Carrie Howson:  

If you remember me at all, you will remember a painfully shy, geeky, oddly dressed girl sometimes known as "The Brain" - not a compliment in those days. You would be surprised to learn I have become an accomplished public speaker. I love to talk with everyone I meet, and hear their stories. The teachers I wish I could thank are Mr. Coulter and Miss White, for their compassion and understanding, and Mr. Frank and Mr. Frazier for inspiring teaching. After North High, I attended Bennington College in Vermont, and except for two visits, in 1955 and 2006, I have never returned to Arizona, even when my father died in 1952. I got my BA in American history, worked briefly for the CIA (dull!), taught elementary school in Maryland. I married a Viennese, moved to Vienna, Rome and Belgrade, had a lovely daughter, got divorced after two and one-half years of marriage. On my return to the States, I attended Columbia Teachers College for my ABD (All But Degree). I went to work for the New York City Department of Personnel in several capacities. I met my late husband, John, on a blind date. He worked for IBM. We bought a circa 200-year-old farm house in Hyde Park, NY, and added twin daughters, several dogs, untold numbers of cats, ducks, rabbits, a snake who lived in the dining room, and a hermit crab...Expand for more