It’s my birthday tomorrow. I love birthdays. Not for the presents, not for the cake.  Not even for the mass amount of attention I create with my over the top excitement of celebrating a day JUST FOR LITTLE OLD ME…although I do hugely enjoy that feeling of child-like, giddy joy this special day brings.

I love birthdays because it’s a chance to reflect…not only on the past year but my lifetime to date. It’s a chance to celebrate earning another candle on my carrot cake muffin with cream cheese icing and acknowledge the lessons, accomplishments, bumps, lumps and dreams yet-to-be-come-soon to a birthday girl named Patty.

It’s been an amazing year and an even more amazing lifetime. Always interesting, never boring – should have that tattooed on my forehead!  A playground full of adventure; with many paths of great fortune and fortitude. Blessed beyond the moon and stars with optimism, imagination and love.  I am a very lucky girl.

I was thinking about how I wanted to mark this birthday – beyond the usual kick ass awesome sauce break it down and boogie till you just can’t boogie no more party at the Patty Love Shack.  I thought about totems, tokens, mantras, magic, symbols, self-expression and emotions.  I thought so long and hard I decided to take a break and go look in my tickle trunk in the basement for some inspiration.  I opened the dusty trunk to see all my life’s treasures.  Year books, report cards, my porcelain doll collection, Bobo my first teddy bear; my Brownie uniform covered in badges (Brownie of the Year, 1969…just saying) and then I saw them. Small inconspicuous vaults stuffed full of secrets, stories and life lines scribbled in colourful ink, locked – and the key thrown away.  There were dozens and dozens of them, different colours, some 1 year, 3 year and even a 5 year chronical of my most private thoughts.   I’m smiling, because for one who has held onto struggling with words for most of her life, I find it ironic I started writing in a diary at age ten. I sat that night after discovering them and read till 4am. I laughed out loud, I cringed, I remembered, I wept, I held the child me close to my heart. I haven’t finished reading them all yet, it’s taking precious time as each line is so lush, so pure, so real with reflection.  They are my birthday gift to me.

May 31, 2016

Dear Diary 

Today is an awesome sauce day! I fed my squirrels this morning and Mervin let me pet his perfect little head.  In one week my book is really real – it feels unbelievable to me that after over three years and a lifetime of living, my words are going to live in ink. It still boggles my molecules when I remember thinking that my “at a loss for words child me” thought that her weirdo, backwards, upside down, inside out from another planet dyslexic, being wasn’t good enough, wasn’t worthy of being heard.  I’ve come along way baby and I am proud of myself. 5 GOLD STARS!

 Tomorrow is my birthday – I’ll be 54 years wild!  I feel like my effervescence is explodiating, my passion for loving life fuller and fluffier and my “who gives a flying fuck” freer then ever as I skip along this extraordinary path – one day at a time (thanks Mom).  I am insatiably curious, amped up to tackle bigger adventurous; covet more emotional experiences, and just want to gobble up every little delectable, kaleidoscopic molecule of being around me. I want SMORE with extra sparkles on top! I want to push beyond my boundaries and go further, do more, be more, live more, and all that blabby blab blab said, take a moment to breathe and acknowledge just how lucky I am and how ever grateful I am for all the magic I have in my life.

 Dear Diary, you’ve been an incredible friend to me. A place to be real, long before I realized how utterly essential that is to being happy and being myself. I cherish your pages and I’m busting with anticipation to share with you all the crazy adventures yet to come. Till tomorrow xx Patty

 “Life can be wonderful, amazing and funny and it can also be hard, scary and full of surprises…if only there was a manual!  Just a simple guide to show me how to get from point A to point B (in the quickest and least painful way).” – Patty

If you’ve ever uttered these words, then this book is for you!

How to Live Like a Chipmunk and Other Tips on Living an Awesome Sauce Life is a handy-dandy, tell it to me straight, how-to guide with over 80 life scenarios – each simplified into 11-step lists – so you can get to where you want to be lickety-split!

Like… How to create calm.

1. Trust me, as someone who personifies a chipmunk on caffeine, just the notion of sitting still makes me twitch. But honestly the sedation of laying down in the dark, listening to the hypnotic drawl of a spaced-out yogi’s voice is enough to put anyone’s mind to sleep.

My favourite place to be in the whole wide world is in water – oceans, rivers and yes bubble baths….you don’t get the nickname “the mermaid” for nothing!  From the shores of the St. Lawrence and the sandy dune beaches of Halifax’s Atlantic coast to the rocky ridges of the Pacific, the scared waves of India’s Ganges and of course the magic coca cola-coloured Kamperslut river up at my cottage – it is my bliss.

Being in a river brings me an enormous sense of peace and calm. It teaches me that beauty, energy, and yes life is ever changing.  As a super speedy, chipmunk on caffeine…I need to be reminded of this lesson often.

In the winter she sleeps, things slow down to a standstill until the spring thaw awakens with a crack and volcanic eruption of ice castles taking their last trip down the river. She is a force of nature – gushing, steadfast, cleansing the season and preparing a new path for the new season. She swells, overflows with the dissolve of winter, saturating the earth so to help sow the seeds of spring. At times she is ferocious, dangerous and deep; while other times meandering, babbling and even completely parched.

