In a 1960s movie--Zorba the Great, Zorba states: Life is trouble-only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and look for trouble! I first heard this philosophy being said when I was attending Lowell High School, and it has remained with me since as a core of my being. Obviously, I do not believe in "undoing my belt," for if I would I'd probably trip, fall in a very undignified way, and break my nose. However, as my dear family and friends know, the challenges that Life offers me strengthens and ultimately defines who I am!

 

I have been married for over 30 years to my best friend, my partner, Randy; and my life is more exciting, richer, and fulfilling because we share our lives together. I have 2 manchilds -- David and Joseph. Through them I have learned much more than I possibly could write here, and I know that they have learned somethings from me as well. For I'm proud of both of them. I'm also a retired special education teacher, and I was in the profession for 30 years. I now I seek "adventures" which will help me grow, laugh a lot, and hopefully help others.

 

In order to define who I am, I also have to state that because of Cerebral Palsy I possess a disability. I have to walk primarily with crutches. And on occasion I have had the use a wheelchair as well. I use the word "primarily," because as some of my dear friends know, I have walked out of a number of bars, crutches slung over my shoulders, walking down the street as if I am like everyone else, which in every other aspect I am!

 

Besides my family--immediate and extended-- and my friends, I treasure my independence and I, too, undo my belt and SEEK trouble -- challenges. For they help me be who I am!

 

MY INTERESTS:

 

#1: TRAVELING -- meeting people, tasting different foods, and visiting places that I have always dreamed of. Like the Aussie term: Sundowner! It simply does not refer to being a sheepherder, as in the movie starring Robert Mitchem. As I understand it, the term refers to someone who is always seeking and trying to find the place where the Sun sets -- a never ending task.,

 

#2: A DELICIOUS SPIRIT: Whether that be good stout beer, a fine rich wine, or a classy Gin and Tunic.,

 

#3: CHOCOLATE!

 

#4: POKER: Naturally, I like to win. However, being in a game where I'm involved in a "friendly battle of wits," not knowing if I hold the winning hand, and being on that edge. Whether I win or lose, what a rush!

 

#5: KAYAKING and SIT-SKIING: To be in a kayak on a calm river. To listen to its stillness. To marvel at a Blue Heron flying by. To become, how ever momentary, a part of that river. Skiing down the side of a mountain. Feeling space rush by me. Sensing the quite softness of the snow as I falling into it. And knowing that I once dreamt that would not be able to do this.

 

#6: OBSERVING SUCCESS: Whether that be as a teacher and seeing a student realize and understanding something new. Or of seeing and learning of someone else's triumph. Overcoming the odds.

 

#7: HISTORY: Knowing who I am and where I have come from. And sharing that knowledge with others. #8: BASKETBALL:

 

#9: LIVING IN THE NOW: Enjoying everything that I experience. Savoring it. Learning from it. And then seeking a way to go beyond and to tomorrow.

 

#10: ENJOYING and CHERISHING THE COMPANY OF RANDY!!!

 

#11: Sudoku puzzles

 

#12: A growing interest of photography.

 

MY FAVORITE BOOKS and AUTHORS:

 

#1: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest -- by Ken Kesey

 

#2: The Bridge Over the River Kwai -- by Pierre Boulle

 

#3: The Ugly American -- by William Lederer and Eugene Burdick

 

#4: Where Eagles Dare -- Allistair MacLean

 

#5: From Russia With Love -- by Ian Flemming

 

#6: Seven Days in May -- Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey

 

#7: The DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons -- both by Dan Brown

 

#8: The Fist of God -- by Frederick Forsyth

 

#9: The Pelican Brief -- by John Grisham

 

#10: Federation -- by Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens

 

#11: My Left Foot -- by Christy Brown

 

MY FAVORITE MOVIES:

 

#1: King of Hearts -- starring Alan Bates

 

#2: A Bridge Over the River Kwai -- directed by David Lean

 

#3: Paths of Glory -- starring Kirk Douglas, directed by Stanley Kubrick

 

#4: Thunderball

 

#5: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

 

#6: Indiana Jones: the Last Crusade

 

#7: Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey -- both by Stanley Kubrick

 

#8: The Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven

 

#9: Play Misty For Me -- starring Clint Eastwood

 

#10: The African Queen -- starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn

 

#11: To Have and Have Not; We're No Angels -- both starring Humphrey Bogart

 

#12: My Left Foot -- starring Daniel Day-Lewis

 

#13: The Five Pennies -- starring Danny Kaye

 

MY FAVORITE MUSIC:

 

#1: Beethoven's 9th Symphony

 

#2: Jazz

 

#3: Soundtrack for the musical Cats

 

#4: Sketches of Spain -- by Mile Davis

 

#5: John Coltrain

 

#6: Frank Sinatra

 

#7: the Beatles

 

#8: Peggy Lee and Bette Midler

 

#9: Harry Chapin and Harry Belafonte

 

#10: Nora Jones, Enya, Sade, and Dido

 

#11: Carly Simon

 

#12: Bolero by Ravel