About the Author
I was born during a snowstorm in Elmont, Long Island to an emigrant Italian father and a mother from South Philly. I grew up in the house that Dad built, along with my two brothers. Mom worked as a seamstress, doing odd jobs for neighbors.
Living in a poor family on a large piece of property, I had a happy childhood, hiding out in trees or running through woods. I helped with farming and collecting eggs from the chicken coop. This was a great experience, although, watching a pet chicken run around without its head, before becoming Sunday dinner, wasn’t my favorite sight. Our family lived off the land and I learned from this, which led me to my first paying job. At age nine I went to work on the farm a few blocks from home, picking string beans, earning twenty-five cents a bushel. For me, the greatest ‘pay’ was riding the farm horses.
In high school, I was struck with Asian Flu, along with many other children. People were dying of this illness and at times I thought I would join them. It left me incapacitated, with fear of death, anxiety, agoraphobia, and panic attacks. I didn’t realize how ill I was until some thirty years later.
I moved to Florida in my forties where I became involved in elder health care. I worked as an activity director for an assisted living facility, an adult day care, as well as a caregiver for fourteen years for my friend with Alzheimer’s. I also facilitated Alzheimer’s support groups.
As I’ve said, I began my love affair with writing (and reading) in recent years, although I DID write several short stories in grade school, one of which was printed in our local newspaper. I still live in Florida and write every day. Some of it you may see--most of it not--but I am living to write and loving it.