Just like life is like “a box of chocolates”….life is also a lot like a river.  Ebbs and flows, turbulent and tranquil; full and empty. Is it moving too fast or going too slow?  Are there nasty rocks in your way?  How do you maneuver the rapids?  And Geez Louise sometimes all I want to do is float, but most often I just want to know…where pray tell is this wandering river taking me?

I have a mantra I say to myself whenever my molecules go a little wacky and worrisome. I say “just be in the river”; then I go there in my mind’s eye to recall the sensation of the water moving around me, tickling my knees, feeling the little rapids ripple through my legs….thinking they all know exactly where they are going without a care in the world. Then I have a seat on my favourite log, feel protected until she sometimes surprises me with a playful splash and reminds me it’s just water. Other times I walk across to the far side, lie down and bathe in her Buddha-like pools and just let the swirls lull me into a state of bliss.

I invite you to step into the river. Immerse yourself, trust and embrace the flow of your life.

“Life can be wonderful, amazing and funny and it can also be hard, scary and full of surprises…if only there was a manual! Just a simple guide to show me how to get from point A to point B (in the quickest and least painful way).” – Patty

If you’ve ever uttered these words, then this book is for you!

How to Live Like a Chipmunk and Other Tips on Living an Awesome Sauce Life is a handy-dandy, tell it to me straight, how-to guide with over 80 life scenarios – each simplified into 11-step lists – so you can get to where you want to be lickety-split!

Like… How to love yourself when you are having an “I’m fat, ugly, stupid AND a bad hair day” day.

1. Do you have hair? Consider yourself lucky. If all else fails – use barrettes, bandanas or berets…or a paper bag and then go for a walk with your two working legs.

When I was little my Dad created this magical nightly ritual where my sister and I would gather underneath the chandelier and we would talk to the faeries. We’d tell them our wishes, happy thoughts for our friends and family; we‘d tell them our fears and then go to sleep knowing they were there to watch over us.  I still talk to the faeries; although now they live in my squirrel lamp.

I’ve been called eclectic, eccentric, whimsical, weird, kooky and full on bat shit crazy. Thank you. Being normal (whatever that is…besides a setting on a washing machine) would be the death of me.  I have no interest in gray, vanilla, middle of the road or ordinary. I aspire and want to inspire much, much more. I believe in the unbelievable, intangible and invisible. I believe in magic, miracles and shit wonders… because why not?  What kind of world would it be if everything was predicable, explainable and calculable?  What kind of world would it be without unicorns and faeries?

I speak to animals and believe they understand everything I say. This makes sense to me because I completely understand everything they are saying to me…and really you can never have too many friends.

I believe I was born on a star. That’s what my Dad told me and he would never lie to me.

I believe invisible things are real. Things like Santa, faeries, spirits, monsters under the bed, hope and possibilities. Just like love…you feel them with your heart and soul, and trust that they are real even though you can’t necessarily reach out and hold it.

I believe in the benefit of the doubt. Twice. Then you get the wrath.

I believe in signs. Like DO NOT ENTER, CAUTION UNDERTOW or SASQUATCH CROSSING. I also believe in signs like the same little bird that comes visits me at my cabin every spring and lands on me to hang out for a spell. His name is Ian.  My friend Ian promised to visit me as a bird after he passed away and has kept his promise every year.  Just two weeks ago I was thinking or talking out loud to myself about how much I wished my parents could see this book being published. They would be so happy and proud of me.  Last week I got a random email from a person whose parents were friends with my parents in the early 50’s. She had letters that both my Mom and Dad had written to her parents talking about their new baby girl and how amazing and perfect and cute and smart she was… guess who!  This random stranger found the letters, searched for me and sent them. Absolute treasures, and thanks Mom and Dad.

I believe in magic.

I believe in G.O.D. (Great. Out. Doors.)

I believe in one love.

I believe in the pot of gold at the rainbow’s end.

I believe we all have secret super powers.

I believe we should always and only be ourselves.

And I believe in you. xx

 “Life can be wonderful, amazing and funny and it can also be hard, scary and full of surprises…if only there was a manual!  Just a simple guide to show me how to get from point A to point B (in the quickest and least painful way).” – Patty

If you’ve ever uttered these words, then this book is for you!

How to Live Like a Chipmunk and Other Tips on Living an Awesome Sauce Life is a handy-dandy, tell it to me straight, how-to guide with over 80 life scenarios – each simplified into 11-step lists – so you can get to where you want to be lickety-split!

Like… How to be one with nature

1. Embrace the elements. Gather freckles from the sunshine. Find your fins in the water. Wave your wings in the air and fly, fuel your spirit from the fire and ignite it! Wilderness isn’t just a place, it’s a state of being. G.O.D. (Great. Out. Doors.)

