I'm A Flower Smeller

Mike is an awesome writer and my dear blogging friend. He owns Mr. Grudge. When I go there to read his posts I know a couple of things are gauranteed to happen. I will laugh. I will cry. I will say, "Huh, I hadn't thought of it that way." And the one I love the most..."Wow, I wish I'd written that."

Mike is part of the interactive community at Go! Smell the flowers. The founders created a community award for flower smellers. Here is how they describe it:

This badge serves to acknowledge others who are, in their own way, smelling the flowers and will underpin the whole reason for this community -to inspire countless people around the world.

They maybe regular visitors to this blog, comment posters, readers or active at another founders blog or someone that could contribute here who is yet to visit as we become a community.

Maybe they don’t even run a blog but have recovered from an illness, written a book, won the lottery, made a major shift in their life, won promotion, quit the rat race and on it GO!s as more examples from around the world start to surface and group hugs become the norm!

This award makes me feel like maybe I am inspiring others with my work on LifePrints and maybe Mike thinks I'd be a good member of the Go! Smell the flowers community. I am honored.

I'd like to pass this award on to a few special people. Since I can award this to non-bloggers that is what I am going to do.

1) Margaret McGlaun is a wildflower photographer who knows about 'smelling the flowers'. She's taught me so much about taking time to love the life I'm living and loving the people I'm living it with. Her photos are beautiful. I have her calendars and a set of note cards. I'll never forget taking a trip with her to see the spring blooms in Death Valley, CA. I had a blast watching her work her magic on film.

2) Jo Wilkens is the president of Henderson Writers' Group. For the past 4 years she has been my friend and mentor, giving gentle nudges in the right direction in my writing career. As the owner of Mystic Publishers, she doesn't have much free time but she always makes time for other aspiring writers. I am forever in her debt for the free editing she did on my latest manuscript.

3) Gregory Kompes has also been my mentor and friend. He is the best-selling author of 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live. He was the coordinator at the conference where I met my agent. He's recently overcome a personal struggle and is better than ever. He's my hero.

4) Tina Thompson, my dear cousin and friend, has found love after many years of disappointment and heartache. She is finally smelling the flowers with the "answer to her prayers", Jimmy. He's heaven sent and she is smiling again. I can't wait to meet him and welcome him into our family.

5) Candi Mitchell is a writer on the verge of discovery. Every time I read passages from her memoir, I am reminded of the raw courage it takes to peel back the layers of our lives to reveal the truth. She is a true flower smeller on the fast track to self-discovery.

Thanks again, Mike for the opportunity to give a shout out to these incredible people whom I love so much.