ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, my family did what many families of that era did. At dinner, we invited the 6:00 news to our table. From the head of our dining room table, my Dad had a straight shot into the living room where the television aired The Huntley-Brinkley Report.
Co-anchor Chet Huntley was a sage liberal, broadcasting from New York City. He tackled issues like racial segregation and civil rights, while David Brinkley, broadcasting from Washington, D.C., was a local insider and a Republican with a populist approach to his commentaries. You could rely on their 30 minutes like you could rely on the platter of sliced white bread on the dinner table, as these two distinguished men would end their show with "Goodnight, Chet; Goodnight, David."
Dad leaned more toward Chet, but he thought David was a snappy dresser. They were the best of both, and in my teen years, I was paying attention - and ever since, I have had an opinion about the state of affairs.
My professional writing journey began over 20 years ago, with a primary focus on wine in regional magazines and online publications. In 2005, I started one of the first wine blogs in Washington State and became one of the first women wine bloggers in the Northwest. I officially retired the wine blog in 2018.
Later, I ventured into writing books about local history. I also tried my hand at whimsical fiction, known as cozy mysteries, under a pen name. I still dabble in this fiction, adding to that collection. Creating characters who talk to me when I least expect it is delightful, especially while doing a tedious chore. Finishing a book and seeing it in e-book form, and especially on paper and bound, is exhilarating.
A few years ago, I finally had the opportunity to visit Paris, France. Of course, visiting the Louvre was on my list. I, along with three travel companions, set out for the magnificent glass pyramids, agreeing that if we got separated, we would use the 21st-century version of dropping breadcrumbs—texting—to find our way back to each other. My quest? If I didn't see anything else, I was to see Mona.
Unfortunately, the place was packed shoulder-to-shoulder and filled with people holding up "traffic." Young women pretended to be at a model shoot, projecting their boobs and puckered duck lips, while bossy American mothers orchestrated their Christmas card photos, making the crowds walk around their chosen background. I had no choice but to allow the crowds to push me through the museum, at least letting me see some of the art on my list, such as: Napoleon's Coronation, Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, mostly just the wing tips of The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and finally, the Mona Lisa. I was feeling exhausted and on the verge of tears (I blame jet lag) when one of my traveling partners texted me to follow her to her location near the Mona Lisa. She made a point of speaking with a museum attendant, who let me come to the front of the line, pass through the velvet ropes, and spend a moment with her. For thirty seconds, it was just Mona and me.
Later that evening, my day felt complete when we dined on the Seine, and our boat passed one of the six replicas of the Statue of Liberty sprinkled around Paris. It was the second of these emblematic statues I had seen, with the first at the Musée d'Orsay. This iconic replica (11.5 meters tall = three-story building) stands on Île aux Cygnes (Swan Island) in the Seine and faces west toward her grand sister statue in New York City, NY.
The scene became a duet against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. With the cruise crew's excellent timing, the tower's 10,000 golden lights suddenly sparkled for the first time that evening, showcasing their shimmer to their captive audience.
I left Paris four days later, enchanted by the food, the architecture, the markets, the kindness of the Parisians, our shared history as allies fighting against dictators, and pondering the historic symbols of strong women living in a patriarchal society.
And last but certainly not least, Letters to Ms. Liberty is personal to me. I will confess to Ms. Liberty my joys and frustrations in our world and in our America.
You'll find more information at Catie McIntyre
