losing everything. But….I am writing. I have a book in the works. I am interacting with fellow writers here in Sarasota. And for the first time in my life I am happy. So if I do lose everything, well, it’s only ‘stuff.’

Life is short. Life is precious. Life should be lived to its fullest. In order to do this I need to stay focused and operate from faith rather than fear. Sounds easy, but it’s not. I can get off track so easily. Today was one of those days, until I received an email from a friend who sent me a link to a video featuring Randy Pausch on a recent episode of the Oprah Show. Pausch, a 46 year-old professor, husband, and father of three, was invited to participate in a lecture series called the “The Last Lectures” at Carnegie Mellon University. The premise of the series? Hypothetically, if you knew you were going to die and you could give one last lecture, what would you say to your students. In Pausch’s case, however, it’s not hypothetical because he is dying of pancreatic cancer and has only months to live. To listen to Randy’s speech, click here, then scroll halfway down the page and click on the link named Watch Randy’s famous “Last Lecture.” His talk is not about death, rather it’s about how to lead your life. It’s definitely worth a listen. It certainly put things back into perspective for me.

Note: In December of 2006, author Barbara Weibel left her successful but unfulflling career to pursue her dream of becoming a travel writer and photographer. This story is one in a series about people who, like Weibel, have chosen to lead authentic lives by pursuing their true passions.

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