I was born in San Diego since my dad was a career Navy pilot. I attended an Episcopal school when I lived there. We also lived on Guam for a couple of years.
When he retired we moved to Grass Valley. My grandparents had friends there they knew from San Diego, so my dad bought property there. He got a job flying helicopters with CalNat Airways, and then the forestry. I was 10 years old.
My mom found a newly-built house on Catherine Lane, a block from the hospital. It was 3200 sq. ft. But over the years we filled it up. I attended Mt. St. Mary’s 5th through eighth grades. Then I was off to Nevada Union High School.
We had to declare a major, so I picked English. I was a member of all of Mr. Baggett’s choirs, and the accompanist, along with 2 other fantastic students. I also played clarinet in the band and in the Nevada County Band, and took violin lessons.
I graduated in 1974 and went off to the University of Redlands, my teacher’s alma mater. I played bass clarinet in the stage band there. After two years I transfered to the University of the Pacific in Stockton.
I met Gary on Thanksgiving of 1976, we were married May of 1978. We had our daughter Laurie in December 1981. We lived in Florida for 3 1/2 years and Tucson Arizona for 14 years. When Gary retired in 1997 we moved back to Grass Valley. We have 3 granddaughters, Cassara who is 21, Corinne, soon to be 19, and Selia who is 17 and graduates from high school this year. They all live in Florida.