Tell me about Fate!
What is meant to be, will be.
When opportunity knocks, you have to answer the door. Because it will not knock again.
Last Spring a mutual FB friend posted on my Naperville book and another friend saw it. It was former Woodridge mayor of 32 years, Bill Murphy who contacted me and inquired if I would write a history of Woodridge?
I sent my proposal to Arcadia Publishing and it was answered by a former editor of one of my titles who said he had been promoted and yes, Arcadia would be interested! Weeks later it was accepted.
Well, it is nine months later and instead of a pregnancy producing a human being, I have produced the Woodridge book, 40 VOICE columns and four children’s books in these nine months.
Wasn’t retirement supposed to be just fun and games? Could not I leave all the work behind and just swim all day? Now there is a capitol idea! I can swim again in 105 days. Counting!
Woodridge has been mailed to the publisher and I expect a first proof in 4-6 months. Which portends a Summer celebration and book release at Kagann Plaza in Woodridge with mayor Gina Cunningham leading and mayor emeritus Murphy smiling. Mayor Bill has been my second right arm and an avid supporter.
I have found the Village of Woodridge, a home-rule municipality, to be most remarkable and energetic and captivating. Everyone I met was thrilled that the history of their Village would soon be in their hands. I remarked one morning at the Police Headquarters that I had not met anyone who was crabby or unpleasant in the Village and a policeman overheard me and remarked “Oh, we them” and then laughed. Truly, this was a remarkable journey with help from so many residents.
Librarian George would scan all photographs in tif files, 600 dpi as required by Arcadia and that was huge. He loved the result of adding hundreds of images to the library archives and I loved having that portion done for me. Computers and I do not get along! I do not understand them and no one has taught me how it all works and what to do.
Former mayor Bill has been an invaluable asset in opening all doors for me and knowing whom I should include and contact names and information. He and I met at the Woodridge Library to interview Dana Morey, CEO of the Morey Corporation, which chose Woodridge over other locations to build their headquarters there. It was a delightful hour to say the least. Mayor Bill had been instrumental in bringing Morey Corporation to the Village and named the street Morey Boulevard where they would build the headquarters. That in essence, sealed the deal for Dana to choose Woodridge.
The V.F.W. men and the Rotarians and the current mayor Gina Cunningham, the churches and the restaurants and all of Woodridge society gave me everything I needed and then some. The Park District opened all their scrapbooks to let me choose what images I wanted for the book. There is an amazing park structure which provides many beautiful parks and recreational events for the residents. A local dentist had some captivating photos and stories to tell of his grandfather coming from Sicily as one of 13 children. The fire chief gave me a gift when we first met. Enchanting!
So now it is a waiting game for the first proof. I can hardly wait to have the book in my hands and know that this 8th title with Arcadia is finished and complete. It portends to be a beautiful Summertime.
D. Creswell has written that “With words as soft as feathers, she wrote in shades of light. Her words alive with morning sun and sparkling moon at night. With words as soft as feathers, she wrote in shades of light and then she set her colors free and let her words take flight.”