As I began drafting this blog – and was patting myself on the back for the completion of my audiobook – I began to sing Eric Carmen’s 1970s pop song, All By Myself. Curious to listen to this tune I haven’t heard in ages, I found it online, sat back and closed my eyes. I was dropped back into that era of teenage angst, not my current mood but sentimental anyway. I never owned his album and must have tuned in via radio in those days. (And when I queried Russ about it, he proceeded to sing it in an obnoxious way, letting me know he wasn’t a fan.) Okay, wow. That’s way off topic. Except to ramble my way into introducing this next audiobook production.

After releasing A Map of Her Own, folks have asked me, what next? I explained how I had nothing planned, and in fact felt my last two books releases were close together, and maybe I’d take a break. Other than this blog, of course. Maybe nothing in the future. Maybe something. And yet. Sometime after Christmas I started thinking about a folder of files on my computer. Yes, I had narrated and recorded From First Breath to Last back when I recorded My Music Man late last spring. Thanks, yet again, to my friend Author Ron Turker (check out his book The Wandering Jew of St. Salacious), who loaned me his recording equipment for more than enough time to record My Music Man. After all I had time, far more time than I’d ever had as an adult having been laid off less than a year before. Oh, and those who know me might attest to how I tend to be a pretty efficient doer. Great at grasping big stuff, able to get into the weeds… even if I DO get a bit bored when they get too weedy. So yes, I’ve been prolific as an author and a few might contend that had I taken more time, each book might’ve been even better. But I’ve come to terms with who I am.

I have received lovely comments from some who have listened to my now available audiobook of My Music Man. Not that it’s hitting best seller status anytime soon. I narrated and completed basic editing of those audio files, using Audacity. But I didn’t trust myself, and it felt important to me to get that audiobook done well, so I hired a someone to complete the final edit, although I still took on the task of uploading the files for final production. It’s probably important to reiterate my being a “big picture” person. But I’m not afraid of technology. It has been helpful that during my 18 work years at OHSU, I took on a variety of tasks within my job’s “Outreach and Education” sphere, well beyond web updates. Back in 2010, I realized we needed social media! Oh, and wouldn’t it be great to create an outwardly facing blog (Oregon and the Workplace). It was in those years when formaldehyde in hair products was making international news – so we had something important to share! During the pandemic I got more involved with YouTube (see: COVID Conversations). I’m no expert but had to be functional at all of it. All those things help me in this next part of my life journey to be unafraid to try new things or to troubleshoot technology.

A year ago I challenged myself to become a regular listener of audiobooks. Mom was a voracious reader. After she moved to West Linn we made regular visits to the local library to get books, first for Dad too, and then later, just her and me. As her vision declined due to progression of macular degeneration, I helped her purchase an ipad and she learned how to add books. The ipad’s ability to increase font size and utilize contrast was a savior for several years. But then came the time she had to change gears again, and learn how to enjoy audiobooks. I helped get her signed up for Oregon’s Talking Book and Braille Library, an incredible resource! Mom devoured her audiobooks. Although during her final four months, since she was living with us, more often than not she had eagerly available readers. This past year, my challenge was to make sure I learned to enjoy listening to audiobooks before any need may (or may not) arise. Although I’d occasionally listened to them during car travel, in the past I often found my mind wandering; me a visual learner. Now, though, I’ve learned to look forward to those long walks or household chores when I get to dive back into an audiobook. These days I always have one audiobook and at least one “paper” book going. Yes, reading is one of my biggest of life joys, as it was Mom’s. And now, to produce this book about Mom as an audiobook, narrated and produced by me – her only daughter – feels special and perfect.

Mom didn’t drink much but she’s toasting something here!

With all that backstory….TADA! I did this one ALL BY MYSELF! Welcome to the beginning of sharing parts of my new audiobook: From First Breath to Last: A Story About Love, Womanhood and Aging! Yet again, I thank Bedazzled Ink for publishing this book, and giving me the rights to produce the audiobook. Perhaps I’ll share other tracks in future blogs – or maybe the whole thing, as well as invite you to purchase the audiobook if you want it in that easy-to-llsten-to package.

Welcome to this first clip, which kicks off the audiobook. If you have read the book or attended a book event, you may recall parts of it. If you know me well, or happened to know Patty, you may have a pretty good guess as to why I wrote this book. I hope you take the time to listen and imagine how our story shares similarities or differences with your own, as a daughter, son, mother, father, grandparent or good friend. Yes, I’m grateful for the ability to share our stories!

About This Book

Mom and me at Three Lakes, Mount Rainier National Park, 1981 (referred to in the chapter “The Power of the Wild” in From First Breath to Last.)