What do I want to be when I grow up?

When I was five, I wanted to be a Mommy.  When I was seven, I wanted to be a teacher. When I was ten, I wanted to be a swim coach, because I had a crush on mine. When I was thirteen,  I wanted to be a boutique owner and be 27 years old and sell groovy bell bottom pants and flower power jewelery. Twenty seven seemed so cool. No parents to tell you what to do, you were old enough to still be cute and smart enough to have a real job. Twenty seven, still seems like a good age. I always wear 27 on my softball jerseys!

Well now I'm 53 and still don't really know what I want to be when I grow up. Do I have to grow up? It seems so boring. I worked in the oil industry and a million other jobs in my early years. Then my five year old dream came true... I became a Mommy. I continued to have that important role for over 29 years now.

My love for photography grew and became more than a hobby and I bloomed in Switzerland once all the kids went to school. That was 17 years ago.  I have captured many amazing global things in my career. But my real love was always a pure beautiful child, the love between a couple expecting for the first time,  or a family embracing each other.  The emotion and interaction is way better than the cheesy smile and "normal" shot. I do adore what I do. I even cry sometimes.

But I'm bored.

I'm in a new place. Need to recreate myself over again. New logo, different website, fresh start, marketing! What - Marketing? ewe! Not my thing. I have been more than blessed to have my entire 17 years of work based solely on word of mouth. Customers sharing their experiences.

Doha was good to me. The American Embassy, American School of Doha and Exxon Mobil was very good for Patrizi Photography.  Although, I will never do another daycare in my life. I am at least old enough to decide that.

But here I am in Houston Texas, the city I was born in, with no children to take care of and a big competitive world out there. Searching for creativity and a spark of something to lead me in a new direction. While I decide, it's time to start giving back...

Where do I begin? 

I donated 5 bags from a linen closet to the Texas Dream Center in Conroe Texas a few weeks ago. It is a home for battered women and children. I was looking for the place and expecting a small house for battered women. But I came across a three story building in despair and was shocked by the size of the place. I immediately had a lump in my throat. "Are there this many battered women in Conroe Texas?" I gathered my keys, locked my door and went in to see what I was supposed to do with my 5 bags.

I was greeted warmly by the young lady sweeping the floor. A cute young man helped me bring in my donations of old sheets, comforters and pillows. A sweet elderly lady gave me a picture of a wolf she had torn out of a calendar and told me it was for me! I asked a lot of questions, and left with tears in my eyes as I drove away embarrassed by the huge ring I was wearing and all the gold bling, big shoes, fancy purse, etc... I needed to be bringing 500 bags.
This reminded me of the nursing home my mother was in for 2 years, except with younger people.

I've kept that wolf! 

I was considering taking the kids on a mission trip this Christmas to do something useful and meaningful, maybe in South America. But my friend Debbie, told me to look right in my own backyard. So I did, and I got a wolf.

Today I called to ask more questions about donations, volunteering, and my family cooking for the ladies for Christmas. That is what we can give back. FOOD!!! The Patrizi's can cook!

I am proud to say I am going to a volunteer orientation on Saturday June 21st at 10:00AM.
I am going to stop my busy life of going to Hobby Lobby, editing images, having lunch with friends, tennis lessons and sitting in front of my computer. I am going to see if there is one person that I can help and make a difference in their lives. 

Gosh I hope it is a baby. Just in case, I'll bring my camera....