This is Me...

(This is my submission for the collage challenge this week on the Three Muses blog. I would like to thank Marsha of Tumblefish Studios, Karen of The Graphics Fairy and Kirsi of Itkupilli for the use of their images in my collage.)
This is me...
Standing on the edge of the most wonderful year EVER!
Just taking a moment of peace and still gathering my strength after last year....

A few things about me you may or may not know:
-I love the color purple and consider it to be a good luck color for me (who doesn't know purple is my favorite color??)

-I love the way they look, but I'm actually trying to get over my life-long fear of butterflies (yes, butterflies!). I have been afraid of them for as long as I can remember, but just last year, I was able to sit on my porch and watch them as long as they didn't get too close! So, my wearing butterfly wings symbolizes my facing my fears.

-This is the first time I have ever done a self-portrait, so that stands for all the new things I have to be willing to try in order for our lives to take a different direction.

-I'm dressed comfortably, even though I think I am waiting for something very important! It is vital to be very comfortable for these sorts of situations.

-I don’t like the cold, which is not good when you live in New England. Doing art keeps me from hibernating all togehter until April or so. If it was announced that winter was over for the year, you would find me doing The Dance of Joy until I passed out! I'm dressed for summer here because I can't wait for it to be here!

-Even though I lost both of my parents last year, I feel pretty strong and empowered because I am still in “warrior” mode. I was their medical advocate and I hope I helped make their last months and weeks and days on this planet as comfortable as possible.

-I found a quote from Mark Twain that I think is the perfect accompaniment to my collage:
“Twenty years from now
you will be more disappointed
by the things that you didn't do
than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.”