My family on my mother's side lived in NW Ohio. My mother was the last daughter of the Long family. In the picture, she is the baby. Lois was destined to become an awesome teacher of science and mother to three children. I'm the oldest, then my brother Doug, and last, and possibly best, Melanie. Our father, Howard was born in 1903 and had seen so much as the country developed and changed through the 20th Century. He once traveled by stagecoach and lived to see men walk on the moon.
Being raised in Ohio, strong Mid-West principles were instilled. went to college at Miami University-Ohio! Taught school for a brief time, had kids, then went back to school. At Cal State U, Northridge, I received a degree in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety.
Launching into a new career was exciting, even as I attempted to balance family, wife, house and job duties. But learn I did, as did the family. Gradually, I learned more about risk management as a oversight to safety. The expansion of commercial insurance knowledge, with the strong safety background led me to new jobs in management. Supervising claims, safety and clerical staff, educating employees and management on the need to protect assets, both human and physical, was exciting and demanding.
In 2011 I retired from a county position in Michigan, sold the house, loaded the cat and a few belongings into Big Blue, and took off to discover the United States.
Most adults move multiple times. For the second time, I sold/disposed of material things. Going from a house to a smaller RV demands that you get rid of the dining room table, chairs and hutch! Somehow, it wouldn't fit. Talk about cathartic!
That leads to the next topic. Big Blue. She deserves attention and perhaps credit for my current state of mind, my continued love of nature, and this big, beautiful world we live in. Although my mother (and others) thought I'd lost my mind with the purchase of the RV, in retrospect, it was one of the best things I ever did for myself! So much to see, so many people to meet, so many experiences. It was beyond fun!
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