Announcement: Sondra's 2013 New Beginnings!

ANNOUNCING: Sondra Torchia & Company begins her 2013 TRAVEL series:

                                    ' Women of Character Civil War Era'

Lectures/first person presentations vary in length depending on audience and event needs. Lodging and/or fee information upon discussion of your events needs and location.

Please contact Sondra via phone or e-mail these details on her web-site contact page.

 www.SondraTorchia.com

Sondra's blog will list the states and dates of travel from May through September 2013.

One of my favorite quotes is by Helen Keller
    'Who would be satisfied to creep When one could SOAR!

Wow putting it on the refrig. is this a positive move or not?     
I can see and repeat it every single day!
May this quote bring pause as well as joy to each of you.
Where will this creeper soar in 2013?     
 Stay Tuned:)

Greetings,
Christmas music playing, the fireplace glowing, now that is a sweet evening made only better with the anticipation of seeing family,and friends in the coming days.  Even might sneak in a white Chirstmas in these Ozark Mountains the weather man tells us.  I have the bird feeder filled and the sunroom windows washed ready to be entertained by those feather friends that will gather as the snow arrives.  May the coming year of 2013 be one of new adventures, visit with old friends and new friends for each of us.
Good night all!!

Welcome to Sondra and Friends

Welcome to my blog.    I am surprised to be writing a BLOG...actually I find it quite amazing so here goes.

Circumstances in one's life often are not  what we expect or see coming at all.  How life has changed for our family this year with the passing of my husband, Bob Torchia, in March of 2012.  

So here I am in December reciting daily the mantra I have shared with literally thousands from first graders to seniors, hoping and praying, I too can live up to those simple ten two little words:

  IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME! 

So!  What comes next as Sondra moves into 2013 and beyond?  Ideas are appearing on the horizon, opportunities are knocking, train rides loom ahead.  There are friends,old and new to visit, places to see, museums and cities await!  Hopefully new audiences will appear. 

Maybe a bit of review is in order.  I am an educator with over 30 years in the classroom with a BA in Elementary Ed. and MA in Special Ed.  How do a couple of flat landers from Kansas end up in the Ozark Mountains where roads go up and down, round and round?   Bob and  I were married 44 years; proud parents of a son and daugher, grandparents to seven soon to be eight, and four great grandchildren.  We owned and operated Torchia's Ace Hardware in Oswego, KS, closing it in1986.  When our son left for college  Bob and I packed up and moved  to the Ozarks.  The first ten years in Eureka Springs I taught school and Bob was manager of the gift shops at the Great Passion Play.  After my retirement from public education  I joined  the University of Arkansas Continuing Education department as the On-Site Coordinator for Elderhostel.  When Bob retired a few years later he joined me and we escorted  Elderhostel travel programs for the U of A.  Oh, how we both loved meeting folks from all over the United States and Canada.

Throughout my life, my passion has led me to develope a wide cast of characters and to make friends across the country.  "Sondra and Friends" will introduce you to a few of the women from the pages of history and in the circle of my experiences that have touched my life.

Please join my blog as a follower and drop me a note.  Friends old and new,
 Thanks to you ALL!
Sincerely,
Sondra Sue Torchia