Hi, I’m Cindy, or better known by a boss as Chatty Cathy with the extra-long cord. (Chatty Cathy was the first talking doll back in the 1960’s.) I love conversation, though my dental patients may say its rather one-sided and my husband is known to fall asleep to my chatter. Blogging is a natural outgrowth of my love of connecting with others beyond my newspaper columns (found at trib.com). I’m a native fourth generation Wyomingite, which not many can claim. My ancestors arrived from England, Germany, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, and other European countries. I love this great state! By most standards, our small population (600,000 for the whole state) might mislead one to assume opportunities are limited here. On the contrary. In Wyoming we value our roots in family values, love of the land, and opportunities to fly from the nest, armed with what we need to succeed. Growing up in a small town of 2,500, I enjoyed close relationships with many families as we spent time on local ranches, attended Saturday night square dances, and enjoyed exploring the out of doors in the mountains and outskirts of town. I learned (and loved) homemaking skills of cooking, canning, sewing, knitting, and decorating from Mom and my 4-H leaders. I was blessed to take piano and organ lessons as well as to sing in church, Job’s Daughters, and with friends in a group we called The Oddballs. Best of all, I had an upbringing of faith with caring teachers and youth leaders who built on the goodness of my own family. Those small town roots were strong as I left for college, marriage, and a career in dental hygiene. I still enjoy the same hobbies, with added roles of mom to six children, gardener (recruited to dirt-touching by my husband), piano teacher, harpist, and most recently as a writer. Even with bumps, detours, and occasional dark clouds in life, my faith continues to grow with daily study and reaching out to serve others. This blog was born with a desire to share enjoyment and meaning in life.