Thoughts on a Life's Passions

It's an interesting life from my perspective. I am so excited to be putting my first blog out in the blogosphere! I didn't see this coming even as little as a few months ago - a year ago it would never have even been part of my conscious thinking. I'm approaching 60 - going on 35 and feel more alive than ever before. That's a suprise to say the least. I didn't think I would be seeing life as having MORE to offer as I go forth in this journey - but hey, that's what is making it so interesting. The more I learn (techniques included) the more I want to learn. And the more I learn the more I realize what I don't know (I know that sounds very trite - but it is sooo true!) What this blog will bring about is hard to imagine, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

My very first passion and love will always be my two daughters, Rebecca and Rainey. Right after that ranks my passion for making jewelry. Picking through beads in at a shop or show is a passion. (One of my earliest memories is of sitting in a sandbox and picking out shiny, sparkly stones.) Designing jewelry is a passion. Reading magazines and books about jewelry designing is a passion. I even choose my clothes based on how well they show off jewelry!

I've tried to walk away from beads and jewelry designing several times since that first time I walked into a bead shop back in Colorado Springs in the early 1980's. I started a wholesale bead business by trying to get rid of beads. I started a retail bead shop because I wanted the beads out of my house - they were taking over! After closing the bead shop - I took a "beading" time out for over a year.

But my passion seems to follow me no matter how much I try to flee. And why would one want to flee from their passion (?) one might ask. Well, for me, this passion is consuming - and there have been times that I don't feel balanced - that I question whether it's directing me or I'm directing it - and I wonder when it will burn itself out and I won't have any new ideas! But I've come to realize it doesn't much matter. My passion and I are on this journey together and this is my attempt to hold onto the reigns.

Pamela Tarpy
(aka) The Tattered Gypsy