I wouldn’t have considered my home state of New York as the “North Country,” until I moved to Texas. It is here that I realized how much Texas really is it’s own country. It has been interesting being a girl from the north country in these southern waters. 

It should go without saying, (but let’s be honest, nothing does these days) that I wouldn’t have traded my NY upbringing for anything. I have my faults of course, but I don’t think I could have survived the rest of what you will read without being a little rough around the edges and developing a tough skin (probably from those blistery winter days). 

I was raised by my mother and my father, but divorce was a part of my life very early on and my upbringing was done separately. I must take this moment to pay homage to my parents in that even divorced, they could come together instantly when anything had to do with me. This included, but was not limited to family functions, life milestones and severe punishment. You know how children of divorced families can feel powerful that their punishment in one home would not carry over to the next? Not here. Not in my home. My parental units were a united front. I love them for that. 

Love was abundant, knowledge was power, and honesty was paramount; as a girl from the north country.