Sponsor 7 Q+As with Della Perrone of Hoemann-Perrone Photography! Darrell Hoemann captured the best—and hilariously odd—moments of our show last year, which allows us to step back in time over and over again. We absolutely adore both of these artists’ work and are excited to see what this team will create for 2014 pictures!
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1. What are you grateful for today?
Health, mind, and the fact that any person in this world would be the least bit interested in what I have to say or give.
2. Tell us about one of your friends and what you love about her.
This is such a difficult response to compose. I have so many amazing women in my life and there are so many reasons to love them all. Gloria amazes me and inspires me to be a better person in many ways. It’s her kindness, creativity, tolerance, openness, and spiritual connection with everything that she undertakes that I love most about her. She inspires me to have the courage to explore my own truth. I am very grateful to know her.
3. Describe one of the best days of your life.
I’m really glad this question is qualified with the words “one of!” Instead of describing a certain day, I prefer to approach this response as describing any day that any combination of these elements occur: A warm memory of my mother, a great conversation with my niece or one of my stepsons, quality recreational time with my husband, a creative epiphany, that amazing feeling of well-being that only women can feel – randomly, without reason, amazing weather, silence, a forgotten loved piece of music, truth, connecting, noticing.
4. What’s the best lesson you learned from your mother/grandmother?
My mother taught me that perseverance is the single most important ingredient to success in any endeavor. She called it “sticktoitiveness.” Along with that lesson came the gift of patience which has been priceless – particularly when it comes to being patient with myself. Sometimes, I wish she had also taught me when to walk away; however, I may have missed or ignored that message because patience and perseverance come with a certain element of stubbornness. She also taught me to be multi-dimensional and independent, the former attribute causing some confusion as to who I really am.
5. We’re all unique. What is your special gift?
There can be a fine line between a gift and a curse. I’m very sensitive which allows some great awareness and perception/observation. It can also be very painful. It has taken some work to accept and embrace this trait so that I could put it to better use and not hide from it. Also, see last comment in previous….I get confused because I want to be (or am!) too many things.
6. What could women be doing to make their community a better place?
Share your gifts with others. I believe that we all have more than just one or two roles at a time to perform in life. It’s a gift women have – the ability to be many things all at once. If you have a strong family life and a career, it’s difficult to get out in the community and be involved in “one more thing,” but it’s important to bring other dimensions to your home, work and self. It keeps you interesting, interested, and benefits the community – even in a small way. Giving of yourself to the community brings new lessons to those in your daily life. Specifics are as individual as the woman. They key would be to just get involved in something – anything!
7. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Confront cruelty. It’s something I find totally intolerable and it makes me very sad. Unfortunately, I don’t think one can kill it with kindness, only try to soothe the wounds.
