Patricia Gaillard:
CLASS OF 1962
Fox Lane High SchoolClass of 1962
Bedford, NY
Patricia's Story
Nooooo, not Folger's!!! Do you know where those beans have BEEN??? Well, I do. (Ms. Monk speaks.)
Wow, it's been a wild ride these last 44 (can't believe it) years. I think about the only thing missing on my resume is mule skinning. And hey, there's still time! 20 years in marketing at IBM, 15 of which were in Manhattan. I actually talk now! Then retirement from Big Blue and a B.A. in theater and film at Castleton State College here in Vermont, followed by an M.A. in literature from Middlebury College (four summers in Vermont, one at Oxford--unbelievable fun). Public school teaching--middle and high school. My own radio show. A bit of acting here and there. A quick stint at Morgan Stanley, then a hop into academia. Work? Just retired (again) from Castleton State College, where I ran the learning center for the humanities and the writing program, with about 60 tutors--peer and paraprofessional--working for me. I'm still part-time faculty.
Fun? I ski my brains out in the winter. Okemo's my favorite area. To get free passes, I've taught and gate kept during races at Killington and Pico. And I love my NIA classes: a combination of jazz and modern dance blended with elements of Tai Ch'i, Tai Quan Do, and yoga. I'm bad, but I don't care. It's a great full-body workout! And so much fun--it keeps me a Size 6!--I feel almost guilty saying I've worked out. Lotsa gain, no pain. I love live music--many kinds--from reggae to rock to accoustic blues. Classical--particularly Baroque--is a passion. I attempted to learn classical guitar. (It wasn't pretty: I won't be giving Christopher Parkening a run for his money any time soon!) I return to the Apple for a B'way, culture and food fix often. Gotta see movies first run in the theater, as the director intended! And reading by the fire is a winter fave. I've recently tried soaring--love it! 11,000 feet up and no engine, what a rush!!! when I'm not busy getting sick--and I sail when I get the chance. I also enjoy a bad game of tennis or golf, but will play the latter only with people who promise not to wrap a 5-iron around my neck by the third tee!!! Yes, I'm that bad. I'm a licensed SCUBA diver and love the gin-clear waters of the Caribbean, where my body can do what it naturally wants to: sink. Courtesy of my ex-husband, I own leathers, in case anyone wants ...Expand for more
me to hop on a Harley. Hey, I was a Girl Scout; I'm prepared. After a summer in Costa Rica and a previous visit over Winter Break, I'm ready to move! I fell in love. Not with a guy, with the climate! (At this point, re relationships, it's safe to say that in my case, practice does NOT make perfect.) But... 72-degree year-round temps--no heat, no A/C--after last winter's fuel bill, I'm ready. 20 years in VT is eh-nough. Can always fly to cooler climes to ski...with what I'd save in property taxes, which are double digits down there. But I digress.
Do I do anything well? Um... Yes, but it's a much shorter list! When I first arrived in Vermont, I owned and operated a B&B, so I enjoy cooking and eating. (I once ate my way through Europe, backpacking from Greece to Scandinavia. I have little remembrance of all the "sights" I saw, but I can tell you where all the good restaurants are.) I enjoy preparing a good meal for friends. But I keep a fire extinguisher nearby! Smokey the Bear is my sous-chef. I still love traveling and experiencing new people, places, and cultures. Although this will be--I hope--my primary retirement home, as long as I can continue to hack the harsh winters (BULLETIN: I can't), I'm casting an eye southward--to Panama--and eastward--to Spain, looking for a modest warm-weather place to escape to during the coldest part of the winter when my knees won't handle the skiing any longer. Re skiing. I'm good. Very good.
My humor has gotten me over the speed bumps of life, most recently a catastrophic illness, followed by a lengthy and stressful divorce, which greatly enriched my attorney's IRA at the expense of my own. But I'm still truckin'!!! And I love my muddy mountain home and petite pond. As does my dog. She has access to all furniture, not typically Virgo, I know, but maybe I have a peculiar rising sign. I've learned I'm ADHD, so...Paper Piles R Us. At 64, I'm fit, feisty, and fun-loving. Oh, and happy as hell. UNTIL I get the oil bill.
Update: One too many oil bills later, I decided to retire to Costa Rica. Trying unsuccessfully to sell my VT house, but enjoying a really different life down here amidst the incredible biodiversity. I welcome visitors!
I'd love to hear from anyone who cares to write. Or call. Pegvtcr is my identifier on Skype.
Trisha (aka Patti and Pat)
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