Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Welcome to “Behind the Scenes.”  Today, we are visiting with Richard, the creative energy behind the writing journey of Big Sky Buckeye. 

Welcome back Richard.  It is a pleasure visit with you again. 

You have been writing and blogging for about 19 months.  Why did you start writing and sharing here on WordPress?

Following my retirement from teaching, I was looking for an outlet for my energy and time in the fall of 2018.  With some encouragement from others, I took the plunge with a goal of writing poetry.  My first poem was “Early Morning Moments.”

Watching the flame dance in early dawn

Feeling the warmth of a new born fawn

Warmed by an early morning, blazing fire

Viewing a hungry deer jumping over a wire

Enjoying a comforting warmth from the fireplace

Seeing a startled pair running to a new place

Dreaming of a day to stay inside by the flames

Looking out of a window to see deer playing games

You are quite creative with your writing.  In the past, have you pursued any musical interests?

My first taste of formal music was with instrumental music, beginning in the fifth grade as I played clarinet.  I continued to play through the ninth grade until more and more of my time went into athletics in high school.  I haven’t really played since the late 1970s, and the clarinet has been passed down to two of my daughters.

Several years ago when I was teaching in Montana, I sang in the church choir.  This was a wonderful experience in sharing with the congregation our appreciation of singing some favorite hymns.

Before we wrap-up, please tell us of some your interests outside of writing. 

I enjoy traveling, and my wife and I have enjoyed two highway trips during the past couple of summers when we meandered and found our way back to Montana to see family.  Without a need to return home on a tight schedule, we enjoyed taking the scenic route through different states, towns, and attractions.

As some readers have found, I enjoy sharing my love of nature photography in my blog’s Photo Gallery.  While I don’t profess to be an excellent photographer, I have found the time well spent in taking photos while traveling or even walking through a nature park near my home.

An early March walk at Walnut Woods Metro Park offers a view of an old farm building framed with an opening in the trees along the border of the park.

We have appreciated spending time with Richard from Big Sky Buckeye.  Look for more “Behind the Scenes” in future postings.

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

Welcome to “Behind the Scenes.”  Today, we are visiting with Richard, the creative energy behind the writing journey of Big Sky Buckeye. 

Richard, tell us a bit about where you grew up.

I grew up in Billings, Montana.  With the exception of the three years when my Dad was teaching in Oilmont and Poplar (other Montana towns), my life was spent in the largest city under the Big Sky.

Many of your readers know you are a retired teacher.  Tell us about your college background.

After graduating from Billings West High School, I attended four years of college at Montana State University in Bozeman.  My major was business education, which prepared me for a teaching position in a high school business department.  I also earned a broad field minor in social studies.

We think you have said that you taught for 40 years.  Wow!  Can you tell us more about your teaching career?  Where did you teach, and what did you teach?

My teaching career started in Montana, traveled to Wyoming, returned back to Montana, and finished in Ohio.

During my 29 years in Montana, I taught mostly high school business classes.  Later, I taught elementary keyboarding and middle school computer applications along with my high school teaching duties.  I also was active as a coach, activities director, and student council advisor.

After being laid off in Missoula, Montana, my teaching journey took me to Wyoming for one year.  I taught high school business before returning back to Montana.

My final ten years were spent in Columbus, Ohio where I taught middle school computer applications.

Before we wrap-up, tell us some of your childhood memories from growing up in Montana.

My family was a large one with four brothers and one sister.  Our home was located right across the street from the elementary school, which would be our school for all of us through the sixth grade.  At least one member of my family attended this school for nearly 25 years in a row.

We lived on what was the far west side of Billings at the time.  Farm fields and relatively quiet roads were all around where we lived.  Today, this area is completely developed, but the elementary school is still in use.

We have appreciated our time with Richard from Big Sky Buckeye.  Look for more “Behind the Scenes” in a future posting.

If you have a question for Big Sky Buckeye, feel free to leave it in the comments.  He would be happy to share an answer with you.