A few weeks ago I was rummaging through a box I had tucked away and found my autobiography. I wrote it when I was 11 years old. It is hand written very neatly over 5 pages of foolscap, with 3 pages of black & white Polaroid’s attached to make the story more interesting. It starts….My name is Patricia Ann Lowry – Patty for short and I am 11 years old. It goes on to describe my family members, the many places we lived, the many schools I had to start and how hard it was to move every few years, how hard it was to make friends and how lonely I was. It talks about my hobbies, my love of animals – especially squirrels and how much I just loved going to EXPO 67, because it was like the world in one big fair ground and that one day I hoped to travel the world and write a book.

Forty-three years ago, a little girl wrote her autobiography and this past year, the same girl, a little older, wiser and well-lived wrote her bio along with 150 pages of personal life truths that will soon be published and made real to the world.  When I think about who I have become so far, I get a little choked up. It triggers something, a place deep inside me where that little girl still exists, still strives, still fights and survives and still wants approval and love.  But when I think about her I think of her with such pride and admiration because she is tough, and strong of mind and spirit, and she is full of dreams and wonder and she never gave up on anyone, anything and especially herself.  I can’t remember where she found that power especially being so young – but I do remember her knowing everything would somehow be ok.  I get choked up because she is still inside me and reminds me of this all the time.

As I countdown over the next month to the launch of my book I am filled with a whole kitten caboodle of different emotions –from complete over the moon excitement and OMG this is really really real to WTF have I got myself into and OMG this is really really real.  I’m about to get naked. Expose my deepest thoughts, opinions and open my vault, my mind and heart to the whole wide world to ponder upon. Kinda scary being vulnerable…lowering the drawbridge, calling off the dragons, removing my shield and putting down my sword to invite you into my castle to play. But there is also a beauty and sense of freedom to being vulnerable that I discovered throughout writing my book (and btw…wrote a list for the book on “How to be vulnerable”).  Whether it’s asking for help, sharing your fears, opening yourself to judgement – both positive and negative, the same essence of authenticity also brings you closer to achievement, applause, empathy, joy and big sparkly badges of courage!

So bring it on! Be brave. Be open. Be breakable. Be real. That’s a beautiful thing.

 “Life can be wonderful, amazing and funny and it can also be hard, scary and full of surprises…if only there was a manual!  Just a simple guide to show me how to get from point A to point B (in the quickest and least painful way).” – Patty

If you’ve ever uttered these words, then this book is for you!

How to Live Like a Chipmunk and Other Tips on Living an Awesome Sauce Life is a handy-dandy, tell it to me straight, how-to guide with over 80 life scenarios – each simplified into 11-step lists – so you can get to where you want to be lickety-split!

Like… How to happy.

1. Never listen to naysayers, bosses who are drunk by lunch, teachers who call you dumb, parents who worry that you’re destined to be a secretary or sacredy-cat wannabees with inflated egos of their dullard reality. ALWAYS listen to strangers on the bus who talk to you or themselves, children, animals and the voices (I know you hear them too).

All 11-steps COMING SOON to a super Awesome Sauce book near you!

I really hate to brag…but if you must know, I am the undefeated, unbeatable, unbelievable cottage “caps” champion for 11 years straight…I’m running out of room for my trophies as a matter of fact.  (For those of you born pre 1980… “Caps” is a drinking game where you turn over the cap and balance it on the neck of the bottle, then sit opposite your opponent and flick the cap at their cap to knock it off and make them drink – the better you are the tipsier they get)…let’s just say Eagle Eye Lowry is always the thirsty one. I also hold the record for tying the most cherry stems in a knot, in a row – which would be 13. Did I hear someone say SKILLS? Ahem. I’ve also kissed Billy Idol, David Bowie and Steven Tyler, not all at the same time, individually…although that would be interesting. Oh and last but not least I won Brownie of the Year in 1969; it’s on my resume.

So what’s your claim to fame? I just love asking this question.  It provokes the greatest responses. People are often puzzled, pause and have to dig deep to really think about what defines their fame? What is fame? Am I famous?  Well of course you are!  What I especially love about this questions is the answer doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with your job, your status, or what you have created (be it a book or a baby). It even isn’t necessarily about something public, a performance, art piece, degree or other accomplishment, in fact it could be something very private – a secret you hold deep in the vault. What this question inspires for me is an open opportunity for possibility to create our own fame.

Fame – and I’m not talking about Kim Kardashian kinda fame; but more the illustrious sense of what do you want to be known for? Talked about? Remembered by? Loved for? What is it about you that resonates with people? Defines you, makes you, YOU and wonderfully famous for it?

So take a moment or ten and think about it. Foster your sparkles. Shine your own light and claim your own fame!

Here are my top 11 infamous claims:

1. Being a wild ass adventurer.
2. Talking to animals (they talk back).
3. Believing I will win an Oscar one day.
4. Owning a magical place called Kamperslut.
5. Scardiating people (The art, study, practice and perfection of hilarious, immature acts with the intention of scaring the bleep out of peeps.)
6. Breaking my back, collarbone, cheekbone, legs 3 times, shattering my right foot & ankle, left wrist, hand & fingers, heart 3 times and spirit once and can still being able to do a mean cartwheel.
7. Speaking my mind and telling the truth.
8. Spontaneous dance parties.
9. Proving the naysayers wrong.
10. Believing in the faeries that live in the chandelier.
11. Being me.