Another Gather Birthday: Demetria D.

Today, January 18 is Demetria D.’s birthday. Demetria is single and lives in Houston, Texas. She joined gather on Aug 2, 2006. She has a cousin and an elderly aunt that she helps take care of.

Demetria works in Marketing and Public relations. She works from home quite bit, but her job also entails event planning so she goes out to events and takes customer meetings. She is also working on an educational web application.

Demetria has been writing since high school and continues even today; she writes in her work, publishing to local magazines. Here is what she says about her writing, “I've had several articles published locally. I have also had some poetry published online for online poetry slams. I have also done freelance work in the past. MY dream is to be a novelist. I like to joke that my aspiration is to write the mediocre American bestseller.”

Demetria was first inspired to write after submitting a poem for the Black History Month program.

Demetria enjoys writing, visiting coffeehouses, reading, going for walks, working out, bloggoing, creating recipes. She also enjoys:  being near the water, walking on the beach, visiting coastal towns, and traveling.

She hates traffic and people who always speak, act and think negatively about themselves or others.

I will let Demetria explain in her own words about the social issues that she are closest to her:

The increasing cost of health care because at some point only the truly poor or the insanely rich will have access to proper healthcare, poverty and hunger because without nutrition people can not possibly be at their best in the long term.

The nations children because we expect them to lead our nation into the future.

The war in Iraq because I'm not sure what we are doing. I have no son or daughter in Iraq but spiritually each of us is our brother or sister’s keeper. If I could discern the true motivation for our being there then the thought of the human toll would have a meaning.

The war at home because as people try to make sense of their lives and times, drugs depression and desperation is laying waste to large sectors or our population.

Demetria explains about an important event that transpired in her life. “My mother passed away and I discovered that no matter how many plans you make, life has a way of doing its own thing. It's important to live your life fully and without regret.”

The one thing that Demetria would do that she has not already done is to help change the lives of children.

Demetria tells us that her favourite birthday memory happened… “ When I turned eight I had a birthday party and this little girl came and we hit it off immediately. Up to that point there was no one there was no one that I'd ever clicked with. The discovery of someone who I felt that I could confide in and who confided in me. Even though we didn't conceptualize of what that meant then. After 33 years as friends, having weathered numerable storms, the chance meeting of my best friend stands out as one of my best birthday memories.”

Demetria’s birthday wish is that she would like to have the opportunity to visit “Old faithful.”  She goes on to say, “ I'd like enough money to pay my debts, treat my friends and family and heal the world.”

This is something I wrote in response to one of those writing prompts, they always have on writersdigest.com. I never sent it in, just didn't get around to it, but I kinda like. I hope the readers will as well.

Title: Now they won't talk to me

Seven days ago I went in the room. Now no one will talk to me. It really wasn’t my fault. I had no idea what they were going to do. John said go in and I did. I wasn’t expecting much but lo and behold the door closed behind me and the lights came up and there was the microphone in front of me. The glare of the lights shining in my eyes blinded me for a minute. Shading my eyes I looked out into the audience and there were all my friends who’d talked me into doing this. Sure I was funny at home but when Courtney told me she hated her mother in-law I didn’t plan to let that tidbit drop but it got the laugh.

Courtney is married to Rick. He’d been my boyfriend first. I’d found out they were dating about the time I thought he was going to propose to me, but I’d gotten past that. Jackie planned this little outing. She thought it would be fun. So maybe letting slip that the exotic dancer from her bachelorette party had given her a one of a kind wedding gift “her son" was a bad idea, but hind sight, well you know about hindsight. I’m pretty sure I convinced her husband it was just a little jokey joke.

Just between me, you and the lamppost, I’m not. It’s a good thing her son looks a lot like her. I mean I got no problems with Jackie. Maybe she’s a little obsessed with her weight. She’s a size six and I’m a size 14. She calls me all the time to complain about her fat thighs. The fact that it doesn’t dawn on her that,at a size 14, I can’t really sympathize with her non-existent weight loss battle. Well that’s just her way.

I came off stage to thunderous applause at least to my ears. Hands clapping, sharp slaps of palm against palm all except for my merry little band of supporters. They glared menacingly at me. John, my fiance grabbed me by the elbow and led me out of the room. Not saying a word we waited for the valet to bring the car.

Telling the audience that John was bad in bed, probably not my best moment, but other women could relate. I wasn’t trying to hurt John. I mean, he thought I didn’t know he was the father to Jackie’s son and since it was before we got together I didn’t hold it against him.

The song Demetria would love to have played for her birthday is:

Chris Botti w/Sting - In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning

Happy birthday Demetria from all your friends at gather, we hope we have made your day a memorial one.

Note to the birthday club members.  If you have not yet submitted your birthday dates to me please to so.  I need to prepare well enough in advance. Furthemore, when I send you the questions to do your celebration I need to have them back, at least one day prior to your birthday.

Carol Roach: winterose.gather.com

The birthday Club:

http://thebirthdayclub.gather.com/