Honestly, I'm not a fan of writing about myself, but my family said people like to hear stories, so here you go..
My story begins in 1956, born & raised in New York. Lived in Bethpage, Levittown, Brookville/Brentsville, Roslyn, Sea Cliff, and Port Washington, all within twelve 12 years. Moving around was due to my father and first stepfather passing away, neither of whom I knew well. My mother was a war bride taken away from her homeland and family in Italia when she married my father who was in the US Army. Both my siblings were born in Italia and after coming to USA in 1948, I was born 8 years later, undoubtedly a surprise!
I was young when my father passed and there was a lot of secrecy about his family. Recently, through the help of my sister-in-law, aka super sleuth of genealogy, found a dark, jaw dropping past. I was told that my father (born 1912), was an orphan when he was young. There’s only a birth & marriage certificate for his mother, no death certificate. Apparently, a NY State/County official had a sister who was childless and she took in my father. In a newspaper article dated December of 1936 a man murdered his wife, her 10 year old child from another "marriage" and then turned the gun on himself. As the newspaper article read, he was crazed over marital difficulties after learning that the 10 year old girl was born out of wedlock. This man was my grandfather.
In 1942 my father enlisted in the US Army. He married my mother in Rome in 1945 and adopted my sister who was born out of wedlock. My mother never disclosed the identity of my sisters father.
After my fathers death, my mother married another man who didn’t care for children. My sister set off to college, my brother was sent to military school and at age 8, I was sent to the “dungeons” of St Joseph's Academy. Happy times were lean during this time. My stepfather passed when I was 10, and my saving grace was I got to attend public school. My mother then met my 2nd stepfather and married him when I was 13. He was a decent man but had his own issues, also having 2 sons out of wedlock.
We moved to Rye, NY, into a grand home on Westchester County Club grounds. I attended Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT. I did briefly attend public school in Harrison, NY, but I was drawn back to Sacred Heart. In retrospect, I chose to return because not only was I challenged intellectually but bonds formed that stood the test of time, plus I didn’t have to live at home. It was there that I was encouraged to explore the artist in me. I spent time in the school darkroom with images from my first camera, a Minolta SRT-102.
By the summer of 1975, the “Wild Child” in me took over. With boyfriend, back packs, tents and virtually no money, we hitch-hiked across the county. Since money was tight, I didn’t take pictures because film was a luxury, so the Minolta got tucked away. We lived in teepees, mud houses, tents, barns, and friends couches. I met gracious, kind people along with not so kind people. It was all part of the experience.
I remember seeing the Rockies for the first time, thinking they were massive clouds formations on the horizon, then realizing the true grandeur of them, I was in awe.
Eventually settling in Denver, CO I attended Rocky Mountain School of Art. The school was founded by Philip Steele, who was an influential teacher. He taught me how to truly “see” the world through simple, powerful lines.{Insert random bit of trivia here lol} I remember around this time, the first “digital” camera came out by Kodak, it used a ridiculous number of batteries, a movie camera lens, and weighted about 10 pounds. Imagine lugging that thing around.
"Wild Child" then decided it was time for the boyfriend & I to go our separate ways and back to Rye, NY I went. I got a mundane job, small apartment and a cat. That’s when I met my future husband, dated him for about a year and you guessed it, I broke up with him. I did make some amazing trips along the east coast of US and Canada. All the while with no camera, just a sketchbook. That’s the one thing I regret is not taking photographs of my adventures.
Once again "Wild Child" moved to New Bedford, MA and attended art school again (Swain School of Design). Admittedly I got lost in myself, bad influences and horrible decisions. I lasted a year and having a near-miss with a traveling circus, I packed myself and my cat up and headed back to, you guessed it... Rye NY.
Back in NY I reunited with my future husband. He took me on our “second-first date” and proposed by saying “I lost you once, I don’t want to lose you again, will you marry me?” I couldn’t say no.
We married in NY, 1980 and had 3 boys within 6 years. We decided to move to Manassas, Virginia in 1988, which was more affordable than NY. Apparently “Wild Child” was tamable, and I became quite the Susy Homemaker, cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, maker of school projects, PTO President, school volunteer, creating backdrops & programs for school plays, and sports programs and even organized a lacrosse league in Western Prince William County. I did get into filming my kids’ events, like every other parent out there but quickly came to the conclusion that I truly hate my voice and couldn't find a mute button.
I started back to work when the kids were in school full-time and since 1997 I’ve been a fixture with the same company. I played shopkeeper and opened a tea, herb and spice shop on weekends for about 2 years, then closed right before Covid.
My husband passed away from cancer at the end of 2021. He truly was my best friend, always encouraging and supportive, I miss him terribly. To keep myself busy by I tackled all the home projects we put off doing. Funny thing happened, I found my old Minolta SRT-102 tucked away in a closet.
Approaching retirement, the “wild child” has reappeared. She's dusted off the Minolta, graduated to the insanely diverse and a tad complicated digital camera and has come full circle. It’s back to classes, seeking traveling adventures and capturing all those photographs that I no longer need to regret not taking!
It’s life amazing?