Evelyn: Chapters of My Life

Summary

Evelyn recounts her life's journey, beginning with her childhood in Europe amidst her father's military service, vividly remembering the food culture and family dynamics. Transitioning to her family's return to the US, she shares experiences of large family gatherings and her eventual education, including a stint in college. Her narrative continues with her professional evolution, from various jobs to finding her niche in event planning and wedding coordination. Evelyn's story is a tapestry of travel, family, career, and the enduring influence of her roots, all underscored by her spontaneous yet planned approach to life.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Evelyn's early life was heavily influenced by her family's military background, which led to her living in France and Germany, and experiencing European culture and food.
• 🍞 A significant memory from her childhood was the unique experience of food trucks delivering fresh bread, meats, and other goods directly to their home in Europe.
• 🏡 Upon returning to the United States, Evelyn has vivid memories of visiting her extended family in Tennessee, which included large family gatherings and traditional Easter egg hunts.
• 🏈 Evelyn was athletic in her youth, playing sports like basketball and baseball, and later lacrosse in college, indicating a strong interest in physical activities.
• 🎓 She attended college in Washington, D.C., focusing on art history, but decided to leave after two and a half years to return home and seek employment.
• 👩‍💼 Evelyn's professional journey includes working as an executive assistant and later starting her own event planning and catering business, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit.
• 💍 Her business evolved into wedding planning, where she has executed over 400 weddings, highlighting her organizational skills and passion for creating memorable events.
• 🍽️ Food remains a central theme in Evelyn's life, influencing her career in event planning and her personal enjoyment of trying new dishes and experiences.
• 🏙️ Washington, D.C. became a significant part of Evelyn's life, where she developed a network of influential contacts and engaged in the city's vibrant social and cultural scene.
• 🌟 Evelyn's life has been marked by spontaneity and adventure, with a willingness to embrace new experiences and a strong sense of independence.

Q & A

What was Evelyn's childhood like in Europe?

Evelyn's childhood in Europe was filled with traveling and living in both France and Germany. She has vivid memories of food trucks bringing meats, breads, and candies, and her family living on the third floor of a building where they would go downstairs to collect fresh bread and meats. She also recalls trying wine mixed with water as a child.

How did Evelyn's family manage when they first moved to the United States?

When Evelyn's family first moved to the United States, they visited Tennessee often to see her father's family. Her father was one of ten children, so family gatherings were large and involved lots of cousins and aunts. They attended church regularly and participated in activities like Easter egg hunts.

What was a memorable event from Evelyn's childhood in the United States?

A memorable event from Evelyn's childhood was finding the 'golden egg' with a Kennedy 50-cent piece during an Easter egg hunt at her grandmother's church in Tennessee.

How did Evelyn's family help her father's family financially?

Evelyn's family would bring suitcases of their old clothes to her father's family in Tennessee, which was considered great new stuff to them. This was a way of helping her father's less well-to-do family.

What was Evelyn's experience like when she was sent to stay with family in Tennessee during the summer?

Evelyn recalls being dropped off for two weeks at a time in Tennessee during the summer, starting from seventh grade. She had an accident there in eighth grade where she caught a football and ran into her grandmother's door, resulting in over 200 stitches.

Why did Evelyn's parents decide to move her and her brother to a private school?

Evelyn's parents moved her and her brother to a private school because they were concerned about the racially charged environment at Petersburg High School, where they had previously been attending.

What sports did Evelyn play in high school?

Evelyn played basketball and baseball in high school, and she liked baseball more than basketball.

Why did Evelyn decide to leave college?

Evelyn decided to leave college after about two and a half years because she didn't really want to stay in college. She wanted to go back home and started looking for jobs.

What was Evelyn's first job in Washington DC?

Evelyn's first job in Washington DC was with Builder Association Builder magazine. She then moved on to event planning, which she loved, and eventually worked her way up in the industry.

How did Evelyn get involved in event planning?

Evelyn got involved in event planning through her jobs in Washington DC. She found that she loved event planning and had several memorable experiences, including working on an inaugural gala for President Reagan.

What led Evelyn to start her own business?

