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submitted by Winston Simmonds, Jr.
Do you believe that "things happen for a reason?" I do. I'm Winston Simmonds, Jr., owner of Sand Dune Publishing Company and the creator of Between Me And You™ Relationship Keepsake Journals.
I really do believe that my business is a blessing that resulted from an emotionally challenging time for me; a time that, because of my love for my family, forced me to truly consider how important they are to me. It was a time that also prompted my need for greater self-understanding and a closer relationship with my parents.
I had lived in Chicago all of my life and pretty much worked for one company after college. I lived about 15 miles from my parents and like many sons, popped home to see them once, sometimes twice per week for dinner or when I happened to be in the neighborhood. My sister and brother-in-law had lived in Arizona for a number of years.
In 2001, my parents announced that they were moving away to Arizona after a lifetime in Chicago.
I was pretty cool with things at first. I helped them sell their house and get things in order for the move. Then, that was it. They were actually gone. 2000 miles away. What's worse, they moved in November, just after 9/11. Holiday "cheer" was all over the place and families were "being together." There I was feeling alone.
Now, don't get me wrong. I've always been highly independent and have taken pride in doing my own thing and have never really had the desire to be constantly surrounded by family and friends. But, something was happening inside. Like many other people, after 9/11 I had a new-found appreciation for my family. But, they weren't around. I was feeling alone and for some reason a bit uncertain as to who I was and what my next steps should be. Mid-life crisis? Maybe. I found myself after 40-something years of life trying to figure out what really made me tick and why.
In the midst of being born, getting through adolescence, being disciplined, struggling through college, earning a living, developing friendships, falling in love, struggling with love, I realized in my quiet moments alone that I really hadn't spent much time thinking about the possibility that Mom and Dad may have gone through many of the same life stages and experiences.
Mom probably had a favorite band or childhood crush. Dad probably had a secret hiding place or maybe even a life-changing experience. They both may have actually led real lives before I was born and may have even had intimate thoughts, feelings and ideas that might help me figure some things out.
I love my parents. They know that. But, I suddenly realized how much I may have taken them for granted. I now felt a need to get closer to them and better understand who they are and maybe as a result, better understand myself. I had lots of questions and I sought comfort in getting the answers.
"What do you remember most about being a kid?"
"What kind of student were you? What were your favorite subjects?"
"What's your favorite memory of your mother? Of your father?"
"Please tell me your memories of the day I was born?"
"What characteristics do you think we share?"
"What do you think is my best quality? My worst quality?"
I had a bright idea! Get a couple of blank journals (one for mom, one for dad) and write in questions that I wanted them each to answer about their lives, feelings and experiences.
I presented these journals to them during my Christmas visit to their new home in Arizona Their excited reaction was so overwhelming that I knew other families might also appreciate this exercise. I returned home and decided that while I waited for my parents to fill in their responses and return the books to me, I'd work on producing MOM and DAD journals that others might enjoy.
I had very specific ideas about what these journals should look like and the type of questions they should include so I decided to do everything myself. Armed with my previous corporate advertising experience, a couple of self-publishing how-to books, a charge card and a ridiculously strong belief in myself and this project, Sand Dune Publishing Company and Between Me And You™ journals were born.
I really do feel like the whole processed was blessed. Things began to fall into place and production resources seemingly became available just as I needed them. This was an idea that was meant to be. I produced 1000 each of the MOM and DAD journals and walked a couple of samples into a Chicago gift shop. The owner put a few books on his shelves and found himself calling me back in a couple of days to order many more.
There are now 9 versions of Between Me And You™ journals and they can be found in gift shops and bookstores throughout the US and Canada. I also recently took them to London and have even gotten them into some stores in the UK.
New parents use the journals to record their own memories and to get wonderful keepsakes from Grandma and Grandpa. Best friends use them to reconnect and sweethearts use the HONEY journals as a fun way to get even closer. I get great emails from many of them.
And I love reading the two books that Mom and Dad filled out for me. I received Dad's in the mail from Arizona first. Then, a couple of weeks later came Mom's. I find their words comforting and I'm way too busy now to get too lonely. Besides, Arizona's a great place to visit so I get there pretty frequently. My moments of longing and self-examination resulted in two handwritten and personal keepsakes that I'll always cherish and a business that I love.
Interested in getting handwritten keepsakes from your loved ones or giving a unique and personal gift? Well, if you go to my web site and order 2 or more journals and type Daryn Kagan in the comments box of the secure order form, I'd be pleased to give you FREE SHIPPING in the U.S.
Things do happen for a reason!!!
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