Virginia Clancy:  

Life I am continuing to learn life is a very exciting journey. In my spare time I remain a hospice volunteer. In April of 2009 I returned to Houston from Ojai, CA ,after caring for my oldest sister, Sherry, who had a stroke 5 years ago. I miss the beauty of Southern CA; it was a special experience to enjoy the mountains again. But my home, Houston, Texas, beckoned me back with its sultry evenings and the promise of regaining my "Southern" accent. I have one son, Christopher, born on Valentine's Day, 1972. I have one grandson, Alejandro (Alex), born April 23, 2002. My life is good and meaningful, and I am blessed. The real things for me are the intangibles and the ability to remain authentic. I have expericenced many losses thus far; yet the rewards have been abundant. This particular chapter of my life is even more embracing; I find my curiosity so heightened and I can report that I am very comfortable in my own skin. College I took several college classes, had my son at 25, worked in the day, and when the homework got to me at 1:30 AM, and I saw strands of my hair falling out, then I knew that motherhood had the highest priority. I watched my only son, Christopher, graduate Magna Cum Laude from The University of Houston Honors Program. He was also in the Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, Vice President of his Senior class, and won cutest baby picture contest in his Senior year in high school. That made up for my hair trying to fall out! Workplace I have worked in mental health for the past 25 years. I am also a hospice volunteer. I took off a year to become a Volunteer Coordinator for a hospice here in Houston. I recruited and trained volunteers to bring quality of life to the terminally ill. I am also a Bereavement volunteer for the caretakers of the terminally ill. I truly enjoy working in the medical field on an administrative and creative level. I love people and find great comfort in easing the vexations of their spirit. I honestly believe that we continue to learn something new and exciting on a daily basis if we seek the knowledge. I can remember being President of the Reading Club in the 7th grade at Park Junior High School. Books became the instrument of adventure for me, and they still continue to offer solace in times of reflection. I especially appreciate philosophy and poetry. Through my work I have continued to learn so much about how people feel and what is important to them. I find the rewards of my work in being able to offer some level of comfort to those experiencing emotional wounds. But haven't we all shared those emotional wounds, i.e., being rejected at those dances, not being picked...Expand for more