Three
old bags — has a negative ring to it, but then again, it’s all a
matter of perspective.
Sharon
Hegwood, Linda Sparkman and Sandra Campbell of Garden City call
themselves the “ThreeOlBags,” but hardly look the part.
“Thank
you,” said Sparkman who smiled and laughed when I said “you aren’t
old bags.” Thrilled to not be counted, at least not yet, among the old
bags of the world, Sparkman, Hegwood and Campbell are keeping the name
“ThreeOlBags” just the same. The women have known each other for
over 20 years and meet every Tuesday to discuss writing.
“We
started out strictly writing, but then we began praying at the end of
the meeting,” said Sparkman. They also decided to start losing weight
together. “We get a lot done,” she added.
They
came to the Observer Newspaper office in Livonia to pitch a story they
wrote about Oscoda for our travel page. “I have a cottage in
Oscoda,” explained Hegwood. “We went to the coffee shop and found a
connection to the flower shop.” “We thought it would make a good
story,” added Campbell. Their hope is that everyone will want to hear
about the “ThreeOlBags” and their travels.
Hegwood,
the oldest of the three, explained that they were thinking about the old
satchels women used to carry when they traveled. “We get out old bags
and get going,” she said. “I even have an old carpet bag that I use
when I travel.” Sparkman thought the name was kind of a lark, it
reminds Campbell of bus tours.
On
the move
One
thing all three, who range in age from 47 to 52, agree on is that a lot
of older ladies are looking for places to go. Writing about travel is
their latest inspiration.
Hegwood
and Campbell found a common friend in Sparkman. They took a writing
class together, and kept at it when the class kind of fizzled out.
Of
the three, Sparkman had the most experience, and offered to help.
"She showed me how to do a query letter and a cover
letter," explained Campbell, whose first piece was published a year
ago on Mother's Day in a publication called "The Look Out." Hegwood hasn't been published yet, but she's working on it.
ThreeOlBags just might be her ticket.
Encouraging each other to do things they wouldn't do on their
own is one way the women support each other. For example, Hegwood
encouraged Campbell to take a watercolor class at Schoolcraft College.
"It was outside my comfort zone," said Campbell.
"I'm kind of artistic," said Hegwood, who took the pictures
that illustrate their Oscoda travel story and encouraged Campbell to
take the class. "Maybe one day we'll write and illustrate our own
book," she said.
The
women aren't strictly talk. They don't make excuses, but set goals and
work at making their dreams come true.
Campbell
has three children, and Sparkman six. Making time to write isn't always
easy. They set deadlines --
send out two queries each week. And follow-up with busy editors like me.
While
they didn't intend to be the subject of a story, I was really impressed
with these "ThreeOlBags."
We talked about their story about Oscoda, and they're working on
a couple of revisions. Look for their story Sept. 17 on the Travel page
in the Arts & Leisure section of the Observer Newspapers.
Anyone who enjoys travel knows the journey, not the
destination, is what makes a trip truly memorable. Just ask the
"Threeolbags" from Garden City.
Keely Wygonik is Assistant Managing editor of the Features group
for the Observer Newspapers. She can be reached at (734) 953-2105 or
e-mail kwygonik@oe.homecomm.net
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