hand made and heart warmed

You asked me to tell you about myself.

So I will.

I am sixty-six years old and still working.  In February, I volunteered to be laid off from FEMA until another big disaster requires my assistance. I worked on Katrina every day for almost three years and needed a break.

A month ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer, the second cancer I am fighting.  I am single and have no family left.  A few good friends including one who is my 'adopted mother' help me cope.

I have been getting treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for a year and a half for early esophageal cancer.  On Monday I have my first appointment with an oncologist to develop a treatment plan for my breast cancer and Friday I go to Johns Hopkins for a checkup and biopsy for the esophageal cancer.  I have determined that both cancers were caught early and I don't plan on dying from either one.  I feel fine.  Time will tell however.

My formal education is in psychology, social work and communications and I have had several careers, including one designing and marketing jewelry made from vintage and antique buttons.  Rather late in life I was delighted to discover I had some artistic talent. 

During my voluntary layoff from FEMA, I am hard at work developing another crafts business creating decoupaged products and collages.  I can never completely retire because of poor financial planning in my past, and am hoping and praying I have the talent and business saavy to earn enough to supplement my social security check and survive in old age.  My inheritance disappeared when a nursing home got the small fortune my mother had put aside for me.  I have a good friend who knows Jennifer and sold her some jewelry she made that has sold in your Taos store, I was told.

I live and breathe crafts and love to wear art as well, which is why I am a great devotee of Blue Fish.  My closet is full of your clothes, which I can rarely afford to pay full price for.  I call to order your markdowns and have made frequent purchases on ebay of 'gently used' Blue Fish.  I am wearing some now. 

My condo is completely decorated with handmade American-made crafts, including lots of things created by friends and other people I know personally, that I cherish. 

At FEMA I worked very hard to help Katrina evacuees recover their lives.  I communicated directly with applicants and provided funds and rental assistance, emotional support and guidance to help applicants get their lives back on track.  When another big disaster happens I will most likely be called back to FEMA and plan to work until I am exhausted again.

Maybe like a lot of people, I've made a lot of mistakes in my life and wish I could start over knowing what I know now, but without that option, I just take what I've learned from my mistakes and try to make the most of every day.

I grew up in Pennsylvania but now live in the Washington, DC area which I've decided is a wonderful place to live. It keeps getting better and better and is much improved from when I moved here in the 1960s.   I soak up the local beauty and culture.  I frequent museums and take advantage of all the discounted theatre tickets caused by the recession. and there have been many. 

I could go on and on and provide whole chapters about my life of course, but I've provided you with a summary of who I am and where I'm coming from.  Thanks for asking.

Becky