My Friend Fancie

    Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you my new friend, Fancie.  In some respects, the name is a misnomer.  Early on, her life was anything but.  She is the daughter of an honest-to-god train hopping hobo.  It's absolutely true.  There was no settling down.  You've all heard the saying, "The nut don't fall far from the tree"-- Well, if a tree won't root, that nut can't either.  Don't mind the 'nut' reference, Fancie, it's not indicative.

    Moving on, when your life isn't practical, it tends to be more creative.  Constantly changing scenery and bathing in the melodies of The Beatles and The Doors all conspired to make Fancie an astute observer and, by extension, a prolific writer.  She's always up for something unusual.  Was it you, Fancie, who said, "never be afraid to try something new.  Remember, amatuers built the ark.  Professionals built the Titanic." ?

    No?  Anyway, you've gotta be grounded eventually, and Fancie has tried everything from bookkeeper to prison guard.  None of them stuck.  But the writer has always been there.  Fancie is a member of the American Author's Association, Writing.com, and The Paper Doll Gang, all fertile ground for a nut who has finally found a place to fall.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, let's give a warm welcome to an author, a mother (two cats, two kids, a bird and a "ragmop" dog) and my friend, FANCIE!!!

    (Applause)