Welcome

For most of my life, I never imagined I would write poetry—or pursue an MFA in Creative Writing. My world was mathematics, a discipline of structure, certainty, and logic. As an actuary, I worked with risk and probability, measuring the unknown in precise terms. Poetry, by contrast, felt too unstructured, too abstract. It simply wasn’t for me.

 

My life changed about 30 years ago when I encountered the works of Robert Service. His narrative poetry, rich with rhythm and story, spoke to me in a way no other verse had. I became an avid reader and collector of his work. Before long, I found myself writing. What began as an experiment turned into a passion, and 15 years ago, I began crafting my own memoir and poetry.

 

My writing now centers on the themes that shape a life—family, love, politics, and the passions that bring us joy. Though I once measured life in numbers, I now explore it in words, welcoming the unpredictability I once resisted. Poetry has become a way to balance logic with emotion, calculation with creativity.

 

Beyond my personal writing, I’ve been actively involved in the McCall Writers Group, organized by CMarie Fuhrman during her time (2021-2023) as Idaho Writer in Residence. I have also presented Craft Talks on poetic forms to the group. I am using my poetic license to add life to my developing memoir.

 

At 83, as I complete my MFA, I reflect on this unexpected journey—one that proves it’s never too late to discover new passions and share meaningful stories.