Tell us a little about yourself - your family or household, kids, pets, occupation, etc.
I was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in Ashland, Oregon, a beautiful small town in the southern part of the state. My dad coached basketball at the college there, and since he had no sons, he tried his best to raise my sister and me as boys. Although I turned out to be a girl, anyway, I really did benefit from this: I remember when I entered high school and had the option to take typing, my dad said, “Don't learn to type. If you can type, then no matter how much education you have, your boss will turn you into a secretary.” Artifact of the times! But he was a true feminist who believed that women could do anything they wanted to do, and that made me a strong, independent and confident woman as I grew up. I moved back to Portland in 1971, after living in England for three years, and I stayed there until 2006.
I was raised to be a political activist – I can remember seeing Harry Truman campaigning from the back of a railroad car in 1948, and chanting “phooey, phooey, phooey, don't vote for Dewey” all the way home. So it was only natural that I became a political advocate, aka “lobbyist” in my professional life. I know that “lobbyist” has become a dirty word, but what I did primarily was advocate for health care for those who were disadvantaged, either because they were poor or because they lived in remote rural areas. I loved it, and retired in 2006.
Along the way, I had two “practice” husbands. The first one gave me two wonderful children, Justine and Jeffrey, who are now 41 and 39. The second one gave me a hard time and ruined my credit, but that is another story...
I had been single for 25 years when I met Jerry in 2003. If we hadn't met, I probably would have worked until I dropped. We both loved traveling to Mexico and started talking about retiring here. By 2004, we had a two-year plan. We got married in 2005 and moved to Mexico in 2006. We bought a modest home in a Mexican neighborhood and did a lot of rehab, e.g., there was NO kitchen in the house except a sink and a slab of cement for a counter. The house had wonderful shade trees (a huge mimosa and a large lichee), but was surrounded by dirt and mud; it is now surrounded by patios. The house was about 800 square feet, which we have doubled by adding a second story, as well as a lovely terraza on the second story roof, which feels like a treehouse.
Daughter Justine decided to join us here in 2008, and son Jeff works for an international school in China. He and his wife have given me three grandchildren – two girls and a boy.
Jerry and I are both soft touches – we have had LOTS of pets since we moved here, all of them rescues. At one point, we had five dogs, 14 cats and two goats (smelly!) We have found new homes for most of the cats and dogs and goats that have cycled through our lives, but we currently have two dogs and seven cats.
What part of the world do you live in?
We live in the warmth and beauty of Mexico's Pacific Coast, in Bucerias, Nayarit – about 12 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. No, it is not dangerous here. The crime rate in Mexico overall is actually much lower than the US - According to the most recent UN survey on crime, you are three times as likely to be a victim of a crime in the US (4118 per 100,000) than in Mexico (1503 per 100,000). You are twice as likely to be assaulted in the US, and 21 times as likely to be a victim of theft in the US. Sorry to go on about this – I warned you that I am a former lobbyist. It is a sore spot for me - my sister refuses to visit us here because of the perceived danger. I feel safer here than I ever felt in Portland, Oregon.
Living in Mexico full time isn't for everyone. Our street is paved with dirt, and there are chickens, as well as occasional roaming cows, goats and horses that populate the street. The rhythm of life here is completely different from the US. You soon lose your time urgency, because the clock doesn't matter much here. Manana does not necessarily mean “tomorrow”, it means “not now.” This takes some getting used to, but it is eventually liberating. Except in the resort areas, it is a little messy. There is garbage in the streets and plastic bags floating on the breeze. The streets have lots of potholes and the sidewalks are a little treacherous. If there is a beautiful tree where someone wants to build a road, they build around the tree, which complicates driving down the road. But, it is a fully sensual experience. There is something to grab and delight my eye everywhere I look. The air is rich with cooking smells, floral smells and other smells not so pleasant, but part of the whole. Sounds of music, roosters crowing, birds singing and dogs barking are everywhere. While I cannot find some of the ingredients to cook my favorite state-side foods, it is a cook's dream here because of the abundance of fresh ingredients and the opportunity to learn how to cook new and wonderful foods.
How did you find the NCT community?
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Followed the yellow brick road from another site, like many of you.[/FONT]
Do you have any hobbies besides cooking?
I don't know if you would call it a hobby, because I do occasionally make some money from it, but I am also a painter. I wanted to be an “artist” from the time I was a little girl – just never had the opportunity as an adult to indulge that side of myself. Too busy working, being a single parent, running a household...there was never energy left for it. I also read a lot, both books on paper and audiobooks on my iPod.
