On the front cover of HERE THERE BE DRAGONS is an endorsement of the book by none other than Ray Bradbury. THE Ray Bradbury, of Fahrenheit 51 fame, of The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit fame, of 20th Century author pantheon fame. Mr. Bradbury passed away last June, but what did the late Mr. Bradbury have to say on the cover of James Owens’s book?
“This is the man.”
Whoa.
What a ringing sentence.
But after hearing Mr. Owens speak at the 21st annual ANWA Conference this weekend, and sitting with him at lunch on Saturday, and hearing the stories he had to tell from his extraordinary life, I came away feeling filled. He’s really so very interesting and inspiring. I’m going to buy his dragon books for my kids (already bought one, and he drew a dragon in it for my reading maniac daughter!) and his meditations books for myself so I can remember the stories (because I tend to forget details of almost everything I hear, ever.) PLUS, he taught us all how to draw a dragon. How nice is that?
So, anyway, one of the several things that really resonated from his class on “Finding Your Personal Mythology” was his statement that anyone’s life story can be extraordinary and highly interesting if it’s told in the right way.
I thought, yeah, probably, but maybe not mine. I’m a girl from a small town, grew up on a dairy, went to college, went on a mission, worked a bit, got married and have kids.
Well, I guess if I tell it that way, it’s not all that interesting. And it’s possible that maybe no matter how I tell it, it’ll bore readers to tears. But I, apparently, do not care! So I’ve decided from time to time to sprinkle this blog with stories from my life. They may not interest readers, but maybe someday my kids’ll pick through the archives of the internet (help me, Mister Wizard!), and come across the stories and like knowing about their mom.
So, dear readers, brace yourselves for a few stories to come.
Meanwhile, I shall share with you this picture I snapped of myself with Mr. Owen. Clearly, he was unaware of the moment, being busy signing books for my sister-in-law and friends at the time. But I think he wouldn’t mind. (If you do see this, Mr. Owen and would like me to remove it, I’ll be glad to. It just makes me laugh.)
And I’d also like to challenge any of you with a life to think about how to tell it and lift your friends and relatives by its retelling. Go for it! No reason not to discover our own inherent extraordinariness! (Writing can do that. I love to write.)
Hahahaha! Nice photo bomb!
Is this a photo bomb? This term. It is not familiar to me. But apparently I’m guilty of it. Possibly many times, if it is what I think it means. Hahaha.
Anytime you pop into a picture not intended to be a pic of you, then yes, it’s a photobomb. If this picture was supposed to be of you and Mr. Owen happened to be in it, then I guess he’s the photobomber. 😉
Thanks for the definition, Megan! How could I have not known this? Weird. Oh, well. I’m not much of a photographer–that’s how.