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Charming Cold December Night

  • Dec 24, 2017
  • 3 min read

Updated: Mar 14


You never know when a Writer is going to put you into their story....

Holidays, Dickens Fair

Song of the day: 'Cold December Night’

- Michael Buble

_________________________

Six years ago this month, the man pictured cornered me at a friend’s holiday birthday party.


In other words, he monopolized my time with his witty charm. He took my phone out of my hand, dialed his number and called himself; with a coy and very confident smile he handed my phone back to me:

“Let’s get coffee sometime.”

My immediate thought was“Boy is this guy confident. He knows he’s charming. He’s in for a surprise when he realizes that self-aware Charm does not work on me....”.

I was over having any type of serious romance in my life—I juggled all I thought I wanted to handle.

December 24th I receive a Facebook friend-request followed by random, very clever, text messages that were fun because they gave me pause to think about and reply. Sprinkled between the clever texts would be an invite to coffee or Thai. I’d politely decline or postpone because I was rather busy with work and parenting my dog. If he wanted to hang out he’d need to come to me. And after a month and my finally agreeing to meet for coffee that’s what he did—he came to me. I treated it as a business meeting—I picked his brain about the writing profession. He kept my already active mind stimulated, which impressed me. We talked until the place closed and we got hungry, so, he invited me over for a ‘Serenity’ watching party he was hosting and now very late for (people were already arriving at his house).

I wasn’t going to go. I had work to do at the duplex where I was acting Property Manager, and tenant. That very cold December night I was on my hands and knees on the ground, digging and scratching at the surface—pulling at overbearing weeds from between the canals formed by brick....and feeling 100% relatable to Cinderella. Then....my near frozen fingers met with the large corpse of larvae—and froze in place. I resisted tears, which threatened to water both cheeks and give my lashes a lashing. I called my best friend. She talked me into going to the movie night "Just go inside, shower, walk April, and go!” So, resolutely, I did. I guessed some trivia at the party correctly (not sure how, as I had never seen ‘Firefly’ but I have been known to read a lot of books, so....I can generally figure out gists of story).

Though he tried, I made him wait a couple months before I let him plant a kiss on me, and another month before he insisted we call us officially exclusive—with a title. Which means he had to wait a year before we’d exchange a kiss on a cold December night....And repeat each December, five years and counting.

Like his novels he’s a Romance with a rough exterior. He challenges me daily.

I suppose an undercover Artist who is a Writer and self-professed Gamer, and an undercover Writer who is an Artist and an Athlete... compatibly enjoy doing what we do best—we keep each other (and others) guessing.

(And I guess you can say he’s got me Charmed) <3

Holidays, Dickens Fair

 
 
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About Me & BeGolden Success

Values-driven purpose and integrity are

of my highest regard—and are key ingredients to:

BE golden SUCCESS. 

 

After committing a large portion of my life to representing TeamUSA in Track & Field for nearly two decades, as of May 2025 I am a retired professional Olympic athlete.

 

In 2023 I turned my athlete BeGolden brand into a service that gives back to community and individuals—a partnership in the facilitation of healthy habits.

 

Variations of coaching experts and engaged parenting are what has played a significant role in helping me find success through the development of beneficial habits, knowledge, opportunities, resources, and for building upon my strengths while improving upon weaknesses. 

 

Self-discipline and direction, paired with guidance from trusted sources of expertise, is how dreams are made reality. 

 

BeGolden Success an embodiment that harnesses eight key pillars of well-being.

 

The phrase ‘BeGolden' is one I have used to motivate myself through adversity—inspired by observing my beloved golden retriever, April, who is the epitome of the value of dogs within our shared existence: They teach humanity unconditional love, how to exhibit unconditional love, and how to persevere through disappointment, illness, heart-break, and adversity.

 

Lymphoma took her from this planet in 2014, much too soon. She endured so much and all the while, she persisted at exuding love, compassion, self-discipline, and a will to make the most of what she can—with heart. She inspired me to BE GOLDEN (to be like a golden retriever—to be more like her). She was intelligent, family-oriented, athletic/active, mindful, playful, unwavering, and she persevered through anxiety and environments that were continually changing. 

 

Our well-being is more than fitness, healthy eating, and mindfulness—A golden well-being involves developing healthy habits in the following areas:

• financial health,

• career satisfaction,

• sense of community,

• family connectedness,

• sense of joy/spiritual (believing in a higher cause that can be shared from within and outside of self),

• physical fitness,

• general components of health that keep us mobile, and

• mental fitness (self-knowing and compassion).

 

I was born in California among the mountains and the eclectic lifestyles of the Bay Area. My profession and interests take me exploring worldwide. My fuel is curiosity. People come to me to collaborate on projects and to help them get out of their head so that they can proactively pursue their dreams and goals for personal and professional fulfillment. 

I believe community thrives on creativity and persons committed to having a proactive role in their own life.

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