From a Fractured Shoulder to a Western Camping Adventure to an African Safari

    Today is December 7, 2014 and I am reflecting on my travels. I can only say WOW! Michael and I don't seem to be able to keep still even when I have had an injury. I guess I can say that is a good thing.
    Back in March of this year I had a wake up call when I fell at my cousin's apartment in Dubai. I have never had a broken bone throughout my life. We were waiting for our driver to arrive to take us to the desert. When the phone rang I was half asleep. I jumped up and charged the phone not realizing that the cleaning lady had just mopped the floor. Suddenly I slammed onto the marble floor and was unable to move my left arm. It was as if the arm was hanging off. My immediate response was about the driver but my husband's voice of sanity quickly summed up "We're not going to any desert. You're going to a hospital." I knew he was right but I was scared.
   Next I was in a taxi heading for the German Saudi Hospital. As I arrived I was met at the door by an escort with a wheelchair. He quickly ushered me to xray where my arm was x-rayed. Then the doctor appeared with the xrays on a CD and the diagnosis. "You have a fractured shoulder that will need pins. I can do the surgery tomorrow at 2PM. Call  me if you would like the surgery."  I immediately asked them to email the report to my daughter so my orthopedic PA son-in-law, Ken, could tell me his thoughts. He emailed me immediately that the fracture was serious and would require a long rehab. he said I should return home. Realizing the severity of the injury and the fact that my next destination was Africa, I knew I had to return home. Recovering at my cousin's apartment and traveling to Africa was not an option. Next, I contacted my cousin who arranged for our flights so he could change our return flights. The morning of my accident he had flown to LA so I sent him an email and waited to hear from him.

I am back

I have been away from my blog for quite some time, but I have been writing in other places and enjoying many creative expressions. In 2010 we decided to stop sailing full time because we became grandparents. We now are delighted by two little boys in our lives. Kyle and Bentley will join us on the boat next year.
We keep the boat at The Wharf at Handy's Point and sail in the Cheasape. We have taken the Dramaqueen out for the winter and today we are heading to Tanzania for a safari and other activities. I am excited for the adventure.
Toots,the seafaring dog and my sidekick is 14 years old. She still steals everyone's heart.



More to come on sailing

Toots , A seafaring Dog Tale

When I retired from teaching in 2006 after thirty-three years of teaching, I jumped on our sailboat, Drama Queen, with my husband, Toots and my journals. It was a time of adventure as we set off to wherever we landed. I wrote every day. This little cairn terrier was six years old and had never lived on a boat. She adapted to our fiberglass deck

 and getting breaks by riding the dinghy to shore. She never complained and her loyalty grew stronger each day.

I observed her behavior and she is truly my dedicated fan. I return her love by being her number one fan, too. In my observation of Toots, I started to narrate her story and found myself giving her pirate traits. It doesn't take me long to become a pirate so I joined her and the next thing I knew I was telling her story and we were pirate mates. I also included Max as one of our pirate mates, too.

The children always delighted in her cuteness and I always was amazed at how docile and sweet Toots was around the children. Animals tell so much about who they are in their interaction with you, but they also tell you about yourself.  Toots is twelve years old and a fabulous Old Dame that likes hanging with me and is always a great entertainer for children. I always have to check with the schools to determine whether she is allowed to visit the school. Sometimes there are restrictions because of children's allergies. Regardless whether she comes along with the performance, Toots, A Seafaring Dog Tale, takes children on adventure of pirates and they learned about Toots who traveled with Arabella, my female pirate character.
Contact me for more information about storytelling programs or writing workshops at maureenbarry380@hotmail.com

Writing original Stories

I have been writing my original stories and performing them for a number of years. Stories connect us to others. We share experiences through stories. I travel to schools and perform assemblies around my books. The children are receptive audiences as they delight in connecting with chickens, frogs, other farm animals and occasionally a pirate takes them on an adventure with a seafaring dog by the name of Toots.

The Barn at Spring Brook Farm exposes children to animals that are trained to work with people who may be sick or disabled. The person develops a relationship with one of the farm animals and then starts to walk or make progress through the relationship.
As a storyteller, I tell about the animals and how each is special in a unique way. I use puppets and a farmhand approach to connecting with the children. The performance is interactive and not only entertains but teaches about the special qualities of animals.