Evelyn decided to work for herself after gaining experience in event planning and working in various jobs in Washington DC. She started a company called Creative Catering, which evolved into a wedding planning business.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Early Years and Travels

Evelyn begins by discussing her childhood, which was heavily influenced by her father's military career, leading to extensive travels in Europe. She lived in both France and Germany, where her mother is from. Her memories are filled with vivid recollections of food trucks and the communal aspects of food. She also mentions her family's practice of blending wine with water for children to partake in family meals. This chapter of her life is marked by a strong sense of family, cultural exposure, and the importance of food as a central theme.

05:00

🏡 Transition to the United States

The second chapter of Evelyn's life story involves her family's move to the United States, where she was born in West Texas. Her experiences include frequent trips to Tennessee to visit her father's large family, which included many relatives and Sunday church visits. She recounts the excitement of Easter egg hunts and the cultural differences in food, with large family breakfasts and the contrast between her family's relative wealth and that of her father's family. She also shares a humorous anecdote about her grandfather's tobacco-chewing habit and her family's efforts to avoid it.

10:01

🏈 Adolescence and Early Education

In this chapter, Evelyn talks about her adolescence, including her experiences in seventh grade and the decision by her parents to send her and her brother to stay with family in Tennessee for extended periods during the summer. She discusses the challenges of attending Petersburg High School due to racial tensions and her subsequent move to private school, which she found difficult to adjust to. A significant event during this period was a football-related accident that resulted in her needing over 200 stitches, a painful and memorable experience.

15:02

🎓 College, Sports, and Early Career

Evelyn's narrative continues with her college years, where she played lacrosse and studied art history in Washington, D.C. She expresses her desire to return home and eventually leaves college after two and a half years. She then enters the workforce, starting with various jobs including waitressing. Her father's illness and the subsequent separation of her parents mark a significant shift in her life, leading her to settle in Richmond and pursue a career in event planning and catering.

20:04

💍 Wedding Planning and Event Management

Evelyn's professional journey evolves into the realm of event planning and catering, which she discovered through her work in Washington, D.C. She highlights her passion for planning and organizing events, which led her to start her own business, Creative Catering. Over time, this experience helped her transition into the wedding planning industry, where she has executed over 400 weddings. She emphasizes the importance of networking and maintaining relationships, which have been crucial to her success.

25:05

🌱 Reflections and Future Aspirations

In the final chapter, Evelyn reflects on her life's journey, from her early years to her current profession. She acknowledges the influence of her upbringing and travels on her love for food and adventure. She also expresses her desire to continue being involved in her community and to travel more. Evelyn considers herself the primary author of her life story, with a blend of spontaneity and planning shaping her experiences. She looks forward to the future with an open mind, embracing whatever adventures may come her way.

Keywords

💡Adventuresome

The term 'adventuresome' refers to a person who is willing to take risks and explore new things. In the context of the video, Evelyn describes herself as 'adventuresome,' highlighting her willingness to travel and experience new cultures, as seen in her childhood travels to Europe and her later trips to Spain. This trait is a significant part of her life's narrative, showcasing her openness to new experiences and her zest for life.

💡Spontaneous

Spontaneity is the ability to act or make decisions on the spur of the moment, without premeditation. Evelyn characterizes herself as spontaneous, which is evident in her readiness to embark on trips and her approach to life. This spontaneity is a recurring theme in her life story, as she often makes decisions that lead to new experiences and memories, such as her decision to move back to Washington DC and her various travels.

💡Food

Food is a central theme in Evelyn's life, as it is deeply intertwined with her memories and experiences. From her childhood in Europe, where food trucks brought meats and breads, to her family's Tennessee traditions of making fresh sausage and picking strawberries, food is a symbol of culture, family, and shared experiences. It also plays a significant role in her career in event planning, where she organizes meals and culinary experiences for her clients.

💡Military

The term 'military' refers to the armed forces of a country. In Evelyn's narrative, her father's military service is a key factor that shaped her early life. His role in the military led to the family's relocation to Europe, where they lived in France and Germany. This military background not only influenced her childhood experiences but also contributed to her family's unique lifestyle and the cultural exposure she received at a young age.

💡Event Planning

Event planning is the process of organizing and coordinating events, from small gatherings to large-scale productions. Evelyn's career in event planning is a significant part of her life's story. She transitioned from working in various jobs to starting her own event planning and catering business, which later evolved into wedding planning. This keyword illustrates her professional journey and her passion for creating memorable experiences for others.

