Curious Facts and Life Experiences About Me

Name: Amanda Sears
Nickname: Mandee
DOB: Sometime after the discovery of fire but before Nixon was elected President
Hometown: long story (see below)
Parents: Yes, married, 53 years
Siblings: Older brother, 2 younger sisters
Pets: Jordan -- a Yorkie - Beagle Mix
Passions: Writing, Memoir, DIY decorating, Buffet decorating and helping others
Favorite Color: Red
Relationship Status: Married, for a quarter century
Children: 1 son and 1 daughter

Chalkboard by GreekGeek's Make a "Chalkboard" - Fun CSS Trick!

During my life, I have noticed that no matter where I am, or who I meet, people have a curious habit of always asking new acquaintances "Where are you from?" and follow the question with a statement like "I'm from Brooklyn".

I might be at the Little League field watching my nephew play baseball or at one of my daughters' track meets or maybe just in the grocery store picking up a few things. A conversation is started with the person sitting next to me in the bleachers or bagging my groceries and, invariably, this is where the short exchange leads. I have observed this is especially true in Florida. Apparently, most Florida residents are from somewhere else.

My problem is that I have no clear cut answer for this question. If they had asked me "Where were you born?" I could have confidently answered in two words, "Pensacola, Florida".

If they had asked me "Where did you move from?", I could have answered "Illinois".

But to ask me where I am from, I would have to go into a long explanation that I am sure they don't really want to hear. So, to answer their question, I simply say something like, "We moved here from Illinois" or "I was born in Florida and am returning to the scene of the crime" -- cliché I know, but a passable answer to most people.

It's interesting to me how much emphasis we place on where we were born and raised. People look for it to possibly create a common thread or explain an accent. Or, maybe they are trying to form a familiar foundation for conversation and possibly a friendship.

Others still, look to pigeonhole you by association to your hometown or state. If you're from Tennessee -- you're a hillbilly. If you're from New York City -- you're rude and self-centered. If you're from anywhere in California -- you're a rich, liberal, environmentalist believing in psychics.

These societal generalizations are not fair (and not accurate), but are used as a measuring stick to your intellect, personality and personal belief system by some people.

It's like saying "I have nothing to offer the world or to teach people because I didn't graduate college". Everyone has something to offer. We just have to look and be willing to learn.

That doesn't make my life any better or any worse than anyone elses -- just different.

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I can't be pigeonholed by association to a home state or hometown -- I don't have one. I have absolutely no idea what it is like to be born and raised in one area or town. I have always romanticised how I thought it would feel, been jealous of others that have grown up that way but never experienced it myself.

I lived vicariously through characters in books, on TV or in the movies. My imagination had me from "Mayberry" (The Andy Griffith Show), "Waltons Mountain" (The Waltons), "Walnut Grove" (Little House on the Prairie) or whatever L.A. Suburb "The Brady Bunch" was from.

Instead, I grew up moving from town to town; state to state: and once on a tiny island in the Pacific. Not a bad thing by any means, but a different story than traditional upbringing.

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Florida

• Pensacola
• Clermont - 2 homes

California

• Long Beach - 2 homes
• 29 Palms

Illinois

• Rochelle - 2 homes
• Steward - 2 homes
• Paris - 2 homes

Washington

• Poulsbo
• Kingston - 2 homes
• Sultan
• Arlington

Guam

• Agana
• New Apra
• Big Navy (Lockwood)

Kentucky

• Graham - 3 homes
• Greenville

North Carolina

• Jacksonville - Camp LeJeune

Indiana

• Fortville - 4 homes
• Muncie - 3 homes
• Pendleton - 3 homes
• Lapel

Wherever my parents are is home -- The city and state does not matter. Their home is forever mine.

My memories are populated with the walnut end tables they got after they were married; the US Navy wall my mom has in her livingroom dedicated to both my grandfathers, both my parents and my big brother; my grandmothers Jewel Tea collection, the big green floor vase that has been around all my life, the pictures and stories and songs that are my family.

Wherever my siblings are is home

Wherever my husband and kids are is home

When Places are more important than people, there is a problem

A certain location will never define my home -- people do.

Photo of my silly kids provided by me.

I did not grow up in one town
I did not graduate high school with friends I started kindergarten
I did not have a neighborhood
I did not have people in town that called me by name
I did not grow up in the same town my mother or father grew up in
I did not have the nostalgic, small town childhood of the movies and in books

Do not feel sorry for me...

I do know how a smile can break the ice on a first day at a new school
I do know how to adapt to new situations
I do know I can be alone without losing my mind
I do know I have visited and seen places others only dream of
I do know that I can make it anywhere
I do know that my family will be there for me every day of my life

Do not feel Glad for me...

I did not lose a parent growing up
I did not suffer from a disease
I did not lose a limb or become debilitated in any physical manner
I did not endure child abuse of any kind

Do not feel Glad for me...

I did go to 5 high schools in 4 years
I did live in 21 different homes during my years through graduation
I did leave my friends behind time after time
I did feel unlucky

Do not feel sorry for me...

