Bingham Township resident Kristine
Morris hopes to have more time to
play keyboards, paint, write and
dream.

Name: Kristine Morris

Town or township of residence: I live in Bingham Township, but have a Suttons Bay mailing address.

Resident of county since: 1991

Birth date and place: June 12, in Detroit, and I don’t do birthdays. I do other people’s birthdays. I don’t do age unless I’m having an astrological chart done.

Occupation: I have a list of them. The main three are piano instructor. freelance writer and artist, though I recently began to work with Primerica Financial Services.

Marital status: Happily partnered.

You live in Leelanau County because: I fell in love with northern Michigan during time spent at Interlochen, and when I returned to the U.S. after 15 years of living in Brazil coming here was my first choice. Also, my sister lives here, and my mother lived here before she died.

Last good movie you saw: Although I saw it quite awhile ago, I still can’t get the movie Frida about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo out of my mind because of its passion and vivid colors.

Last good book you read: I read a minimum of 15 books a month. That’s part of my work — writing reviews for the magazines Spirtuality and Health, and ForeWord. I encounter some very good ones. One that stands out is “To Bless the Space between Us” by John O’Donohue.

If you could trade places with one person for a day, who would that be: Jesus of Nazareth, to experience His wisdom and love.

Things important to you that you have accomplished so far: Raising two wonderful children who are blessings to the world, having had the opportunity to live, travel and perform overseas, having loved deeply and well, loving the work that I do, and sharing the joy and discipline of the arts with my students.

What you hope to be doing in 10 years: I hope to finish the novel that I have begun to research, and to have completed at least two books of poetry. The novel is about the search for a new Dahli Lama, and it’s got quite a surprising end to it. It’s kind of amazing all the political things going on right now in Tibet. And to have a body of artwork that’s bold and meaningful, to share music with as many as I can, and to know my being here has made a difference.

Things you lose sleep over: Sadly, finances.

If you could change one thing in Leelanau County, it would be: I would ask that all live simply, so that others can simply live.

Favorite dessert: Organic, fair-trade dark chocolate.

Are you a coffee drinker: Are you kidding? After 15 years in Brazil, how could I not be. I use a little soy milk.

Favorite place in Leelanau County: Practically any hilltop or beach because I can find something beautiful almost anywhere.

If you have more time, you would: Practice piano and organ four hours a day, paint four hours a day, write four hours a day, dream four hours a day and then do the rest.

The words that best describe you are: The ones that immediately come to mind are compassionate, creative and spirited. And I don’t know what my friends would say.