Debra Jay:  

After all these years, Duluth is a magical place for me. I love sitting by the lake, the timelessness of it, and, with every visit, I'm reminded of how lucky I was to have grown up in such a place. I left Duluth in 1972 for Ohio. I attended The Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in psychology and a minor in photography. For many years afterward, my great love was the arts. Columbus was a great place to live, filled with creative people. The city was redefining itself through the arts, so the energy was dynamic and fun. It was a good place for being young. During those years, I began traveling to Europe. I lived in Paris one winter in a little hotel on the left bank owned by a flamboyant Algerian women, Renee, whom I'll never forget. She runs it still today. Young people from all over the world gathered in this particular hotel to live in Paris as long as their money would hold out. Many worked as buskers to afford their stay, and sometimes I'd assist by passing the hat and collecting francs. I'd sit in cafes and smoke and write (I've long since given up the smoking, but I'm still writing) and hoped that I could somehow blend in and experience life as a resident, not a tourist. One day a French couple struck up a conversation from the table next to mine, and quickly learning I was from the United States, said, "Why we assumed you were French." This began my love affair with Europe. It wasn't until the late 80s when I was struck with a passion for addiction and recovery. I wasn't addicted or alcoholic myself, but my close relationships with people who were introduced me to Al-Anon, a 12-step program for the friends and relatives of alcoholics. My love of the powerful simplicity of the program...Expand for more