About the author

Jerilee Wei

<br><strong>Born to a teenaged Cajun mother in a forgotten land, I inherited secrets whispered through generations. My life, a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues, painted against the stark backdrop of logic-defying remedies and ancestral wisdom. They called me a wild gypsy, a chameleon, a lone star in a crowded sky.<br></strong><br><strong>I chased sunsets in faraway lands, sharing a tarmac dance with an elephant, dodging camel spit under scorching suns, and clinging to a runaway ostrich. Bears chased me, mountain lions watched, and even raccoons (rabid ones, mind you) tested my reflexes. Through wars and hurricanes, I saw life's fragile dance, tagging toes amidst death's waltz and finding solace in the woods where only deer knew my name.</strong><br><strong>But amidst the whirlwind, words were my anchor. <br><br>​​​​​​​From Air Force WAF to Capitol Hill staffer, from lobbyist to speechwriter, I spun stories with an eloquence that surprised even me. Now, with seven decades etched into my soul, I find peace tending my mother's garden, a thousand miles away from my Florida haven. The whispers of wind through leaves remind me of all that matters, even as Long Covid and breast cancer slows my steps.<br></strong><br><strong>Though life threw punches – three marriages, an Alzheimer's shadow, cancer's biting kiss, and even Covid's lonely grip – I learned to not just survive, but thrive. Each scar, a story etched in flesh, each trial, a wisdom whispered on the wind.<br>​​​​​​​</strong><br><strong>Underneath moss-draped oaks, where squirrels and birds are my preferred audience, I weave gems of wisdom, tales – poems, lyrics, stories – threads plucked from the intricate tapestry of my life. A life unexpected, perhaps, but never dull. So, if you like the unexpected, join me on this journey, for within these words lies a world waiting to be explored.</strong>