💡Inaugural Gala

An inaugural gala is a celebratory event held to mark the beginning of a new administration or leadership. In the script, Evelyn mentions working on an inaugural gala for President Reagan, which was a significant moment in her career. This experience not only provided her with a sense of prestige but also allowed her to meet influential figures and celebrities, showcasing the exciting and high-profile nature of her work in event planning.

💡Family

Family is a central theme in Evelyn's life narrative, as it influences her values, experiences, and support system. Her family's military background, her mother's German heritage, and her father's Southern roots all contribute to her identity. The script mentions her close relationship with her mother, who was her 'sole best friend' until her passing in 2017, emphasizing the importance of family in shaping her life story.

💡Travel

Travel is a recurring motif in Evelyn's life, symbolizing her desire for exploration and new experiences. From her childhood travels with her military family to her adult trips to Spain and her plans to visit her birthplace in Texas, travel is a way for her to connect with different cultures, create memories, and seek adventure. Her travels also enrich her professional life, as they inform her work in event planning and expose her to diverse culinary experiences.

💡Non-Profit Events

Non-profit events are organized to raise awareness or funds for charitable causes. Evelyn's involvement with non-profit events in Washington DC allowed her to engage with the community and meet influential people, such as lawyers and lobbyists. These events played a role in her personal and professional growth, as they provided networking opportunities and a sense of contribution to society.

💡Wedding Planning

Wedding planning is a specialized form of event planning that focuses on organizing weddings. Evelyn's transition into wedding planning after years of event planning experience highlights her ability to adapt and specialize her skills. She has executed over 400 weddings, indicating her dedication and success in this field. This keyword represents a significant phase in her career and a testament to her organizational and creative abilities.

Highlights

Evelyn describes her childhood in Europe, with vivid memories of food trucks and the smells of fresh bread and meats.

Her mother's German heritage and the family's military background influenced her early years.

Evelyn recalls the cultural experience of trying wine mixed with water as a child.

She discusses moving to the United States and the contrast between the cold European weather and the hot Tennessee summers.

Evelyn shares her experiences visiting her large extended family in Tennessee, including church visits and Easter egg hunts.

She recounts the cultural shock of attending a racially tense high school and the decision to switch to a private school.

Evelyn talks about her athletic involvement in sports like basketball and baseball during her school years.

She describes her college experience in Washington DC, focusing on art history and her eventual decision to leave college.

Evelyn's father's illness and the family's separation had a profound impact on her life.

She shares her early career experiences, including working as an executive assistant and in event planning.

Evelyn's involvement in Washington DC's political and social scene, including meeting influential people and celebrities.

She discusses her entrepreneurial venture into event planning and catering, which later evolved into wedding planning.

Evelyn reflects on the importance of food in her life, from her childhood memories to her professional career.

She talks about her spontaneous and adventurous nature, balanced with her love for planning.

Evelyn considers herself the primary author of her life story, with input and influence from her family.

She envisions her life as an adventure, with an openness to surprises and new experiences.

