Meet Laura Van House.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: I enjoy networking. I’m on Facebook often, and I enjoy sharing the ads that diverse businesses put on Facebook with my group. I have a list of about 1200 people, most of who live in the Verde Valley. I’m not involved or connected with any group other than the Chamber of Commerce, where I am a member. I have do have a business called Motivating Women. I work with women individually as a coach advocate. I was involved with Sedona Women when it first started back in 2000. In 2001, I was on the Board, and in 2003, I was the President.
Q: Can you tell us about Motivating Women?
A: I have a Facebook page, and I have three or four different gals that I talk to – I am more of a big sister or a mom. It isn’t anything organized, and I don’t do workshops. I take care of my dogs and walk them twice a day. I love to cook, and I have dinner parties quite often. I enjoy gardening and, I love the desert plants and figuring out what will grow here. I am very retired at this point. I am active in the community, attending events, and I like connecting people.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Sedona?
A: My favorite restaurant is Gerardo’s. I’m a minimalist – I can’t eat pasta often, but his pasta is fantastic – the shrimp are perfectly prepared, and the calamari is fabulous. I don’t know anybody in town who cooks it as well as he does. And I love to attend his wine dinners.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Sedona?
A: I moved to Sedona in May of 2000. This May it will be 20 years.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here?
A: There isn’t just one person! Who can deny that our Mayor, Sandy Moriarty, who’s lived here for 48 years, is one of the most interesting people of Sedona? But then for the artistic side, there’s Linda Goldenstein. Her grandmother lived in Clarkdale, and she’s the go-to person when it comes to art in town, in my opinion. Another person is Mary Margaret Sather. She has a pottery place in the Garland building – the Garlands are another family group that has been here for a long time.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?
A: I would like to go to Southern France because I am a Mary Magdalene follower of books by her and other authors who explore her past. I’m acquainted with an author on Facebook who does tours, and that has sparked my interest.
Q: What is your favorite movie OR the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: My favorite movie is “Singing in the Rain.” It has everything.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
A: Relax, and breathe!
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: Scuba diving. I grew up as a swimmer, and I coached swimming, but I’ve never been scuba diving. I lived in Australia in the ’80s for four years, and I went snorkeling, my husband was not a swimmer, so he stayed on the boat.
Q: What is your favorite music?
A: The Eagles and when I want to relax, and when I’m cooking, I listen to Frank Sinatra.
Q: What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Sedona?
A: I can’t say a specific business, but I enjoy Tlaquepaque and walking my dogs through there, especially early in the morning before it even opens. I’m usually at Posse Grounds Park walking my dogs, and all of my photos on my Facebook page of the Red Rocks are from that trail – they look different every time.
Q: Choosing anyone with who would you love to have lunch? Why and where would you have lunch?
A: My mom, she’s 94, and I don’t know if she’s willing to go somewhere and the other person I would invite. Her name is Lynore, she’s now in a nursing home, and she’s 97. I used to swim with her at the Racquet club when it still existed. My mother and Carolyn Bells visit Lynore once a month. She’s an interesting woman.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Sedona?
A: I don’t do a lot of hiking, but that’s what I like about Sedona. That’s what I tell people when they visit here. I only do a mile, maybe two, but that’s about my limit. You don’t have to be an outdoorsy person to see the beauty of Sedona, yet if you are, the sky is the limit.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or ten years?
A: I see myself in the same place. I don’t have aspirations, big goals, and one of the things I tell women, especially if they’re older, you don’t have to keep reaching; you’ve already been to the stars, so enjoy life. I might do some traveling.
Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: That I like my quiet time and alone time more than people would expect. People think that I’m busy all the time; however, I can spend a whole day at home.
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Peace, My dogs, and my garden.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, whom would you choose?
A: Harrison Ford. I’ve always enjoyed following his career. From my era, he’s one of my favorite actors; another is Gregory Peck. I think he was very underrated in his time.
Q: If you had a full-time staff member, who would you choose? (Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny)?
A: I would say the Physical Fitness Trainer. I work with Catherine Bongiorno, and I like her approach to fitness. I need to be motivated, and I believe moving our body keeps us healthy.
Jonelle Klein
