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Gerb. I am a Professional Domestic Goddess with one talented husband and nine spunky kids. My other loves include Deaf culture & American Sign Language, singing at the top of my lungs, making (and eating) baked goods, being with good people and finding a fantastic bargain. On my happiest days you can find me rollerskating down the local River Trail or playing songs for deserving someones on my accordion. For lack of a better way to explain it, I am someone whose life has been profoundly influenced by great books and good music. Plus I love to read… and write.
Teachinfourth. I am a veteran fifth grade teacher who never actually intended to live in the state of Utah; so, what was the plan? Originally it was to get a degree and get out as fast as possible—crashing here was just one of the curses of landing a job straight out of the chute. I am a juggler of butcher knives, reader of stories with a dozen different voices, and was an extra in High School Musical III—totally not kidding; unfortunately all of my scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. I have a strong interest in photography—mostly from my mom and grandfather, hiking lonely desert vistas, and carry a secret affinity for fine maple bars; so far, Dunford is the clear winner.
Mel. I am a once divorced, once widowed mother of two almost grown-up boys. I currently work with troubled youth which is ironic since I am so often troubled myself. I love being involved with performing arts, especially with elementary-age school kids. In my opinion everybody secretly wishes that every once in awhile the world would just turn into one of those great old MGM musicals where everybody magically knows the lyrics and we can all dance like Fred and Ginger.
Lori. Sometimes I look in the mirror and think, “who are you, and what did you do with Lori?” And then the feeling fades gently away, as I remember with a slight start that I will be 35 years old soon. It seems like just a few days ago that I stood in front of the mirror-fronted medicine cabinet in the old house on Westbrook and seesawed back and forth. Teacher/FBI? Teacher/FBI? On the one hand, I could maintain order and sanity with a rowdy, potentially unappreciative group of teenagers. On the other, I could carry and potentially shoot a gun. But I would probably have to run. Like, maybe a mile or more. That decided me. My Native American name would be So Not Into Running.
So, instead, I married my high school sweetheart, became an English teacher, started having babies, became a SAHM, and somewhere, in all the mix, became Myself. And I kind of like myself, because I don’t really define myself by any one thing, or one moment, one choice, or one person…but by a mix of many things, moments, choices, and individuals. You’ll get a feel for those, and who I am, as you read my posts here, and At Day’s End.
(Oh, and I still got to shoot that gun.)
