Spotlight On Writers
Christine Piatek
- Where do you originate from?
I was born and raised in northern New Jersey, with a detour to Pennsylvania for college and law school, then landing in central New Jersey for work. It is here that I have remained. Our family came from Poland, and my sister and I are first generation on my father’s side and second generation on our mother’s side. I’ve been to Poland three times over my lifetime, but not since 1980, when I spent a year in Warsaw to study.
- What do you cherish most about the place you call home?
Central New Jersey is a great place to live. We have easy access to both New York City and Philadelphia, and to the Delaware River in my specific area. We are rural, agricultural, suburban and urban with access to good schools, culture and learning. New Jersey has mountains, lakes and the ocean, countless trails and preserves for hiking, birding and other outdoor activities. We have cranberry bogs; we are one of the three top states in cranberry production. I love the mix of landscapes and the ease of finding both hustle and bustle and the quiet of nature and the countryside in our small state and my specific area.
- What ignites your creativity?
I am inspired by the natural world, the beauty of simple things like flowers, cloud formations, rainbows after a storm, birdsong, ocean waves, climbing hills, and more. I am also inspired by people I meet, the events of the world—good and bad, the possibility of ideas and human progress. There is something in each day to inspire me; I only need to be better about writing things down.
- Do you have a favorite word, and could you incorporate it into a poetic phrase?
It’s too hard to choose just one word, as I love the sound of many words and learning their origin. A few of my favorites are quotidian, insouciant, and petrichor. Poetic phrase?
“Even on the most quotidian of days, the woodsy scent of misting rain on the hot parched meadow—petrichor—compels my insouciant mind to pay attention.”
- What is your pet peeve?
Again, hard to name just one! But I would have to say that we could all employ better listening habits in our conversations and interactions and not be in such a hurry all the time that we fail to learn something new about each other when we are together.
- How would you describe the essence of Christine Piatek?
I am true to my astrological sign—as a Libra, I seek and respect justice, balance and equity. I care about my family and friends and the state of my many communities and our world. I care about nature and our environment, and I try to do my part not to make things worse and hopefully make them a little better. I hope to never stop learning and noticing the beauty around me, and to keep trying new things.
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