Monday, February 23, 2009

When You Finally Know

You know how people ask children and teenagers, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I always had answers back then – scientist, pilot, writer. But once I hit the age when you're supposed to have some direction, the choices were not so clear. And since then I've spent decades saying, "I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up."


Margaret Rome signing Real Estate the Rome Way


The other night I realized that I finally DO know.
I want to be what I am now. I want to be the one setting up the signing table, schmoozing with the fans, and helping authors make that connection with their readers. I want to be the one with the camera, roaming the room and taking pictures as the author talks with customers and signs their books. I want to be the one they mention in the acknowledgments because I've helped them make a particular dream come true.

It's only taken mumbledy-teen years, but it finally happened. I know what I want to be when I grow up!

(I still don't want to actually grow up…but that's another story.)


4 comments:

Mary said...

Your last line is a kicker. Something we all feel, you know.

Do you know how blessed you are to love who you are and what you do? I'm still working on it. You've made it.

Congratulations, Peg.

Peg Silloway said...

Thanks for coming by, Mary - and you are right, it's good to feel comfortable about what I'm doing. And since I'm about to hit that traditional retirement age, it's about time, wouldn't you say? Of course, I could change again....

I think the trick is to keep trying new things, keep watching for opening doors that want walking through. Whether you ever figure it out or not, it makes for an interesting journey.

Mary + camera + nature seems a winning combination to me, and that formula seems to make you pretty happy!

BlackLoveRules! said...

Peg, Your piece is great. I just "stumbled" (in quotes because I don't believe in coincidences) across you because I've just joined the Annapolis MeetUp group for public speaking, where you'll present next month. I am currently writing my first book, which I hope will motivate and inspire people to follow their dreams. I, too, figured out what I wanted to be later in life. I'm still evolving! I look forward to meeting you in Annapolis. I posted a Blog in
2008, just to give you some insight into what I'm writing about and why: http://singleparentcollegestudents.blogspot.com/. Best, Michelle

Peg Silloway said...

Michelle, thanks for "stumbling" upon my blog, and for your kind words. As you can see, my blogging has suffered of late as I work on a couple of books with near deadlines.

Your story is quite inspiring - you must have many tales to tell about how you persevered through college and graduate school as a single parent with two young children...wow! I look forward to meeting and talking with you in Annapolis.