Simonetta Padovani:  

Hello Everyone, It's so nice to see how well many of you are doing, and how good you all look! : ). It's still hard for me to believe that we are in our late 40's, and that many of us have kids the same age that we were when we last saw each other! It's always hard to try and describe oneself objectively and avoid labels. I am more interested in your and my process of living rather than just end results or accomplishments, and/or failures. However, the Classmates/ Memory Lane type structure seems to be label centered, so I'll try to conform. My husband and I have been together for 22 years. We have a great son, who, at 16, is almost 6'2". We still live on Long Island. I've worn several professional hats in my lifetime, but my favorites have been those of teacher, entrepreneur, and academic librarian and researcher. I am currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program, and hope to complete my doctorate within the next four years. In my spare time (ha, ha), I run a natural organic skincare business. I started creating skincare many years ago, when my son was a little boy and wanted to learn how to make soap.He lost interest after we made a few bars, but the more I read the more fascinated and horrified I became: it soon became clear to me that commercial cosmetic companies use very dangerous chemicals, including antifreeze (!!) in order to increase their profit margin. I began inventing skincare with very pure, natural ingredients. I have sold my skincare through Whole Foods, word of mouth, and to the medical/dental community, including dermatologists(who have also tested and approved my skincare). I have been trying to keep things low key, and word of mouth, but I will probably be launching on a bigger scale very soon. My former colleagues, professors, and friends at St. John's had advised me to stay out of the bigger cosmetic companies radar,so that's what I've been trying to do. I have also been trying to tr...Expand for more