Cecilia Rios:  

After reading Dale Steele's story, I was inspired to chime in. We certainly were thrust into an era where we chose to either challenge, support or simply be oblivious on issues such as civil disobedience, the Vietnam War, Roe vs Wade, the Civil Rights movement, etc. The reality of the Vietnam War struck home when we received news that my brother Louie had stepped on a land mine. My fear and anger were barely controllable after I visited my brother and there was no one available at the military hospital to clean my brother's scalp and the wound that had created a dent in his skull. So -- I got him into a wheel chair and took him over to the sink and we both ended up with big smiles. It was one of my first lessons in overcoming fear. My brother told me the staff just didn't have time to clean him. He was just one of the many that landed in the no-man's zone called triage. He had survived, was out of danger, and was home. The great news is that he is now retired, a grandpa, and spends his days fishing, camping, taking beach walks, visiting friends and Army buddies. and leaving great voice mail messages generally without a means to get back to him (he forgets his cell#, doesn't remember the password and his vm is full). I love him. The Rios trait; we'd rather see you in person. My experience at the VA hospital gave me that "Wake up, life's too short" jolt. I had been attending SBCC, doing a little modeling, having a whole lot of fun, and working locally. I soon moved to Hawaii where i had a whole lot of more fun and eventually married. I worked for a lobbyist in Hawaii and learned so much about politics that I stopped voting for about six years. I also learned that I love island life and will forever be Hawaiian at heart. I felt more at home among the folks on the islands than I ever felt anywhere else. I love my community in Santa Barbara, but my goal is to stay around here part of the year and over there part of the year. My love of dance took a hiatus (remember modern dance), but is alive and well now that my children are grown. Dancing hula fulfills so much for me. I know that I will dance spiritually, even when my bod...Expand for more