Transcripts

evelyn thanks for being here today and

talking some about uh about your life

about experiences

and about your personality so a good

place to begin

is i had to ask you to sort of think

about

this kind of interesting exercise your

your life as if

it were a series of chapters in a book

and if you were to do that and kind of

divvy your life

up into chapters what might those

chapters consist of

how would you divide them up and what

would the chapters say

what would the titles of those chapters

be for you

so i guess i'd probably start with about

probably six chapters

okay um i think

from maybe remembering my childhood

with traveling to europe

in the first chapter because my father

was military so

we traveled to france we lived in both

france and germany

my mother is a german war bride so

during that time i remember

lots of cool um

ways of getting food for example

food trucks would come with meats

hanging and

beautiful trucks would come with breads

and

candy and lots of smells

i remember the beer truck clanking so i

remember

you know just i think in my lifetime

everything revolves around

food okay so um

and i remember you know my mom you know

us going down we lived on the third

floor we'd go down the stairwell

and we'd take our bags and we'd come

upstairs and we'd have

fresh breads fresh meats i don't

remember produce so much but i remember

big cases of beer which they would help

us

carry upstairs and i do remember when we

were little

my mom and dad let us try wine and mixed

it with water

oh so we didn't feel left out well no

wonder this was so memorable it was kind

of exotic and special

well beer too so and

then i remember sort of my next phase

more about coming to the united states

we lived in the united states before we

lived in those countries but

i was a baby i was born in west texas

okay um so coming to the us and what

what would that chapter

look like lots of trips to tennessee

to visit my grandmother my father's

family and he was one of 10 children

and so there were tons of people

at every visit there would be like

my cousins my aunts um

you know church on sunday we'd probably

go four to six times a year wow

and i remember the easter visit the

easter egg hunt

at the church which was like right

across the way

and um i remember that vividly because i

would

find the golden egg you had a kennedy 50

cent piece

oh nice yeah yeah and my parents donated

that uh-huh

so it was like we got it back but you

got it a couple of times

yeah so i remember big breakfast you

know

um again my grandma making

big piles of bacon and big piles of eggs

just so much food my grandfather chewed

tobacco

my mom was always scared that we'd get

in the way

because he would spit spit it right so

we had nice clothes so

she'd chew us away dodged the tobacco

when he was spitting

and i remember a lot of my dad's family

being

not as well to do as we were so my mom

would bring suitcases of

our old stuff but to them that was great

new stuff and i remember picking

strawberries

i remember um going to um

the um what do you call it chicken

houses

with the conveyors

like i think one of my uncles owned a

chicken farm and we had to

pluck the dead chickens oh that was

gross

like i remember that vividly next phase

um then i remember okay so we're on

chapter three now chapter three so

chapter two is cool it's stuffed with

memories isn't it you've got a lifetime

of memories right there in the visiting

family i remember

the difference in being in cold weather

in europe and then coming to the united

states tennessee was always hot in the

summer

we didn't really go too much during the

school year so

in the summer summers yeah okay so

chapter three

what you were gonna turn to that so then

as we got older maybe seventh grade

my parents got smart they dropped us off

for two weeks at a time

in the summer um i remember

also in the eighth grade

um going to petersburg high school and

then being yanked out of petersburg high

school because

it was um racially

uh an environment where it was scary for

white girls like myself there were a few

occasions that things happened so my

parents put my brother and i back in

private school so i didn't really like

private school i had to get used to it

because i always felt like

there are a lot of spoiled wraps okay

so so a mixture of the but the memorable

thing in that chapter was

kind of being being dropped off for a

couple weeks in the summer

and then changing schools about being

dropped off that summer in tennessee

i had a um we played football and i had

an accident

i caught the football and ran and ran

into my grandma's

door mir it was a not a mirror glass

door

and i had um 220 some stitches you broke

the blush

growth glass oh my god stitches the

blood was not red

it was like black and my brother's

screaming my sister's gonna die

so my cousin got and took me to the

hospital

i got stitches and i remember in those

days

i don't think they gave a lot of um

medicine

so when during the night it was very

painful

waking up with um having been cut into

with the stitches

wow so that's kind of like seventh

eighth

ninth grade then high school of course

then came the boys

um like the boys okay so i'm putting

high school the boys

is that high school then then came the

boys

well kind of like realizing

there were boys you know but i was

pretty

athletic i played sports i played

basketball i played

baseball

i liked baseball probably more than

basketball

i then went to college and

i played lacrosse in college

now are we moving on to chapter four are

we in college or this is

still the sports and boys tenth grade

through okay first two years of college

it kind of all seems like that would be

together

okay um so i went to school in

washington dc

to a girls school it was

very nice took a lot of art history

classes

i really wasn't cut out for college i

didn't really want to stay in college

i wanted to go back home so after about

two and a half years

i quit college and went back home and um

basically started looking for jobs

okay is this are are we still in chapter

four are we moving

we're moving on okay so i'm gonna put

chapter five

and so okay so maybe there's a few more

chapters

well that means whatever whatever you

want but what i'm understanding is the

that sort of tenth grade through the end

of high school and the first couple

years of college

that kind of coalesces together and then

there's a shift in your

life as as you finish that and go into

the working world right plus

when i was around 21 20 20 21 my father

got sick

okay and he had a stroke and i remember

that was really kind of painful to have

to see him not

be in that way and then i think shortly

thereafter a couple of years after

my parents then separated for good i see

my dad

moved to tennessee and um

i started working like in richmond

various jobs like

i don't even really remember just maybe

waitressing

should we stop

[Music]

