I was born in the “city that care, forgot,” the Big Easy……. New Orleans, Louisiana. I grew up less than a mile from the world’s greatest playground: the Mississippi River. Skinny dipping, fishing in those muddy waters, camping on the batture, Mardi Gras, growing up in the shadow of the beautifully unique and iconic French Quarter, and enjoying the best food in the world were all part of my youth growing up in south Louisiana.

Though I currently live on a farm in central Mississippi with my wife of 54 years, Julia, New Orleans will always be home. My writing reflects this laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll) attitude of the “Crescent City,” which can best be defined as enjoying life. Love, laugh, and be happy.

When I was a young man who had recently graduated from college, I heard a coach use the term “idee fixe,” which is a French term that simply means fixed idea. But this coach continued…… that what it meant to so many in French Louisiana cajun country, if you will, is simply, “what you fix in your mind you become.” It is the notion that we don’t get what we want in life; we don’t get what we need, but we get what we EXPECT. It is the idea that if you think you can or if you think you can’t, either way, you are right. “Idee fixe” has been my mantra my entire life.

For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about excelling in youth baseball, football, or basketball or in the classroom. I was an avid runner for most of my life. I’ve run in 10 marathons and too many 10K’s to remember. I never won a race and never lost one because I wasn’t competing with others. I was competing with myself and the goals I set for the 6.2- or 26.2-mile run.

In my way of thinking, if you can prepare yourself to run 26.2 miles, you can prepare yourself to overcome any obstacle….. once again; it’s all about mindset. For some reason, it wasn’t enough just to participate; I wanted to win. Though that goal of winning was not always achieved, it still taught me the necessity of preparation, practice, patience, and supreme effort. It is my life’s philosophy that I attempted to instill in my two children (both extremely accomplished), and it is the philosophy that sneaks into everything I write.

I spent most of my 30-year career/professional life working for S.C. Johnson and Sons Inc. (you probably would recognize it as Johnson Wax). I started as a District Manager in Jackson, MS, and then as a Regional Manager in Atlanta, with a couple of years sandwiched in our corporate headquarters in Racine, WI. I lived in Atlanta, GA, for 17 years, raising two sons, Matthew and Timothy (Biblical names by design), and both have successful careers and families of their own. Most of my free time was spent with my family, as both boys were actively involved in soccer and football, and we supported them in their efforts.

My interests include reading, military history, drawing, and spending quality time with Julia, my bride of 54 years. I hope you enjoy what I have shared in the form of a poem or a short story, all created as a labor of love.

I would enjoy hearing from you at my website, which is RoyMontz.com.