About

Hi there!

Here’s a baby boomer with the spirit and the heart of a  1960’s vintage hippie. As a grandmother, a leader, and a joyful event planner, I hope that you will follow me on this journey as I explore how I went from a shy girl to landing out front.

I never had the courage as a young person to be anything other than the good girl who seldom did anything out of line.  I didn’t go to Woodstock, smoke pot (although I did inhale plenty!) and I didn’t join protests (too frightened I’d get arrested).  As I get older I find I’m getting younger in spirit and have plenty to say about many things.

With a B.S. degree in music, I’ve been a middle music school teacher, an event planner (both small events and large), an employed manger of volunteers, a fund raiser, a volunteer for a variety of not for profit organizations, a church choir singer and a church choir director.  I’ve been in plays in high school and college in supporting roles and as the lead.  Yes, it’s strange to be in supporting roles and as the lead when I describe myself as “a shy girl who landed out front”, but that’s part of my story.

What’s important to me?

• Complain all you want, but don’t let me hear it unless you have a suggestion for a solution.
• It’s all about the journey, and the journey can take you some interesting places.
• History is important so we won’t repeat the mistakes of the past, but the past is actually the past – put it behind us and move on.
• Food is always important (cooking and eating)!
• A good belly laugh daily is good for the soul!

What else is important? Family, travel, reading and education.  My philosophy is that I will never know everything and always have something new to learn. What I learn can come from a class, a book, someone I know, and someone I don’t know. Keep looking, listening and learning.

You’ll find my philosophy “There’s rhyme, reason and purpose to everything – Pay Attention!” sprinkled throughout my blogs.

My blog is in three parts…Leadership, The Blue Platter and The Gigi Chronicles,

Leadership:  The more I land out front the more I learn about leadership. My basic philosophy is that leadership is a gift, talent, strength and skill that cannot be taught.  You either have it or you don’t.  That being said, I do believe those who find themselves in leadership roles can improve their skills.  This goes back to my strength as a lifelong learner.

The Blue Platter:  My husband and I love to entertain at our house. We seem to entertain in waves, either full head on or nothing at all. During the breaks we explore ways to make our next event more special than the last. We have collected a lot of serving pieces for events big and small, formal and casual. I can not wait to share these fun events with you.

The Gigi Chronicles.:This one started as a chronicle of a grandmother taking care of her son’s children, but it will be so much more.  Part of it is the history of how I came to do this and part of it is the changing landscape of parents of adult children.  We have such a huge journey ahead of us and it is so different than my parents.

I am looking forward to spending time with you!