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  • The world is so full of a number of things I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings. Robert Louis Stevenson, A Child's Garden of Verses

Books Read 2013

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Biography

In 1969 I wanted to be an astronaut. I also wanted to be a poet, a fashion designer, a concert pianist, and a princess. At that time my view of a princess’s role was to wear pretty dresses, run the castle, and go out and rescue the hapless prince when he got in trouble slaying dragons. I have no idea where I got that idea, and yes, I was a little old to still be dreaming about princesses.

When I was in college I simply wanted to be a “Renaissance person”. Actually, I wanted to follow the path set by whatever my favorite subject was that semester. I could never make up my mind. I chose my major because it required the fewest credits. I took the maximum coarse load allowable without special dispensation, and I took as wide a variety of courses as I could cram into my time. I considered translating cuneiform, studying philosophy of religion, becoming an archeologist, an English professor, a microbiologist. I could never choose and I suppose I never have.

I used to look at people who knew what they wanted to do with their lives with admiration and a bit of jealousy. I felt inferior because I didn’t have a “destiny”. I really don’t let that bother me anymore. I still admire those who follow their dreams, and I follow my dreams also. I suppose I just have more dreams. I am not very patient with sitting in one place in life.

As a result of my curiosity I have had many careers and I’ve learned something from every one of them whether I was lab technician in a biological research lab, working as a floating sales person in a department store, running a baby nursery, or designing a multi-religion Sunday school for children of mixed marriages (mostly Jewish/Christian/Muslim). I’ve also worked in a university library, taught ESL and sold cheese at a specialty cheese shop. I’ve been an executive secretary, a receptionist, and I’ve run a medical practice. I’ve been a computer programmer (not the job for me), the operations manager running a small computer time-sharing firm, a systems analyst, and VP of sales for a computer software company. I’ve worked on various boards and been involved in the normal run of volunteer activities. I don’t mind starting over at the beginning because there is always so much more to learn.

I love to cook and bake. I used to be an avid baker, but I seem to have cycled out of that for now. Along with cooking, constant passions tend to be reading, knitting, sewing, and gardening. I am fascinated by art and love music of all genres.

I believe that the only dead-ends in life are the ones people make for themselves. And I think the world is full of opportunities for enterprising princesses.