I am not that interesting. My stories, and the people I write about are, but if you want a little bit of background about the gal who is Sashaying Thru Life, here is
The Tea On Me
I was born Leana Corrinne Wall on December 21, 1967, in Winnipeg (Winterpeg), Manitoba, Canada. Winnipeg has the coldest winters of the major cities in Canada, and that definitely shaped me.
I was brought home from the hospital on Christmas Day, and my parents have told me I was their best Christmas present. I have always known I was loved. I told a friend that once, and she said, “Oh, that’s why you are so confident.” That puzzled me. I don’t think of myself as confident, but then I gave it a think, I don’t really get embarrassed, and I believe, despite my flaws and a crushing personal rejection, I am worthy of love, so maybe I am confident, in some ways.
I had a lovely, peaceful childhood in Canada. I spent summers playing at the cottage surrounded by cousins and family. We played in the lake, sometimes under the northern lights, and ran around in our secluded car free enclave without a care in the world.
During the six hard months of winter wonderland, we sometimes went to my grandparents’ in the country, where we skated, sledded, and made igloos. Winter nights in Canada are very long and dark, leading to semi-hibernation: watching a lot of hockey, curling, building fires, reading books, and watching movies.
The only thing traumatic about my teen years was my choices of makeup and hairstyles. Of course, I made some stupid decisions with my underdeveloped brain, but nothing life-altering.
After high school, I attended the University of Manitoba, where I earned a highly marketable degree in Theology and History. So, many job options with those skills, not. I got married the year after I graduated from University and my husband and I were surprised to find out we were pregnant seven months later.
Life was coming at me so hard and fast that I didn’t have time to really comprehend all the responsibility that was coming my way, and when you’re young you don’t overthink things. I always wanted to be a mother, so I embraced it all with great naivety.
I had my son at the tender age of 23, and I don’t have the words to explain what a treasure he is. I grew up with him, and sometimes I wish I could have been a more mature mother for him, but there are no mistakes in God’s world, and he came exactly when he was supposed to.
Three years later, my little girl exploded onto the scene, with all her precociousness and cuteness, making a matching set. I was a very content stay-at-home mom with the kids until my snug little household shattered around me when the kids were five and two. If you want pick up my story from there, go to https://leanaconway.blog/
So, that takes me to when I really grew up. There is a story that two men were at an Opera house listening to a very young virtuoso sing. One man said, “Oh, she is so young, and she has such a beautiful voice.” The other man turned to him and said, “Ah, but wait until she has had her heart broken, then she will sing with true passion.”
I understand. Until I experienced real pain, I didn’t experience real joy.
Welcome to my Blog,
Leana
