Hobbies, Activities & Family

Pets

For my entire life I have been an avid animal lover, and lived with many dogs and cats who still live in my heart and memory – Cuddles, Noel, Holly, Fonzie, Sassy, Jamocha, Priscilla, Angel, Monday, Cozie, Sophia, Sarah — and now Jazzy and my Grandpuppy Coco!  Coco is a “red” toy poodle; Jazzy is a Yorkipoo – both have brought immense laughter and joy to our home.  They have regular BFF play dates!

Family

Karen and I have been together since 1997, and have shared fabulous adventures together from coast to coast and beyond.  We moved to The San Francisco Bay Area in 2005 from Connecticut; Karen’s daughters and their families still live in Connecticut, and my son Kelleth and his family live about 3 miles from us.  We were legally married in California in the first “legal” period – on August 8, 2008.  We have a host of good friends in the community and more social event than we can ever enjoy!

I have a special relationship with my granddaughters, Sophie and Elodie, born in 2004

and 2005.  They attended the Oakland School for the Arts, in middle school, located in the block next to our apartment, so I saw them several times a week after school. They now attend Berkeley High School. Each year since 2015 we have taken a special trip – so if you live almost anywhere in the United States, you just might see us hanging out in your neighborhood!

Community involvement

• Co-organizer, with Lucinda Canty, and Christina Nyirati, of the “Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing” project
• Co-organizer, with Adeline Falk-Rafael and Sue Hagedorn, of NurseManifest Nursing Activism Think Tank, July 30-31, 2018 at UMass-Amherst, Massachusetts
• Moderator of a networking group of lesbians 40 and older in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2004-present
• Member of production team for Third Thursday Women’s Open Mic at Montclair Women’s Cultural Arts Club, 2005-2015
• Web manager (2006-2016) and advisory board member (2006-2008) for FreeWheelers, a chapter of RVing Women, International, 2006-present
• Web manager and core leader for the Lavender Health Resource Center (2009 – present)
• Regular parent/grandparent participant for the Berkeley Youth Open Mic hosted by Kelleth Chinn at the Starry Plough Pub (2011-2012)
• Certified Massage Therapist (completed 1000 hour program at the Colorado School of Healing Arts in December, 1996).
• Political interests
  • Avid “political junkie”, particularly where women, people who are racialized, and LGBTQ rights are concerned.
  • Walker ruling on Prop 8

Quilting

I began quilting in the mid-1960’s; resumed seriously in 2003.  See pictures of my quilts; the quilt site includes detailed information about many of my quilts.

Folk harp and music

In 1997 I began playing the folk harp for nursing home residents and informal occasions such as receptions, parties and luncheons. I studied with Sally Perreten, a master harpist who focuses on the ancient harp traditions of Ireland and Scotland. My performances for professional groups have included:

• International Nurse Historian Association Conference, Hartford, CT, September 26, 1997
• Fleet Bank Annual Investor’s Celebration, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, CT, December 17, 1997.
• St. Joseph College Graduation Reception, December, 1997
• Graduate Reception, University of Connecticut School of Nursing, May 17, 1998; May 16, 1999; May 21, 2000, May 20, 2001