I’ll let you into little secret.
I didn’t want to come here. I didn’t want to move to the USA. No reason against it, it just wasn’t my dream..I came because it was an ambition of the man I married.
There were many positives to the move, the weather, the lifestyle the uplift in school for the children. But for me in the UK I had my friends, family, oldest son, photography business and was surrounded by my talented, creative peers..I wasn’t going to find that in the land of ‘Disney.’
How wrong I was.
Since moving here I have met so many inspirational people. Artists, designers, talented, creative individuals with a big voice, spiritual soul and energy bursting from the seams.
Like minded people who champion talent, hold their colleagues aloft and cheer their success. What I am saying is, here I am surrounded by beautiful, positive energy. Throw in some gorgeous sunlight, a few mimosas and evenings on the lakeside dock and I am in my own corner of heaven.
Today is Day 20. I won’t lie, I’m feeling the pinch. It’s tough when you have a family and ‘life’ gets in the way to fulfil a project. I won’t throw in the towel, I’m not a quitter, plus that would loose me a whole heap of new friends in the USA, they hate losers!
There was an art show locally today so I had my pick of incredible people. The woman I chose just spoke to me, without words. It was her presence. Her paint splattered overalls, scrapped back hair, make-up free, stunning face and the cardboard coffee cup in her hand, we are already best friends and she has no idea.
Name: Kimberley De Stephan Bettrame
Occupation: Fine Art Artist & Italian Language Teacher
1.Where were you born & raised?
Point Pleasant, New Jersey.
2.Tell me a childhood memory
‘Jumping off my family dock at night, sometimes midnight in the summer just to swim’. ‘Always the summers, all I did was clamming, swimming, sailing, I’m a water rat.’ ‘I was a very blessed child, I had a wonderful childhood. I was taken care of and all I did was play’.
3.What is your favourite season & why?
‘Summer, because I don’t have to get up to work everyday’. (being a teacher) ‘I swim and I paint and I swim some more.’
4.Tell me about someone you love.
‘My husband, Oh my God, there are so many loves in my life. I live for all three. My son, my daughter..’
Somebody comes along to talk to Kimberly about her work so we pause for a moment. When we resume she is teary eyed and has to take a moment.
‘I told both my kids it would be the easiest thing in world to give my life for both of them, they are moving away, ones in college and she is graduating this year, I’m going to have an empty nest.’
Kimberley is completely in love with her brilliant children. Both academically successful but also semi professional tennis players. Which is unsurprising as her husband Lorenzo is an Italian Professional tennis player.
5.What words of wisdom do you have for the reader about life?
‘To enjoy it, it goes really fast.’
6.Dreams for the future?
‘If I can keep living the way I am living I am happy as a clam.’
Can you hear that? She’s so positive! Kimberly doesn’t live in an ivory tower with money falling from the trees but she is full of love and energy and adores life. I agree with her completely. It’s so much more rewarding to take life and have fun with it. Breath deeply the air that surrounds us and dance rather than sigh and lay down and cry. She had a glow all about her, warmth and humour were all in abundance. I bet mealtimes are amazing, barbecues on their dock, fishing, swimming, all those things, enjoying the earths pleasures. It all sounds too good to be true but I believe in it, Kimberley paints like she lives life. Full of colour, natural beauty, with expression and abandon. It’s a good way to be, a good way to live. Glad to have met you today Kimberley, you make the world a better place.
