Image Overload--Home from Virginia

Yikes, I'm away for a few days and apparently there were massive technical advancements because I hate to admit that I could forget so much in so little time....I train people constantly to write their blog posts in Word and then copy and paste. Did I do that this time? Of course not. Did I lose a post that took 45 minutes to compose? You bet I did! -growl-







Short synopsis from memory:

• Loved visiting family and attending reunion. See photo link below for more.



• Such a funny experience to look around a room full of people at a party, think you know someone, and then realize you know them all from 25 years ago....



• Indicators were amazing, apparently musical talent holds up as well as college degrees.



• Publishing two "before" photos that match one "after" photo and then a photo from the band because I loved them. More photos on my web site: http://www.nachattin.com/VAtrip1008.html

• Also NEW on the homepage--a blog feed is there now for easy viewing. You will still have to come here for archived portions, but the latest posts with active links are there.

• Coming soon to this very blog: More creative arts and adventures with Norma Anne & Henry. My pups are each nestled against on of my feet as I type. I'm glad I got to go and even happier to be home. I'll be posting topics like invitations, holiday cards, and, of course, more wedding and honeymoon scrapbook pages.

• There are so many old friends that I connected with or reconnected with and I'm truly grateful. Please email me and stay in touch. I really meant it when I invited you to visit us--we truly love having old friends come and stay a while.

• From my brother to Bridget and Sharon to Gary and and Charlotte to Dr Bob to the Intrepid Andrew Cain and the others I didn't see (yes, I even mean you and I do remember you), please know that I couldn't walk across the campus without thinking of you and smiling.
• To Linda Gibson--you are a star in my life dear woman, thanks for getting in touch.
• Oh, and by the way, I did yell to bring back Jim McGuire, but it's just not the same with only one voice....smile.

Deeper Meaning Pages

Dear Halloween Fairy God Mother,

This year I want dress as a 19-year old lady of the evening. I know, it’s not good to glamorize a profession that is usually demeaning for women, but it’s only make believe and I wonder what I would do with that look and this spirit. I’ll gladly turn back into the 40-something, slightly overweight, wrinkle cream wearing, fabulous cook, gifted artist, currently unemployed, loving newlywed that we know and love today. But just for one night, this is the costume I want.


(click photos to enlarge)

Pumpkin carriage, magical mice, and Leslie Ann Warren’s singing voice not required.

I’m about to embark on a 12,000 mile journey to attend my 25-year college reunion. The reunion has put me into a reflective frame of mind. I’m so glad I am who I am and I fully appreciate that the choices I made in college have had a tremendous impact on today’s Norma Anne. I haven’t keep a lot more than photos and journals from my college days, but the one thing I do still have is that leopard print backless dress from the photo you see. And just in case you haven’t known me over 20-years, yes that is me….


The gentleman with me, affectionally known as Mr. Last Laugh, went on to graduate law school and is living and working successfully in New England. I"m not sure if he'd want more information than that released, but if he's reading this I send my genuine affection. He's certainly made doing laundry more enjoyable over the years....

College was one of the most intense times of my life. After years of “thurapy” and the proper medications, we now see clearly that the intensity of my experience was directly related to the fact that I was Bi-Polar I living without diagnosis or treatment. Before you run and change your phone numbers or email address and lock your doors, I’ll just qualify that I have been in treatment since 1995 and I am the poster child for taking your medications—even when those medications have to be tested and tired and changed four times a year to be effective.

I’m actually grateful for the diagnosis and even the disorder because it has allowed me to do some magnificent things, passionately love some incredible people, and draw closer to my Creator. My only regrets are the relationships I couldn’t maintain and the people I hurt or neglected in process of understanding my mental health.

Deeper Meaning Pages
What does all this have to do with a creative arts blog you ask? Well, journaling and scrapbooking have been an incredible outlet for healing in my life. Creating what I call my “Deeper Meaning Pages” (yes, this is a class I’ve taught repeatedly and is available currently—just email me) has been a lifeline for me.

The page shown here is called “Still” and it shows my senior college photo from 1983. We were able to choose a quote and mine came from Alexander Pope, “Woman’s at best at contradiction still…” The journaling muses over how obvious it is now that I lived at both emotional poles then. I have resolved that, still, I am grateful for the path I was given.

When you scrapbook and take photos, don’t let them all be sugar-coated memories. Explore and understand that who you are now will always relate to who you were then and who you will be tomorrow. Blessings to you from me and Sheena of Jungle circa 1981.