Say Yes Now, Think About it Later

When I was invited to speak at the Rotary Club of Morganton back in January, I said yes mostly because the date they gave me was in June—which felt like a hundred years away. But once June rolled around, I turned to my husband and asked, “Why are they even interested in hearing from me?” I was half-hoping he’d say they weren’t anymore, and I could skip it altogether.

Instead, he explained—since he's a member—that the club invites someone each week to speak about their business. “It’s a way for members to learn about all kinds of different businesses,” he said. Somehow, that made it feel less intimidating. So I grabbed my flash drive and off I went.

I started by sharing how I got into stained glass, showing them my very first project: a small glass mushroom I made 25 years ago. I told stories about my studio days in New Jersey and the transition to opening a storefront here in North Carolina. I also talked about my plans to return to a home-based studio once we finish building our place on Lake James. And I shared images of some of my favorite commissioned pieces.

The audience was warm and welcoming—they oohed and aahed in all the right places, asked thoughtful questions, and even sent me home with a mug full of candy as a thank-you. What started as an obligation turned into a lovely trip down memory lane, and I left feeling grateful for the chance to reflect on just how far my glass journey has come. That, and a mugful of candy, made it all worth it.