If you could choose any profession or occupation, what would it be and why?
Being happily retired and having paid "my dues", I would not be interested in a career change!
How and why did you choose your Username? What does it mean?
Probably can leave this one out...
What is a typical day like for you?
No two days are ever the same for us, so it is difficult to describe one that is "typical." We start our days on the patio with coffee, and go from there. I paint, I cook, I visit with friends, I spend time on the internet, I read, I shop, I sometimes take an afternoon siesta. We have coffee again around 4 in the afternoon, usual iced lattes this time of year. We often have friends drop by to join us. Dinner is around 8-9 and we are frequently joined by friends. Neither of us is much of a TV watcher, although I do watch Iron Chef (in English!) on Saturday nights. Jerry usually spends the evening on his computer (he always watches "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" from the MSNBC webpage,) and I read, paint or putter.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Probably finding a whole new “career” as a painter here in Mexico. After spending my professional life using my left brain (analytical and strategic) , I made the switch to my right brain in order to express myself creatively. It is a dream that I never thought I would realize and I still pinch myself occasionally.
Give us 5 words that describe you.
determined, intuitive, smart, kind, loyal
Name 5 things that would be on your "bucket list".
There really are very few things that I regret not doing at this stage in my life. I had always longed to see a Broadway play in New York, and just last month, I had that opportunity. Traveled with my granddaughters to NYC and saw “Wicked.” Wow. Such a memorable evening!
Name 5 things you can't live without.
At my age, you learn that there are very few things you can't live without. But I'd certainly be unhappy without my husband, my pets, coffee, fresh fruit and butter.
Who is your role model and why?
As I was growing up, my dad was my role model. He was a such a generous and kind man, and had a special gift for tolerance and forgiveness. He always told me that every single person has something about them to admire, and that I should look for that quality in the most unlikeable people. But at my age, you sort of run out of role models. They are either dead, or have proven to have feet of clay. Among those who are living, I greatly admire Bill Moyers, who seems to always tell the truth and also make wise and accurate observations about it. Of course, he is now retired, so I have to make do with archives from PBS.
Tell us one thing about yourself that people would be surprised to know.
I may have already revealed this in a rash moment, but my husband and I met on an internet “adult” dating site. I was 59 and he was 57. Yep, we “seniors” do not ever forget how to have fun.
What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?
She was a dreamy, solitary child with a great imagination and lots of imaginary friends. She'd probably be happy for me that I grew up to have a lot of real live friends. She would certainly have never imagined that I would end up living in Mexico.
What is the best moment of your life so far?
Can't even begin to answer this – I have been so fortunate to have lots of “best” moments and there is no way I can single one out. I suppose most people would point out the days their children were born, their wedding day, etc. All of those days were wonderful, of course. More recently, we put so much time, love and energy into saving the life of a tiny puppy (only 2 weeks old) that Jerry found abandoned in a mud puddle on the street, covered in maggots. We fed him with a bottle for weeks, and when our veterinario said he was going to make it, that was a great moment. He's now just over a year old and very healthy and happy.
How and at what age did you start cooking?
At age 10, I started taking over cooking one night of the week – Tuesday nights were my night (both my parents worked). My first meal was meatloaf, right out of that BHG red & white checked cookbook.
Do you have a signature dish or one that you make especially well?
I am probably best known for my baking, especially cookies and cinnamon rolls. People seem to love my potato salad, and Jerry and I together make very good tamales.
What is your favorite spice?
Cinnamon
What 2 cooking tools/gadgets/appliances would you swap from your kitchen and what would you swap them for?
I would love to swap our current espresso machine, which we bought at Starbucks five years ago for $300 for a new Gaggio or Saeco, which cost 4-5 times that. I can't justify the expense, so someone would have to just give me one. My wonderful KitchenAid mixer is 20+ years old, so I will eventually have to trade up for a new one, which probably won't be as good or reliable. Our warm, humid, coastal air is hard on electronics and appliances, so I'm hoping they last a while longer.
If you could host a dinner party with 6 well-known guests, living or dead, who would they be and what would you serve?
From the political world, Eleanor Roosevelt and John Kennedy. To make astute observations, Walter Cronkite and Keith Olbermann. And to add some levity to the event, George Carlin and Steven Colbert.
Who would you most like to have prepare a meal for you?
Maybe Bobby Flay, who has such a flair for the flavors and ingredients I most enjoy.
100 years from now, how would you like to be remembered?
I do not imagine that anyone will remember me 100 years from now. All I ask is that in some small way, I can leave the world a better place than when I entered it.
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. Thank you!