it's all right

we can edit that out um do you want to

turn your engine off i thought it was

awful

it was making other noises yeah i turned

i had turned it off i put on silent mode

but it doesn't seem to

have been silent oh no no there's oh

there's another one

you see that oh that's called silent

mode yeah yeah

that wasn't working it was still raining

apparently not once you put it in the

other room

okay you still rolling though yeah okay

um so um okay so you were working a

variety of different jobs in

and then i decided to get serious so

i um applied to

a job at ethel corporation which i

was hired and i worked in

as an executive assistant and

richmond was a great city but

i really wanted to go back to the city

that i went to college in

so i told my mom that i was moving back

to dc

and i went to work in washington i think

my first job in

dc was with builder association builder

magazine

and then you know i worked my way

through

finding which i love event planning

so i did a lot of event planning for the

first few jobs that i had in washington

dc okay

um and then i think probably

you know i was really

involved in um not involved in politics

as a politician

but i loved reading and learning and

since i lived in washington

i got to know firsthand a lot of lawyers

lobbyists

by being invited to non-profit events

and you know became friends with some

pretty influential people um i worked

one of my first great

experiences was in the early 90s working

on an inaugural gala

for president reagan oh well and that

was

fairly exciting i met like all the movie

stars

brizhnikov ella fitzgerald

frank sinatra dean martin you know

firsthand got to see jill saint john

robert wagner all these people up front

i got a sense of your world almost

opening up

it's just really like wow you know you

see all this on tv

and then you come to washington so but

it was always like going at the end of

the day going back home realizing

it didn't really matter i mean it was

fun

but i realized my roots were from my

father from tennessee and my mom from

germany and they gave

me um the life you know that i had

and i was just fortunate to to be in dc

i think

and find that there's cool things going

on

never wanted to move out of washington i

kind of was satisfied with

like going up to new england or going to

the beaches

taking trips to europe i took a fair

amount of trips to

spain and during my 20s and 30s

and loved that never wanted to move to

california

i've actually never seen my birthplace

el paso texas

which i probably will take a trip with

the pandemic going on

maybe at the end of this year

um so i'm almost seeing that as a kind

of a period of exploration and discovery

in a way

in in dc in dc absolutely and then is

there a shift for you

is another chapter come in or is that

the stage you're still in

or how do you no no i think another

shift was um

having some um two really good

relationships

one was was with a person that

was in politics and

that was very interesting it was a

republican side

again i went to republican galas the

convention at um in texas

where i actually met met president

reagan at the warwick hotel

in houston texas in the early 90s

met some lifelong friends who today i'm

still

friends with and realized that

washington dc was

sort of my real new home even though i

was born

in texas and had traveled a lot of

interesting places

you know i was lucky enough to be in a

hot spot

i call it a hot spot because there's so

much going on

kind of a hub in some ways well plus you

have the kennedy center culturally

there's just

you can go to amazing shows and

you know washington offers great

restaurants and

you know i loved it so so here we are i

guess you know in

the early 2000s period and that's when i

decided i needed to work for myself

so i think probably 20 years ago i

started my own

business event planning catering

um i would i started a little company

called creative catering

and with that

i you know catapulted into different

scenarios i was

giving parties at um lobbyists

who were extremely wealthy so you know

giving

a 10 10 000 budget was not that big of a

deal

i did um some parties for mci in the day

and um you know just

a lot of cool environments ambassadors

and just you know

putting together the event itself with

executing the food getting the food

bringing it

and taking pictures and i got a lot of

good pr

from that um and then i took that into

what i'm doing today

that evolved into the wedding planning

business i think

part of planning and organization

of that time and place

in my life is what probably

helped me in the actual wedding business

which

i've been doing now for about 10 years

and

you know i've probably executed over 400

weddings

so now we've gone from you know the

beginning of the dc

time probably mid 80s to the beginning

of the 90s of

being involved in politics and meeting

people

and the bottom line i think that i

realize

is dc was an incredible networking

environment

so the more people that i met during the

90s

until today they've stayed in my lives

and you know people call me for advice

all the time

i've had friends that have called and

said i'm in a panic i don't have this

what do i do and

stay calm you know just remember uh