I am a good, loyal friend
I am worldly in knowledge and trusting in humanity
I am a better person for all that I have known
I may not have roots; but I have wings

I am Me

Mandee Sears©2010

• My given name is "Amanda" but no one calls me that (Unless I'm in trouble)
• My older brother's name is Andrew -- we are 15 months apart
• It was confusing growing up with nicknames like "Andy and Mandee"
• I lived on the island of Guam, USA when I was 14 - 15
• I talk to myself... a lot! I have found I am a great audience
• I wrote an account of my mom having a seizure, December (2009). Submitted it to my local writer's association. It made it to the finals but didn't win. :(
• .I have written wedding poems for years. Sappy and sentimental, they are. One was featured on a WE television show about weddings. The Mother of the Bride read it to her daughter at the rehearsal dinner. I actually got to see my name in the credits!
• I am terrified of snakes (and not too crazy about spiders).
• I have lived in 36 homes/apartments to date
• I LOVE Frank Sinatra and anything to do with the "Rat Pack" era.
• I used to volunteer moderate on a Weddings Forum Board (now defunct).
• I have hypothyroid disease.
• I am a brunette with blue eyes.
• I gained 60 lbs with my first pregnancy. Still need to lose 40 of those pounds, but hey, its only been 24 years!
• My husband is a PGA Golf Professional (not a touring pro).
• My son is an apprentice PGA Golf Professional
• My daughter thinks I was a wimp because I was a cheerleader. She is an athlete in golf, discus, javlin, shotput and basketball.
• My first pet was a dauchsund named "Hilda".
• I met my husband and married him 3 months later. That was 25 years ago. He's a good egg. :D

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• Druthers Fast Food Restaurant


• Volunteer at Nursing Home


• Volunteer at Children's Home


• Dishwasher -- Ball State University


• Cafeteria Ticket Taker -- Ball State University


• Toy's R Us CSR


• Selling Vacuum Cleaners -- Ever heard of the Tri-Star?


• Shell Gas Station Attendant


• Owner of Golf Pro Shop -- Married a PGA Golf Pro


• Pre-School Teachers Aide


• Newsletter Author for Country Club


• AA to the Board of Directors -- County Club


• Clubhouse Manager at Country Club


• Trophy/Awards Shop Manager


• Owner of a Golf Course


• Unemployed


• Work at Dick's Sporting Goods


• Making a Living Online

My lens titled How to Decorate a Buffet - Buffetscapes was chosen as Lens of the Day on September 8th, 2010. Thank you very much to everyone that read and commented on it and thanks to skiesgreen for the nomination! *hugs*

I'm not sure I'm ready to grow up or if I ever will completely. Sure, I have two great kids and a husband that is my best friend but my sense of humor and actions are a bit more adolescent than most people my age. Example:

• 
  Today, I am driving to the craft store while jamming in my car to "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra. I was stopped at a red light just singing away.
  
  Now keep in mind, in my head I sound like Barbara Streisand or Celine Dion, when in actuality I sound more like Mr. Ed.
  
  Anyway, I look to my left and I am cracking up a family in the car next to me. Looked like parents in the front with two kiddies in the back. The little boy was really wah-wahing at me. I simply smiled and bowed my head for them!


• I sing in the shower; use my hair brush as a microphone and sing while doing my hair; use words like "dork", "dude" and "ah man".


• In my car, I have some mix CDs I listen to. Some of the songs I listen too?
  • Shaun Cassidy - "That's Rock and Roll"
  • Dean Martin - "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime"
  • Barry Manilow - "Mandy" (He spelled it wrong but I still claim it!)
  • Neil Sedaka - "When you Walk into a Room"
  • Englebert Humperdink - "Quando, Quando, Quando"
  • The Eagles - "Heartache Tonight"
  • Rod Stewart - "The Way you Look Tonight"
  • Prince - "Little Red Corvette"
  
  
• Do cheers for my family when they have a victory of any sort (I was a cheerleader at 4 of the 5 high schools I attended).


• Dance to the utter dismay and embarrassment of my kids


• and stuff like that...

Oh, and here's my glamour shots magazine cover: My face and hair, not sure to whom the rest belongs...

It's been a rough year in our household. Our family owned buisness became a fatal statistic of the recession. We re-located south. It took 6 months for my husband to find work (with a degree) and I had to wait 9 months for a job.

I have written a e-book about event decorating; started a website, Decorating For Events about event decorating. Additionally, I have...

* 4 Blogs:
DIY Wedding and Event Decorating
Handee Mandee's Blog
My Favorite Things
Life Story Writing

* A Vintage/Antique Booth Space - Vintage With A Twist

* Online Article Writer at various websites

* Affiliate Marketer

I never expected to be starting over at my age but life is about the unexpected... a lesson I have learned.

So, I have decided to stick my chest out, place hands on hips (think Superman pose) and tell Fate, Karma and Luck to bring it on! I am one tough Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother and Aunt. I can take whatever they dish out!

Very honored to receive a Purple Star on September 23, 2010.
Thanks Wednesdays_elf for the nomination! *hugs*

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What is Memoir?
The Gift of Personal Stories
Motivation for Writing

These lenses share my passion for writing memoir. If you have ever thought about it, are thinking about it or might do it one day, these are great starting points!