Sue Johnson:  

Life I currently live on the eastern border of Washington state in a region called the Palouse. I am a licensed massage therapist with experience in a broad array of modalities and have owned my business for almost 26 years now. I am also a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and enjoy the work immensely. I've been divorced since 1987, love the summers to get outside and be active. Our winters here have changed, so snowshoeing is not locally available the past few winters. I used to downhill ski every winter, but the road trip to decent skiing takes too much time. I have lived in several countries overseas, schooled in Germany and Thailand. I've considered retiring somewhere overseas in about 7 years or so, but nearer some family might be more reasonable. I think I would prefer to simply be able to afford to travel back to the east coast twice a year to visit friends and family while continuing to live in the Northwest.... I attended 3 highschools, but consider Tappan Zee HS, more or less, MY high school. My freshman year was at Nyack HS, Nyack,NY.... sophomore and junior years at Tappan Zee HS in Orangeburg, NY.... and my senior year at International School Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand ~ graduating in 1966. I also attended Schiller College in Bonnigheim, Germany, overseas extension classes with the University of Maryland and the University of Alaska. HOBBIES Stained glass, gardening, reading, listening to music, biking in the summer, hiking year round, interior design, travel. I would say that having a pet is not only like a family member, but perhaps a wonderful pasttime... My best buddy for the past 18 years, Tuxedo (15 lb long haired tuxedo male) recently passed away. For now the house is a bit out of balance. I am sure the hollow absence of my "pet pasttime'~~ the demise of my only family out here, will begin to heal in time. In the meantime, it is now fall and I love fall colors!! Would love to visit New England in the fall...and many other areas of the country with spectacular fall displays someday!! COLLEGE What a task... let's see... University of Maryland/Bangkok, Thailand around 1967-69. Schiller College in Bonnigheim, Germany 1969-70, U. of Md. in London, England off and on for the next 4 years, U.of Md. in Washington, DC while living on Bolling AFB with my then husband and at the U of MD campus in Maryland as well. U. of Alaska while living on Adak out in the Aleutians from 1980-84. And finally...Tri-Cities School of Massage finishing up in 1993!! 50TH REUNION It is not looking good so far for me to attend the 50th reunion, much to my disappointment. In my mind I was thinking it would be in August or September, so hearing that it was in the middle of October caught me off guard. The weekend of the 15th of October is probably the ONLY weekend that does not work. Bummed.... If it truly does not work out, then in September, which is more likely to work for me to travel back east, I will let Elaine know, and others, too.... and maybe we can plan lunch or dinner while I am back there. I have not written it off entirely, yet, the possibility of getting back east in October and will let you know if I can swing it. Would love to see all of you , those who I see on facebook and all those I don't!!! CURRENT EVENTS ~ October 2016 Heading into surgery on the morning of Oct 14th for a shoulder issue...to repair one of the tendons in the rotator cuff ~ the supraspinatus tendon. I must have injured it over the years and not known it, but then I was a tomboy in my youth, an active downhill skier in my younger adult years, have done some climbing, used to visit the gym frequently, lots of biking and walking ~ so who knows. At any rate, I'd like to say I was working on my Bucket List, went sky diving, landed wrong and injured my shoulder. However, the truth is not nearly so exciting.. I was folding sheets for my clinic, shook one of them to get out a few more wrinkles, and .. ...that's all it took. And, it's my right arm, so just how uncoordinated my left arm/hand is will become apparent in about 2 - 4 weeks now. I will be with everyone at the reunion in spirit only and will be looking for photos and comments online about the event. It will be finger food for me (unless, of course, it's ice cream and I will, for sure, figure out how to get a spoonful to my mouth!!) and one-armed activities for awhile...plus I'll be out of work (hell when you're self-employed) for about 3 months. Never a dull moment, right? Happy 50th to everyone whether you attend the reunion or not!!! Update...10th of August 2017. I was not able to work for 7 months (not the 3 I had anticipated), but since May I have been slowly rebuilding my practice and regaining strength in my forearms, hands and thumbs and the healing from my shoulder surgery will continue for another year, I'm told! :( I was also informed that it was a very LARGE tear in the supraspinatus tendon, plus a small tear in the subscapularis muscle. Apparently I don't do things in small ways!! Anyway, being back at work is rewarding, a blessing and I am feeling extremely grateful. Here in the Palouse, we are experiencing our annual wildland fires. It has been smokey and in the 90's for two weeks now. Between Canada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana ~ I have lost count of the number of fires~~ something upwards of 30 or way more!!! . We have hotter weather and much longer spells of NO rain..... and the natural fuels out there are prime for fires. For the remainder of summer, wherever you live, here's hoping it's wonderful!! Update ~ March 1, 2018... planning to travel back east in April 2018. I don't have dates yet, except to say it will be after the 15th and I should be there for approximately 5-7 days. I am feeling that a trip away will be just what I need...... Soon it will be spring and I can begin to be outside more and think about my gardening for this summer. Hoping we do not have the high number of wildland fires this year and therefore little or no smoke requiring masks again... and would be truly nice if we could return to what used to be "normal" temps in the 80's this summer! Right now there is a diminishing layer of snow outdoors...I really DO love winter, but have to say, I am ready for spring! If anyone is ever out/or up this way, please let me know!! Seattle is a 6 hour drive over the pass, so can't just plan a short visit over there. Spokane is about an hour north of me. And unless you have business at Washington State University or Schweitzer Engineering you may not ever have a reason for visiting the Palouse!! Can't believe age 70 is about here when I feel more like 45!!! Happy Birthday to everyone whenever your birthday is!!! January 2019!! Where has time gone? I have spent the last 4 months in physical therapy again. :( A large utility truck T-boned me on 9/10/18, totaled my car and, fortunately, I had no broken bones, no cuts and did not impact my head. I DID, however end up with whiplash and multiple other issues which are improved, but not gone. I have worked on many accident victims in the past 26 years as a therapeutic massage therapist and knew what to expect as my head thrashed back and forth sideways. I guess patience is called for here... The best part is I have a Bemer medical device and the use of this amazing piece of equipment has been the reason I am progressing as fast as I am. bmruniversity dot com forward slash what is bemer Travel plans include San Antonio and the Hill country the end of April sometime to visit friends, and back east to visit family and friends in maybe October. Happy New Year to all!! June 22nd, 2019... Already the days are getting shorter... this is SO not right!! LOL We are only now getting into summer....Update on life since February ~ Still working on post auto accident issues ie two bulging discs in low back that interferes with both legs. Ugh... tired of limping. Diagnosis of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma ie it is non aggressive and just sitting there and could just continure to sit there for years. I now have an oncologist....never thought I'd need one, but blessed to have a highly recommended one, ...Tree fell on my house, but due to another well placed lower limb that deflected the potential impact, my house was not harmed, but....the entire roof of my front porch was destroyed. I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere in life... SMH .... And my landlord has turned even more unresonable than usual and since he has been delinquent in small increases each year in my rent, he has decided to dump a 25% rent increase me all at one time!! Getting tired of fighting battles... sigh. On the bright side, though, since I do not have a front porch to deck out with pots of flowers, I have been focusi...Expand for more