Linda Rivenbark Interviews Julie Lacksonen

It has been my honor and privilege to interview Julie Lacksonen for the "Not My Shoes" project. I have learned a lot about Julie in the time we have exchanged questions and answers, as well as by reading extensively in her amazing stories. She is a highly talented and caring person who finds time to write about a wide range of topics, teach K-8 school students many aspects of Music, fill her spare time with family activities, and participate in sports like boating, swimming and snorkeling with her husband, Ted. Let's look at what I learned about Julie.

Linda:

Hi, Julie. Let me begin by saying that I subscribed to your Story Profile a while back and have read many of your stories. Today, I have read eight of your more recent stories so far.

I especially enjoyed your story written on your birthday, October 14th in which you shared 57 "words of wisdom" quotes. My favorites were #51 and #56.

Quote #51 reads, Smile - “All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile.”- Chris Hart.

Quote #56 reads, Use your talents - "Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke

By the way, Julie, I like your Halloween story entitled "Devil's Island". It is a real nail-biter. I have never been able to write horror stories, although I often enjoy the ones published on Vocal. To be honest, I am much more into SiFi stories. Do you have any favorite SiFi stories or authors?

Julie:

Thank you for talking with me today, Linda. I'm glad you have enjoyed reading my stories. I have also read and enjoyed many of yours. Outside of Vocal, I enjoy reading many SiFi authors, most recently stories by Lindsay Buroker. She has many series and quite a following.

Book 1 in her new series, A Witch in Wolf Wood, is entitled 'Mind Over Magic', and book 2 is called 'Spell Bound' and is hot off the press. They are available in the printed versions or as e-books.

Linda:

Julie, since Music is your specialty, I am wondering who you enjoy listening to. Do you have any favorite musicians?

Julie:

As for musicians, I like many there too. I especially like Diana Krall and Alison Krauss. Plus, for groups, I like Heart, Styx, and Kansas.

Linda:

Do you enjoy traveling? Personally, I have never traveled anywhere outside the USA. How about you?

Julie:

I have been to Mexico many times. Most recently a snorkeling trip with my husband of just three years. I have been to all of the western states, but I was born and raised in Minnesota. I’ve been to Canada and Turks and Caicos (SCUBA diving). I would love to go to New Zealand and Austria.

Linda:

Could you tell us a little about your career in music:

Julie:

I’ve been teaching music, straight out of college at the same public school - Dr. Daniel Bright School - for 34+ years! My first year was 1987 and the school was brand new. I will probably work another 7-10 years.

I currently teach general music, band and choir to K-8 students. I got my degree in Music Education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, about 90 miles from my home. It’s a great liberal arts school with a Lutheran background.

Our school's mascot was a Corncob. No, I'm not making this up. I am a proud Concordia Cobber!

Linda:

I would love to hear about your family, Julie. Are you married? Do you have children? We would love to hear about your family of origin, too.

Julie:

I would love to tell you about them, too.

I was with my first husband, Paul Smith, for about 30 years. He passed away from a heart attack in 2016, just two months shy of our 29th anniversary. In honor of Paul, I go by the name Julie Smith on Facebook.

I met my new husband, Ted Lacksonen, online and we married in 2019. He was living in Flagstaff when we met. That is a little over 60 miles away from Cottonwood. I count myself fortunate to have found another compassionate, caring man to share my life with.

I have two daughters. My oldest, Andrea, is a single mom, living in my town of Cottonwood in Arizona. She’s a chef.

My youngest, Ashley, moved to California, where she works as an x-ray technician. She and her husband are expecting their first Child.

As for my family of origin, I started life as a Hannemann. I was born and raised in Minnesota as part of a musical family. My parents, three brothers, my sister, and I sang together. I played the piano and the flute.

I was quite a tomboy then - climbing trees, ice skating and sled riding downhill onto a frozen river. Overall, though, I really wasn't crazy about the Minnesota winters. Later, as an adult, I remember my Mom coming home from a visit to my brother who lived in Arizona and telling me I would love it there.

Soon after marrying my first husband, Paul, I changed the focus of my job search to the Grand Canyon State. After being turned down for two jobs, I landed a job in a town called Cottonwood, somewhat larger than the town I grew up in. It's a beautiful place, surrounded by mountains, wonderful recreation on the Verde River, and plenty of sunshine almost all year long.

Linda:

Julie, in reading your published story, 'Who I Am', I was drawn to a quote you cited that explains your passion for teaching your students the wonders of music. It went like this:

"Like Richard Dreyfuss’ character in Mr Holland’s Opus, I have lots of music in me which I have never shared."

After getting to know you better, which I have greatly enjoyed, I would say that your students are in for a lot of fun and life enrichment with you as their teacher!

Julie:

Thank you, Linda. It has been nice working with you on our mutual interviews.

Linda:

And thank you, too, Julie, for reading all my stories...but mostly for giving me so many wonderful stories to read. I will be getting back to them soon!