Roxanne Lorentzen:  

February, 2010 Well, I really should say *something* here at this site. I've talked on and off with various people, but haven't been able to talk with everyone I'd like to. I've had a good, busy life; a lot of serious living in a rather short span of time, so it's kind of difficult to square it up succinctly. But, since I am a writer, excelled in English, went to law school, I should be able to manage some words! Sorry to have let you guys down that have asked me to share "my story", especially Classmate Eric Grold who encouraged me to write something! Life happens. You don't have much control over what happens, just over what you *do* about what happens. I have a great sense of humor, I've been told, and am keenly aware of, because it has gotten me through a roller coaster life! :-) I get my humor from both my parents (thankfully they did *something* right for me! (joking)! I was born to genius parents, that ended up passing on some smarts to me, thankfully. But, my parents didn't prepare me for the "real world" as a child, and divorced when I was only eleven years old. My mother moved us to the home she owned in Santa Monica, California. I started into the 5th Grade there at Franklin Elementary School, middle of the year. The kids picked on me ferociously, for being a stranger to them, and for raising my hand all the time. Also because I befriended a severely disabled girl in my class then, who the kids regularly beat on, for fun. I protected her from them. So, they hit me instead of her. That's okay, I could take it better than she could. Karen Welsh died of her illness at age 13. My other best friend, around then, was also ill from birth, emphysema, and broke my heart when she died at age 19. I started working at age 13. I went to school all day, then to work, then at home cleaned, did yard work, and cooked dinner for the family nightly. Then I would roller-skate until dark. I skated every day; whether six miles to the beach and back, or to Grandmother's house across town, or just around my neighborhood. I also loved to ice-skate at the local rink; which I learned from living on a lake in Minnesota, White Bear Lake, from age six to ten. That's where and when I learned to fish with my two brothers, using worms we dug up for bait. When I was age 17 my Mom was hospitalized for some time, and needed to sell our home to pay the bill. I then took on the care of my 15 year-old-brother; left High School six months early; missed graduation; got a full-time job; rented an apartment. Became secretary to president of an aircraft corporation. I also worked for BMW corporation before going to college in Santa Barbara, California at 19. I worked full-time jobs during seven years of college. I worked as a professional model during some of that time. The photo of me on this site, my black dress outfit, was done by one of the top photographers in the world, chosen upon graduation from Brooks Institute of Photography to shoot the covers for PEOPLE MAGAZINE. I was the exclusive model for a Spa Company for several years. Other jobs during college incl...Expand for more