25 Things About Me ...

Julie tagged me for this. I had to think about it for a while. I do love to talk, and write... especially about myself. As they say, 'of all the people I know, I know myself the best'.

1. I am short - always have been. The tallest I ever achieved was 5 ft. 1/2 inch. Then I started putting on weight, got old, developed osteo-arthritis, and now I am 4 ft. 10 1/2 inches. Aspen can attest to my lack of height.

2. I am very overweight. When I got married, I weighed 125 lbs. Now I am embarrassed to say how much I weigh. I've been successful on Weight Watchers in the past, and should probably try it again.

3. I have a loving husband. We will celebrate our 44th anniversary this coming March 13th. He has always been loving, supportive and encouraging.

4. We have two wonderful children, a son, 34, and a daughter, 29. They are both adopted. our son is 6 ft. 2 inches tall, our daughter is 5 ft. 11 inches tall. When people ask how two short people have such tall children, our son tells them, "We are 'Rent-a-Kids'!

5. I lost three babies before doctors figured out that I could never carry one full-term. The guilt I experienced is still with me, however.

6. God has blessed me in so many ways. He has been right beside me through tough times and good times.

7. I love reading, especially mysteries. I've read all 89 books written by Agatha Christie, all of Rex Stout's books about Nero Wolfe, and for light, light mysteries -- Lillian Jackson Braun's book series, "The Cat Who...". But my favorite book of all time is "Gone With the Wind".

8. I also love old movies on TCM. 'Casablanca', 'Bringing Up Baby', 'Gone With the Wind', 'Harvey', 'I Remember Mama', 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn', all the classics.

9. Just recently discovered 'NCIS'. Wow! I love it!

10. I was a very quiet, studious, shy person all through school. My mom called me a 'bookworm'. I was always studying, on the honor roll, etc.

11. Now I am NOT quiet NOR shy! I love to talk to people, even strangers. My kids used to hate going shopping with me. They would tell their dad, "She talks to EVERYONE!" I told them that that's how you learn things!

12. I have three college degrees: An A.A. from Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, Iowa, a B.A. from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN with double majors in English and Biology, and double minors in Chemistry and Secondary Education. I also have a B.S. from UMD, Duluth, MN. with a major in Elementary Education.

13. At age 60, I returned to college, BSU, and took writing classes, and everything I could from Dr. Morgan. (Took his Web Writing class four times! Each time he added something new and exciting!) I spent five years driving up to Bemidji twice a week. Loved it! Met such nice young people!!!

14. I have taught school many different places (my husband was career Navy so we moved a lot!). I taught 11th grade English at Edina High School, 7th and 8th grade Science at Middletown, Rhode Island, 2nd grade at Wm. T. Sampson Elementary School, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (my all-time favorite teaching experience!), fourth grade at Grant Elementary in Duluth. The last 20 years of my teaching career were at the Walker School. I was the Indian Education Director. I tutored small groups of Native students, made home visits weekly, transported sick students, parents for conferences, wrote a monthly newsletter, and wrote all the grants to fund my department. I had up to 7 staff people. I still miss that job...

15. My grandmother and mother were the kind of women who did it all... raised their children, cooked, baked, cleaned, gardened, put up hundreds of jars of veggies each fall, made jams and jellies, home-made bread, cookies, etc. NEVER anything 'store-bought'. A woman was supposed to do all these things as well as sew clothing for herself and children, mend clothing, make curtains, etc. Soooo...... I tried to do the same. I learned to sew, knit, crochet, garden, can veggies, make jams and jellies, home-made bread, etc. All while teaching.... I don't regret it at all. But I would get VERY tired!

16. I was taught that 'If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.' But I remember my mother saying the worst thing she could think of to say about someone: 'AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN DO ANY HAND WORK!'

17. Learning how to sew has paid off. I now have a home sewing business and do alterations, mending, zipper replacement for others. I've also sewn several wedding gowns and numerous brides maids' outfits.

18. I love animals. Over the years we have had 3 cats and 5 dogs. Losing Sony was so hard. But our new puppy, Maynard, is helping to heal my heart.

19. I hate hospitals. I have had surgery for: removing tonsils, ovaries, uterus, appendix, repairing carpal tunnel syndrome on both hands, repairing a tendon on back of my right hand, two breast lumps removed. Also was hospitalized my senior year in college with tonsillitis, and while teaching in Duluth, was in a car accident and spent two weeks in the hospital with a sprained back! Ouch!

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of thinking of things to say here. However, maybe if you are reading this, you have learned something new about me.

I'm not going to 'tag' anyone, but if you want to do this I'd love to read about you!