A joyful week

This was one heck of a week! So many great things happened.

My husband Vance, son Nicholas and I all got our second shot of the Pfizer vaccine, as did several of my family members. Such a relief!

FB Message from Chef Chris Valdes

FB Message from Chef Chris Valdes

I got a wonderful message on Facebook from Chef Chris Valdes. He wrote to me to let me know my article in the New Times (here is a link to my article) about Camillus House’s Culinary Program inspired him to go teach a class to the students in the program. His name sounded so familiar and it turns out he was a contestant on Season 14 of “Food Network Star,” a show I used to watch every season. It was so gratifying to read his note and know my story made a difference and was his inspiration.

Also this week, my daughter Elizabeth went back to physical school and I couldn’t have been happier for her. The virtual school was starting to seriously affect her mental health. Even though it once again means a 6:45 a.m. wake up time for me to drive her, I was so happy to see her smiling. It was good for me too, getting back into more of a morning routine.

It was a busy writing week for me, where I tackled a couple of articles that inspired me and brought me a great sense of pride. It felt great to hit “send” and e-mail my Editors with my finished pieces.

One of them was about Area Stage Company, one of my favorite theater companies in Miami and their temporary move to Sunset Place. As I wrote it, memories came flooding back of the last cultural outing I had before the pandemic, attending their production of “Oliver” to watch my great niece Anne Marie perform. Click here to read the article.

And just today, I finished up an article about black women who are holding their own in leadership positions within the trucking and logistics industry. It may not sound like the most glamorous subject but these women are inspiring, empowering and breaking the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry! That one will be published in the next few months. I’ll share a link when that happens.

I was also thrilled to help out at a gallery opening that featured the work of my good friend and co-worker, artist Jean Blackwell Font. She co-curated the exhibition which featured three of her pieces. It’s called “(Brave) New World (Bold) New Rules” and is on display at the AXS Law offices in Wynwood. Click here for info on the show. And if you like, check out Jean and her husband Ignacio Font’s work on their website Warehouse 4726.

Clear blue skies and crashing waves made for a great end to the week. Surfside Beach is one of my favorites and so close to home!

Clear blue skies and crashing waves made for a great end to the week. Surfside Beach is one of my favorites and so close to home!

And today, I capped off the afternoon with a nice stop at the beach. I took a dip in the refreshing water and just soaked up the afternoon breeze for a while.

Overall, it was all pretty awesome. Looking forward to see what next week brings!

Until then…have a great one.

Josie Gulliksen

Writer, lover of all things cultural, bike rider, nature lover, tree hugger, composter, lover of farmers markets, always working to make the world a better place, empath, avid reader, mom, wife, friend.

https://josiegulliksen.com
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The week that was…a bit more normal