Durango Mom interview with Suzanne Strazza

The friends you make when your children are very young fall into a special category. The bond will always be there, because the shared memories are so beloved and visceral. It's a time when friends are desperately needed, and especially those who are in that same bobbing boat. Suzanne is one of those for me. We bobbed through baby hood together with boys of similar ages. We don't keep up like we should and we are only one town apart, but we could pack our cars and be camping by a river inside of two hours and take up right where we left off....solving the worlds' problems.

Suzanne is funny and real and right now she is on the brink of something. I'm not sure what, but I just feel it.

Say Hi to Suze.....

Name and age: Suzanne Strazza, 45                                     

Location: Mancos, CO

Kids: two boys

Occupation: writer, admissions manager Deer Hill Expedition

Preoccupation: running, hating my ex, figuring out how to keep my house clean without actually cleaning it.

Unusual distinguishing characteristics: hot legs, crazy cat lady, potty mouth

coffee or tea: a lot of coffee

type A, B or C: A little lazy plus a little OCD

herbivore or omnivore: omnivore

favorite book right now: Eating Stone, by Ellen Meloy - rereading it in time for river and big horn season.

favorite movie right now: and always - Bridget Jones

In a nutshell, what does a day in your life look like? Get up, drink too much coffee, wait in line for the shower, make breakfast for kids who "aren't hungry". Work, where I am totally inappropriate and have to pee on the ground. Run. Go home. Make dinner for kids who don't like my cooking. Hang out in bed with those same kids. Bad tv. Sleep.  

If you could only wear one thing, for the rest of your life, what would it be.   My frye boots

Is there any product(s), of any kind, that you swear by? Ahava lotion. Too haute cowgirls Fleur de Sel chocolate popcorn, handiwipes.

What is your 'go to' meal. The one that everyone in the family loves and is fairly easy for you to pull together. huevos rancheros.

Do you exercise ? What? How much?   Run, x-country ski in the winter, row boats. the first two I do obsessively.  actually, I row boats obsessively too whenever I can.

What keeps you sane and centered? How do you renew, recharge and restore yourself? I have to be alone, a lot.  Which is not always easy being a single mom, so I get my time in the early morning before the mayhem begins.  Went to the desert, alone this weekend - that is the cure all.

What is your most important family ritual?   Hang time in my bed every night.

What is your greatest wish for your children? That they are happy, safe and end up with few or no regrets.

Have to ask. What is your greatest wish for yourself?Same

Do you have extensive knowledge in a particular area that you would be willing to share in the future? examples: dyslexia, breast feeding, home schooling, wart treatments, field dressing road kill, preserving, gluten free eating,... get it? This would be in the interest of creating a network of resources.The only thing I know anything about is planning outdoor adventures with kids.  Other than that, I am useless.

You can read more of Suzanne in The Four Corners Free Press or on her blog, Single in the Southwest.

Thanks, Suz! Love you!