I was born in Wisconsin while my Father served in Vietnam. The second child to Father, third to Mother. We lived in Kansas and Colorado for a few years. There were four boys, one after me. We moved to Alexandria, Virginia for the next long phase of Father’s Army career that took us to Florida as well as a couple of places in Maryland throughout my school years. Brother 1 left when I was 15, he was a very bad person. Eventually he went to prison. Brother 2 left for the Navy. After graduation from high school my college prospects were thin so I too left for the Navy as well. I stayed for seven years separating from service in Annapolis, MD after which I stayed in the DC metro region. Brother 1 reappeared for a while after prison, along with wife and two kids. He disappeared again after wife and kids fled to Florida. Brother 2 had a fatal heart attack at 36. Sad, left three kids, two ex-wives and was separated from the third. Brother 3 left for the Air Force, got married and had two kids. Divorced shortly after. I met my future husband in 2002. My father commiteed suicide  in 2002. My mother died in 2006. Brother 3 walked away from the family (me) in 2008. He also walked away from the rest of the extended family. In 2005, I married in Canada. I am formerly an ultrarunner.  In 2006 I had a hip replaced. The end of my long distance running career was unfortunate. In 2007 we moved to New Jersey. I work in New York City.

Everyone’s life has bumps and peaks.  Overall, I would say mine has been generally blessed. Today it is better than ever. Happily married over 10 years. We have our jobs, health, friends and a cat. It’s where we end up.

Update: the cat suddenly passed but that is the circle of life I am told. She is missed.