Linda Lundgren

Author, Storyteller, and Poet

I am a writer…

As you learned on my Welcome page, I am married to Rich, my high school sweetheart, have two children and four grandchildren. I loved my career as a science and language arts teacher. For over thirty years, I co-authored a best-selling biology book and numerous supplemental science booklets. My biology book was translated into several languages and is in use internationally. In conjunction with my biology book, I was a science consultant for my publisher for thirteen years. During this time, I conducted teacher workshops, and met with chairpersons of science departments, textbook committees, and superintendents of schools in states around the country, most years flying over 100,000 miles. In addition, I wrote laboratory manuals for wildlife refuges, the National Association of Biology Teachers, the Denver Water Board, and several environmental organizations. For several years I was assistant manager of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge and later spent a summer as a park ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park.

I am a mother…

What a delight it was raising two remarkable children! It was a special treat to see them succeed not only in their academic life, but also in their passions. Both became accomplished classical pianists at a young age. They competed and won science fairs and pursued their athletic interest in ice skating by becoming competitive ice dancers. It was so rewarding as a parent to support all their interests and even join them in ice dancing. Because we were educators, we could take them camping and hiking in the Western Mountains for the summer from the time they were tiny. Watching them learn to love the outdoors was wonderful.

As a parent it was tremendous to see them follow their dreams to pursue advanced level degrees. Our daughter become a cardiologist and our son an astrophysicist. She is an expert in balancing her work and supporting her kids’ passions. Our son devotes himself not only to his high-powered career, but also to following his interest with groups dedicated to environmental causes. I am proud to say that both of our kids (Yes, no matter how old they are, they are still our kids!) are committed to making the world a better place.

I am a grandmother…

Even though I have had many memorable experiences, nothing has been better than being a grandmother. My older grandchildren are adults making their way in the world. I have such wonderful memories of them as babies, toddlers, teens, and now as adults with college completed and a world of possibilities open to them. When they were young, we took them to zoos, beaches, July 4th celebrations, and to the mountains to hike. We loved playing board games with them. We reveled in their curiosity about the world, their eagerness to learn everything: to ride a bike, swim, fish, sew, knit and to tell stories, solve puzzles, and do math.

When they were teenagers, we cheered them on in marching band, jazz band, karate, and piano performances. We are so proud of the adults they are: caring, kind, and sensitive people who are tuned into creating a better world for everyone.

My younger grandchildren are teenagers. This can be the time for kids to go off the rails and get into trouble, but not these kids! Their commitment to academic excellence alone is something their teachers, parents, and of course grandparents, see as beyond outstanding. Then add in that they are both elite athletes training seven days a week for ski racing competitions, not only in the state, but also in other regions. How do they wake up each day at 5:30 am to be on the snow and training by 7:00 am—many days in below zero temperatures, then go to school from noon until 5:00 pm, then do homework all evening? We are in awe of these teenagers. When they were younger, we cheered them on during ballet performances and competitions and soccer and baseball games as far away as New York and Texas. Before they started school, we were so pleased to be with them every Friday and enjoy so many activities. We loved the zoo, restaurant breakfasts, indoor and outdoor games such as golf and baseball, and library story hour. Artistic endeavors began with Play-Doh and ended with watercolor paints on an easel.

Because I grew up in an unstable home with an abusive father and a very ill mother, it has been and still is a privilege to watch all our grandchildren grow into kind, thoughtful people who are committed to pursuing their passions, achieving academic excellence, and making a difference in the world.

I am an Outdoor and Sewing Enthusiast…

In addition to writing and doing grandmother things, I have time for other fun activities. As an adult, I was a competitive ice dancer for more than fifteen years. Cross-country and downhill skiing came next. Today I especially love hiking and bicycling in the Colorado Mountains. You will read some Blogs on this site related to hiking. The woodlands of Massachusetts were my solace when I was a child—a place to escape from my father’s continual wrath. Today the Colorado forests are a joy to experience. I love hiking through the scent of evergreens, appreciating the sight of majestic cliffs, and enjoying the trills of hummingbirds—a place to totally relax away from the cares of the world. Colorado is the perfect place to live except there are no ocean shores. So, we vacation in many coastal areas from Maine to North Carolina where we walk the beaches. I love hearing waves on the sand, the calls of gulls, and the scent of salt air. When the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor pleasures, I have my sewing machine ready during the winter months to make quilts and other projects like warm scarfs, hats, and neck warmers for charity.

Thanks for stopping by!