Julia Amiya (Nancy) Messersmith:  

I am not looking for a romantic interest, I have an agenda. I am looking for old AND new friends. I moved to North Carolina in 2008 from San Francisco, and it feels like home. We relieved ourselves of 99% of our material goods, mailed some boxes, and got on a train. Someone found me very shortly after we moved here and I know we will sustain an important friendship. He's a creative soul, and a total character! Reynolda House, Pilot Mountain, Old Salem, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and SECCA are fantastic! On to new destinations. You know, some OLD people must have put together subjects for the "favorites" list. How about websites?: miltpriggee.com, ted.com, hamiltonbook.com, sluggyfreelance, astronomy picture of the day - "apod", merriam-webster word of the day, wikipedia - I could follow links all day!, google fight, nova68, dvdpricesearch.com, archive.org - Project Gutenberg, and slashdot - check these out. BTW, my "now" picture is Judy Canova. Very few of you will have a clue who she is. She was a comedic actress from decades ago, but she looks country, so I put her up. My picture is in the last picture in the Julia album. I lived in San Francisco for 20 years, working, playing, and going to school. SF is beautiful, but an economic sinking ship. Who voted for the The Terminator?! :- ) While on the train, all the moving trucks we saw, were moving east --->. Travel by train if you can. The people, scenery, food, and fares are remarkable. I saw Colorado for the first time recently, with many lovely people I did not know. I cannot say enough about City College of SF where I just realized one dream of getting a fashion education. Every teacher is remarkable, I cannot thank them enough; and so is the fashion department director, the beyond ultimately qualified, Diane Green. See picture. I taught joint exercises in the pool at the YMCA, where I saw miracles happen everyday. See picture. One miracle happened the day a woman, being held up by a very capable assistant, straightened out her legs after 10 years! I also worked as a counselor, and finding benefits for people who were able to walk through our door. I expanded the department according to need. I was trained for many different situations and emergencies. Several of us took suicide calls. You have to do this work for the right reasons, hint: it's not the car payment and the rent. During this time, many many people I cared for died. One of my favorite friends and quite a character!, Bobby Murillo, from Elmhurst, died. We lived in the same building in SF. Bobby and I commented on how fortunate we were to have been brought up in Elmhurst, and how apparent it was when we lived in other locations. I had a wonderful boyfriend, who died in 1995 from bone cancer. Always a character!, he made everyone laugh and smile. He did whatever he had to to make peoples' lives better. It was my privilege to be with him during his illness, for him to allow me be with him. See picture. As with my Mother, in 1986, doctors just don't seem to be able to diagnose cancer until it's terminal, even with help from the patient's loved ones. (Bob, The Angry Flower, has an apostrophe usage poster.) I should make a 7 warning signs of cancer poster, AND DISTRIBUTE IT! We spent three years in Chicago. My young son loved the Science and Industry Museum. My favorite was the Field Museum. Our favorite walk was 5200 N. by the lake to 2400 N. the Rookery at Lincoln Park Zoo, about one mile and one-half. Before Chicago we spent five years in the Robinson/Lawrenceville, Illinois area. They have some beautiful state parks! Xavier's first years were spent there. I spent that time getting a divorce, and finishing college, three more years of school. The St. Mary-of-the-Woods year was done through their WED external degree program, which allowed me to do my work and be with my son at home. I also took courses at Vincennes University, a junior college. Right out of high school my goal was to get a bachelors degree. It took thirteen years - to 1983. I did it with little or no support. If I have a goal, I finish it. Another wonderful, witty person f...Expand for more