Page 197 - Speedhorse February 2020

Q: If you were not an artist, what job would you like to have?
A: I do have another job, but not a lot of people know about it. I work full time (40 to 60
hours a week) for the State of Nevada, and I teach nutrition to low-income groups of people including drug rehab groups, the woman’s shelter and welfare and food stamp [recipients]. We teach a healthy nutrition curriculum and cook with these lessons, too. So, I can make chicken stir fry, enchilada casserole, and lasagna on a chair in an electric skillet in 15 minutes—quite a skill to have in case you don’t have a kitchen, or you want to impress people.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: I can’t believe I would say the climate, but except for July and August the weather here can’t be beaten. Great winters, and the best time for people to visit Las Vegas.
Q: If you could vacation anywhere
on the planet, where would it be and what would you do there?
A: I like the mountains. Breathe some fresh air for a change and enjoy some lovely relaxing scenery.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: Actually, I have two. The first is, “Happiness is like a kiss. In order to get any good out of it, you have to give it to someone” and the other is, “Ask yourself a question: Is my attitude worth catching?”
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be?
A: My mother. She died this year at 101 and she had a very good life. But you never forget a mother’s love, someone to talk to and someone who always has your back.
Q: What drink would your friends describe you as, and why?
A: If I drank, a Tequila Sunrise because it is very colorful—red on the bottom and orange on the top. Once you drink it, it makes you happy and gay for the rest of the day (or night).
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time, and why?
A: Secretariat. Any horse that can win the Belmont by 31-lengths is a great athlete. He set the stakes record in each of the three Triple Crown races, including an American record at 2:24
in the Belmont.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you, and why?
A: You’re kidding and that would be a hoot if someone made a movie about me. I’d sure have to spice it up for anybody to pay to see that. I could be Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde sometimes.
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: Besides the obvious drugs, I’ve never had a thing that I didn’t like about Quarter Horse racing. The people are great, friendly and like family. And who doesn’t like the horses?
Q: What’s one thing you like about Quarter Horse racing?
A: As one of those horse-crazy girls, I used to live and breathe horses. I still do, but now I find Quarter Horse racing to be a combination of speed, beauty, and class. I’ve painted other breeds and I always keep coming back to the Quarter Horse as the foundation of good solid horses that can race, go on to another career or take your children for a ride.
THE LIGHTER SIDE
“Happiness is like a kiss. In order to get any good out of it, you have to give it to someone.”
Painting of FDD Dynasty by Carol Hendrix
SPEEDHORSE, February 2020 195