Annette Dianne (Raphael):  

Hiya! My best accomplishment is having raised two fine intelligent good-hearted sons. One was a code breaker in Afghanistan and now works for Lockheed; the other lives near me and keeps the hospital in Gig Harbor running 24/7. They both also played in jazz bands, saxophone and trombone and the younger one is a brilliant guitarist. My passion was ice skating for over twenty years. As an adult, I found my way back to a childhood sport that is akin to flying. Picking it up in Fort Worth, TX where my older son was about to be married, I stayed for awhile working at Starbucks and skating on my days off in a little golden rink downtown that I am sure had been in my dreams. I met and married a man who was the Associate Vice President of Mens Wearhouse and was privileged to travel all over the United States and Canada, skates in tow. Highlights of that tour were skating the Olympic Oval in Calgary, the charming outdoor rink in Toronto, Central Park Manhattan, Rockefeller Center (it is so tiny!) at Christmas!, and my absolute biggest thrill skating with the Statue of Liberty in view from on the ice at Chelsea Piers. Finally, living in San Francisco I enjoyed coffee clubs at Kristy Yamaguchi's hometown rink in Fremont, CA where I worked at a funky Half Price Books (came across a book written by Grant Fjermedal :) ) and lived in North Beach while I had the privilege of teaching tiny tots and beginner adults how to skate. Brian Boitano was often on the ice and I had opportunity to speak with him and other Olympic skaters during that time. One night we had a show and Surya Bonaly did two back flips ten feet away from me. Rudy Galindo was also featured that nig...Expand for more