it'll be fine you just have to um you

know be resourceful and figure it out

so yeah so i get a sense of sort of the

evolution that where you are today you

can see it having grown from

and some ways you've never left those

contacts behind you're enjoying

a stage of maturity in relation to

things that you've planted many years

ago exactly

exactly so i think that's um

you know the chapter is a big chapter

it's not like many little chapters

from about probably 85 you know i'm

not that old but i would say the past 25

years

has been one big chapter it's all

memorable sure

i have um fond memories of events

and meeting interesting people for sure

okay and that brings us to kind of where

we are today

although there are multiple themes and

developments within this chapter

as i'm understanding it yes so let's

i think i've i've tried to faithfully at

least catch

um if not create titles at least some

things that would be markers

that would help identify these chapters

for you so so let's

let's talk about uh some of these

chapters though so

what i've got evelyn is i've got chapter

one is sort of this

the childhood and that time that frank

frankly sounds magical

with um you know the food trucks and you

know just all the

the the exotic colorful participating in

novels

that's i think how europeans probably

did it yeah and they still probably

today it's kind of old school

i'm sure it's different a little bit

today but back then

but to have been part of that and to

participate in that that's well the

memory is

clear yeah i could imagine i could see

it's indelibly etched even well

now it would have a way my parents liked

um stuff called blood sausage and tongue

and stuff like that i like bologna

you know wallace my brother liked hot

dogs so

you know we were all american before we

got there

so baloney ham and hot dogs um

we probably ate hot dogs when we go out

to these expensive restaurants

the kids wanted hot dogs so one of the

things you mentioned when we started

talking about the very first chapter

is you said you know i talk about food

and you say

that's that's probably a theme for me

food is sort of a theme for me

so should have been a chef well but here

you are in event planning which is also

almost always involves food doesn't it

yes and

food is like part of that so so um

so say something more about that what

what is it um

if food is a theme for you in your life

in some way shape or form what

what role does it play or function or

what i think

because probably you know when you're

breaking bread and you're

eating really good food um

and you've had the opportunity to

to be thoughtful to to um have

created some of the food or some of the

events that included the food

it's just i like the the idea of

watching from beginning to end the

fruition of

food coming from this source ending up

you know kind of farm to table i mean i

just think that um

my experience in the realm of the food

industry

has been a little more um

uh what would would one say a little

more i've had more experience than most

because i have traveled at a younger age

and my family you know having been from

tennessee i mean my

grandparents had hogs they had chickens

we got eggs from the hen house

they would you know take their hog and

do whatever and they would have fresh

sausage and

you know i remember my grandmother

actually um

killing a chicken but i didn't realize

she was really killing it

right i just realized that you know my

mom was like get out of there and

feathers would fly and i just

so i think the experience of um

being around um the travels that i've

been

have just made me realize that it's all

really about

you know the great foods in the world i

mean

i'm definitely i like

beautiful things i like to dress up i

like beautiful clothes

but at the end of the day if i had to

choose a really beautiful

outfit over you know champagne and a

great lobster

i think it'd be champagne and a great

wall that's right so food is a part of

all of our lives but perhaps it plays a

special role in yours

yeah so

sort of um when we look at sort of the

chapters that you've written

you know you sort of started in in that

phase

in europe really memorable kind of these

identical memories

if you were to add on a chapter that

preceded the first chapter that you

wrote

what happened before that stage you know

if you're asking me to

try to remember that i only remember

them what my mom and dad or what my

mother would tell me

is that part of what you're asking me

can i sure

so i think um i was born in texas

and um it was during the time when one

of the great kidnappings had happened

i can't remember it was a hearst or some

kidnapping

and my mom was really concerned that i

was going to be kidnapped

we lived in the desert and i remember

she told me that the doctor came in and

had this pink

baby that was bald and he said to her

your baby is right here safe and sound

and you can tell your baby

is different from most of the other

children or babies because

everybody was dark in contrast because

we lived in the desert and there was a

lot of hispanics

so i think thinking about that

i remember um you know feeling different

and feeling like um i was

special in that sense that my mom was

