Close to Home: A Walk with Amy Lou Jenkins
Wauwatosa author Amy Lou Jenkins explores the themes of natural history and parenting in her new book of essays. Photo By Peter Zuzga
Amy Lou Jenkins' day begins and ends with a walk along the Menomonee River Parkway near her Wauwatosa home.
This should come as no surprise: The 51-year-old conservationist is the author of a recently published book of essays titled "Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting."
The book blends natural history and parenting themes as it chronicles 10 nature outings in Wisconsin with her son, Dylan, one of which is a walk along the parkway.
"If you walk along Menomonee River Parkway, you'll notice the river that flows past, that water there originates from another time and another place. The same goes for the rocks," Jenkins said.
"You wonder: What have they experienced? What's the story behind their journey to this locale? … It doesn't take long to realize that everything in nature is connected. I think nature provides that connection for us, and when you deprive yourself of nature you are missing out on the experience of being human."
Jenkins has lived in Wauwatosa for 22 years with her husband, Paul, and Dylan, 17, who attends Wauwatosa West High School. She spent the early part of her career as a community health nurse and only connected with her passion for writing 10 years ago.
With encouragement from her husband, she decided to pursue her master of fine arts degree in literature and creative writing from Bennington College in Vermont.
"I was always drawn to the sciences, but it never occurred to me to dream big or that I could be a writer, but with my husband's encouragement, I took the leap," she said. "I had rock stars for teachers, including Susan Cheever, Phillip Lopate, Bob Shacocis."
Jenksins also teaches writing classes and hosts workshops near and far. Last spring she taught at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee.
"Reading and nature make you think and experience things in a new way, and writing about it - it makes for a rich life," she said. "I encourage all of Wauwatosa to read."
Just the Facts
WHO: Amy Lou Jenkins
AGE: 51
NOTED FOR: writing about nature and parenting, teaching writing; her latest book is "Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting"
ON THE WEB: amyloujenkins.com
AMY'S PEARLS OF WISDOM: "Reading and nature make you think and experience things in a new way, and writing about it - it makes for a rich life."
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