About Me — Mia Verita
A poet, a nurse, an adventurer
My Early Years
I was raised in a small town in Louisiana to two loving parents and an older brother, five years my senior. He taught me to skate and ride a bike. I began riding my bike to the local library while in elementary school. I checked out as many books as allowed and read every single one with great enthusiasm!
I’ve heard a picture is worth a thousand words. So, here it is. Me, in a nutshell. Smiling big, all the while not knowing how much trouble I’d be in when mom realized what I had done. I clipped that toy monkey to my dress just in time for the photo! Why? Because I’m a classy gal who understands the importance of a well-placed, well-timed accessory.
This photo could sum up most of my life. Seriously, you can stop reading now. That photo pretty much says it all! My place in this world has always been: out of place. And the older I get, the more I like not fitting in, and I love being me. Hopefully, my writing will reflect that, and I will continue to find and establish my unique voice here on Medium.
I developed a fondness for watercolor, painting, and sketching at a young age. You’ll see that fondness reflected in some of the stories I share. Here’s a sample of one of my inventions. Reality is so overrated!
I published my first poem in 1989 in an anthology titled “Voices on the Wind.” It wasn’t particularly awe-inspiring. But if I liked my old poetry, I suppose I wouldn’t have grown much as a writer over the years.
The creative process is what draws me towards writing. I enjoy weaving words, like old yarn, ready to be made into something new. The joy of writing has remained an everlasting companion through every stage of my life thus far.
My Life as a Nurse and an Adult
In my junior year of high school, I wanted to become a nurse. It was a pivotal moment that would forever change my life.
I worked hard for a scholarship and went on to fulfill my dream with a minor in psychology. Somewhere during my twenty-six years of nursing, the shy girl I had been evolved into a deeply compassionate woman.
In my first year as a nurse, I learned I could be scared and do things anyway. I became a bold patient advocate. As a new nurse, I split my time between the Med/Surge Unit and the Acute Psychiatric Ward of a hospital. After four years, I accepted a travel nurse position for the next few years. My greatest love in the nursing field became geriatrics in nursing homes.
I was working in New York, and I was in the World Trade Center the day before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. One day I’ll write about the experience and how it changed my life. I took this photo the day before the attacks.
I returned to Louisiana in 2002 and was married the same year.
My husband is originally from Guatemala. He has a rare neuromuscular disease called Charcot Marie Tooth disease. It’s similar to muscular dystrophy, and I am his caretaker. His condition has worsened over the past few years, so some days he’s bound to a wheelchair. Yet he works hard full-time as a car broker and in real estate. I’ve been a Special Olympics Volunteer since my first semester of nursing school and an advocate for people with disabilities.
I semi-retired from nursing in 2017. I do patient chart audits on an as-needed basis. I survey patients’ medical records for errors and document them so the facility can correct errors and address problems. I guess that makes me an “editor” of sorts.
I’ve also been an instructor for over twenty years. I keep this as a side job because it goes hand-in-hand with nursing. I’m an ACLS instructor, which means I train and certify ER and ICU nurses in Acute Care Life Support. I’m a First Responder instructor, which means I train Medics, Firemen, and others who are among the first to respond to a 911 call or a medical emergency. In addition, I‘m a CPR/Professional Rescuer Instructor. I work under my own company, so I can choose when or how often I offer classes.
Furry Friends
I have three dogs that I dearly love. I feel it’s best to show them in their truest light. First, there’s Fluffy, the baby of the litter.
Then there’s my Dachshund. His name is Chili Dog, and he’s doing what he does best, tearing things up. Fortunately, this was just his puppy phase.
Last but not least, the oldest dog, Panchito (Little Pancho), is smiling with a chipper smile!
I recently lost my 17-year-old ‘Isa,’ who passed away in my arms. The photo below shows her resting after a hard day’s work.
I’ve traveled a little over the years. So far, my favorite travel destinations have been Oia, Santorini, Greece, and Taormina, Sicily, Italy. I plan on writing about these lovely places. I wrote some prose about visiting France.
Both of my parents are deceased. I lost my mother in 2017 and my father in 2022. I have one brother who lives in a nursing home. I’m a Christian, but not religious.
Here are a few of my personal beliefs in poetry form—
Angie’s Home Roast Coffee
In 2018, I began roasting coffee in my home kitchen. I started roasting for friends and family and finally decided to turn my new passion into a business. The science and process of roasting coffee continue to fascinate me! In the past four years, I’ve developed over sixty roasting profiles. If you enjoy freshly roasted coffee and live in the contiguous United States, you might enjoy it. I also sell homemade chocolates.
My website is: Www.AngiesHomeRoast.com
Investing in my Future
Another passion of mine is the stock market. I’ve put a lot of time and research into learning about the market, and I enjoy investing. I also flip real estate and invest in rental properties.
My Writing Journey
I write poetry and personal essays on Medium. I enjoy sharing uplifting stories. I also look forward to the opportunity to get to know all of you a little better and to learn about your lives and perspectives. My goals are simple: enjoying time with like-minded writers and learning and growing my writing skills. I want to inspire and to be inspired. Here’s a story that I hope inspires you to write.
Thank you for welcoming me to Medium. I’m truly grateful for all the guidance and support I’ve received. I’m also thankful to the editors of About Me Stories for giving my story a home.
Thank you for reading. If I could leave you with one final exhortation, it would be this quote from one of my stories:
“Write, write, write! Bring forth whatever lies dormant within you and let it out into the light. Let your passions, your hopes, your dreams, rise from beneath the shadows of your mind into the living, breathing world! The world needs your special gifts and your inspiration.” — Mia Verita
, 2022