very very protective

she always told me i never had a

babysitter until i was like four years

old

she never left me with anyone even

though we'd go to the grocery store

and i'd always want to go with people

i'd always like

put my arms out to be held by other

people she never

wanted to leave me alone with a

babysitter

she just was very protective that way so

a real sense of

security and protection and mom

was you know my sole best friend i lost

her in 2017

so she was with me pretty much my whole

life up until now

okay um so if that's part of um

you know my memory then that's important

because

it's certainly part of what informs you

and your development right i mean that's

as

a secure secure and special world to be

born into

right or you're distinctive you're

unique you're special you're prized and

you're you know what my dad was

important i mean i'm not saying

that he wasn't but he was just different

um he was

he was always trying to be funny

thinking that you know everything was

you know kind of he was very laid back

he uh cracked a lot of jokes

um he was always you know trying to get

a giggle from my brother my mom and me

my mom was stoic and german very serious

you know wallace that's ridiculous right

right right

you can still remember it yeah i just

you know

so and so if we were to fast forward all

the way from

the beginning evelyn to where you are

now and you were to tack on a chapter

like the next chapter if there were to

be another stage

another theme another development from

where you are now

to what you're going to be living in the

next next x number of years

what would that chapter be or what does

that consist of i really have no idea

i mean i don't have um

i mean my expectations for the next

chapter is

you know to continue to be healthy

uh try to be more involved in maybe the

community

some of the non-profits i have

worked in the past um you know travel

i'd like to travel a little bit um

so um but my expectations are

you know here and if something happens

and

it's great that's wonderful but you know

i'm not

i like i like surprises i don't you're

open to experience

right you don't know what all's going to

be held next time this next adventure is

you know the next chapter adventure is

the next oh

is the next chapter and it's been

throughout the whole time but adventure

could be

the next well i was going to ask you

about that okay so so

so if you were to look back across these

chapters as we've been talking about

them what

what themes do you see what do you see

as recurring motifs or

threads that would help weave together

this fabric of the life that elements

i'm pretty um what what is the word like

you know i at the drop of the hat i'm

happy to get on an airplane and go

somewhere we won't say impulsive

we'll say adventuresome adventuresome

but what's the other word

uh spontaneous spontaneous i am a

pretty spontaneous person okay um

but i but i do like to plan so

i do have the i think my work

responsibilities and my

career you know i'm i like the planning

part of my job but then at six o'clock

seven o'clock you know

spontaneous is good excellent so a

balance

and you you have elements of both in

your in your life and they've been there

in your life

spontaneity and planfulness pretty much

yeah okay that's good what um let me ask

you

when you look at your life

narrative yeah who would you see

as being the primary author it would are

you the author

are there other important people who

help co-author that

no i'm the author okay you're the author

okay good

and how about advice from others sure

but i think i'm

you know deep down you know

i'm i know that i've decided

your life is what you've made of it sure

okay okay

and um if you

if people were if you had people who

were important people in your life

your mom was here your brother were here

people who've been significant to you

um are there people who would see this

narrative

and want to edit it or change it or

people who

would share it and celebrate it how

would other people

view i'm sure there'd be a lot of

editing oh yeah

um but you know it's my life

i'm the author so i kind of i think i've

given you

um the background and sort of where i am

i think my brother would probably like

to say a few things

my mom she could she could certainly say

and we will and we will talk more about

them too sure okay

so they're the only two okay nobody else

is allowed

so we we will turn and talk about family

in more detail for sure

if if this if this series of chapters

were converted into a book and we had to

give

we had to sort of categorize the book in

some way

as a romance or as an adventure story

or as a mystery or as a

tragedy or as a comedy

what genre would it fit into

um

i think it would just be just the way i

see

it okay i mean

you know it's my life evelyn my life

just the way i see it

it's just it's pretty black and white i

mean

adventure sure romantic sure

but that's my private life uh we're not

going

that's another story huh well that's

another story but it doesn't have to

be in my personality well and

thank you for sharing these parts of

your personality and your story

as you've written it and as you lay

claim to it so

i appreciate the time this is great okay

you're welcome