Retired MLIS Public Librarian, Marathoner, Ultramarathoner, Boston Marathon Finisher, CA and NV Senior Games Gold Medalist in 5k and 10k road races, medalist in the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, Bronze and Silver Medalist i4x100 Women’s relay National Senior Olympic, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Civil War Union Veterans, Ladies Auxiliary of the CA Sons of the American Revolution, Commissioner City of Paramount, Certified Coach RRCA, Director 261 Fearless Club Los Angeles, author “A Pattern of Birds: The Last Chick."
On September 8, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I had the privilege and honor to attend the DAR Southern Council 2018 at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel, CA. Many of our Western Shore Chapter Sisters were there.
The luncheon was fully attended, the line to pay at the exhibits was long and the fun exchanging information and taking photos abounded. It was a beautiful day, we made many new friends and were so glad we came. We look forward to continuing our journey together exploring our history and heritage, while serving our fellow humans.
With love and honor to my Patriot, my 5th Great Grandfather, Captain John Wall, 1742-1814, Monmouth, NJ
On April 25, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I drove our new Tesla 3 for 3 1/2 hours from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, CA, for the express honor and privilege of taking Luis Escobar’s photography workshop. It is my opinion that Luis is not only one of the sweetest and most humble people on the planet, but he is a dynamite, world-class photographer and endurance athlete.
As always, we had a wonderful time, learned many new things and were so glad we came. If you have the opportunity to spend time with Luis, grab it!
In November 2013, I began using Hammer supplements, fuels and bars, questing for the right fueling to support my aggressive lifestyle. I plan to run for the rest of my life.
I credit Hammer Nutrition for boosting my rapid and complete recovery severe fractures of the hip in 2013, and wrist in 2015. I also credit Hammer for sustaining me during my maximum-effort trainings and races, including the daunting 2018 Boston Marathon and the 2018 60-mile Born to Run Ultra. I enjoy a daily whey bars for lunch – a real treat, great protein and a way to keep unwanted weight off my small, 67-year-old frame. I also trust in a daily dose of whey protein. I rely on Hammer and am confident it will make the decisive difference.
On April 24, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I were pleased to join the Hammer Nutrition Brand Ambassador Family.
The Friday before the week of Thanksgiving, 1991, I was given the diagnosis that I had aggressive breast cancer. The jolt was sudden and severe. Anunexpected and unwanted quest began. I didn’t know how long I had for this quest.
I was working as a library aid at the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library in Lakewood, CA, when diagnosed. I did not return to work. Treatment and recovery were long, spanning years.
In 1993, I wrote the original text for this short story. My husband, Ken, asked me what I wantedto do with the rest of my life. I decided I wanted to go to Library School and applied to San Jose State University, Fullerton, CA campus for the Master of Library and Information Science. I did not foresee being accepted. I was quite shocked and unprepared when I received the acceptance letter.
While attending Library School, I gave my instructor, Dr. Debra Hansen, Associate Director of the School of Library and Information Science, the manuscript and asked her to evaluate it. She kindly gave me valuable comments and suggestions on improving the manuscript.
The manuscript and paintings remained in a drawer for more than 20 years.
In March 2018, while questing after my ancestors, I retrieved the manuscript and left if lying on our coffee table. My husband picked it up and read it. He liked it! I decided to copyright and self-publish it. I set up a Kindle Direct Publishing account on March 19, 2018, and applied for a copyright on March 22, 2018. I am awaiting the copyright, which I anticipate any time now. At that time, I will proceed with my quest to publish the little book.
On March 22, 2018, the Copyright application was filed with the U.S. Copyright Office.
On October 8, 2018, I contacted LegalZoom to check on the order. They responded on October 9, 2018, telling me that it takes up to 12 months after the date of filing to complete the registration. Until then, I needed to wait to receive word from the Copyright Office. I originally expected to hear by September 2018.
On December 7, 2018, I thought too much time had passed, so I contacted the Copyright Office. I received an email from the Copyright Office on December 10, 2018, telling me that the case was closed on June 17, 2018 for failure to reply to correspondence from the Office. The failure to reply notice was sent to [email protected]. I was never informed.
On December 11, 2018, I forwarded the Copyright Office’s email to LegalZoom, shocked and dismayed. LegalZoom told me to deal direct with the Copyright Office, they were no longer involved in this case.
On December 15, 2018, I called LegalZoom and emailed the Copyright Office. LegalZoom worked for an hour on the phone with me to help resolve this issue. I will resume the journey next week.
June 1, 2019. I am still waiting to receive my copyright.
I completed a couple 30-milers and the 60-miler this year at Luis’s Born to Run Ultra Marathon Extravaganza. I am now on a quest to complete the 100-miler.
This must-do quest, the 8th annual BTR, is in the East Creek Ranch, Los Olivos, CA. Dirt road, single and double-track trail, flowers, cows, birds, snakes, deer and frogs are part of the experience. Each 20-mile loop has 2,300 feet gain. The cut-off time for the 100-miler is 42 hours.
My short-term focus is on the Senior Olympics 5K and 10K, so almost all of my training has been these short distances as fast as possible. I have not done a long run in a couple of weeks. I hope to get back to my 20-mile walk/runs on Saturdays. Maybe next week.
I need another coach to attend with me. I am looking for a dedicated, committed #261 Fearless Friend who would love to share in this life-changing, amazing opportunity to form a 261 Fearless Club for the women in our community in Lakewood-Downey-Paramount, CA.
Please consider sharing your love, enthusiasm and desire to join with other women in our life-changing and life-giving questfor a healthier, happier life.
On August 10, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I left the house, like so many other Fridays, for our morning 10K training run on the Los Angeles River bike path. I had just left home and turned into Hollydale Park when I was stopped in my tracks by the screeching sound of frantic cries coming out of a tree just over my head. I looked up and spied a tiny orange kitten high in the tree, wildly staring down out me and wailing with everything he had.
We spoke with anyone passing by. The consensus was he had been up there for at least 2 hours and no one was willing or able to help. Ken and decided we couldn’t leave the little, frantic guy in that tree. Ken returned to our home and drove back with a ladder. He climbed up level with the screaming and the exhausted tyke came to him. We took him to our home a couple of blocks away. No training run on that day.
No one ever claimed the kitten. Within 2 days, he was extremely iill, not moving, able to be held in the palm of one hand. Over $800 in vet bills and every test available later, we were without a diagnosis. Everything was negative. For several days, he slowly regained some his spunk we experienced in that tree. It looked like he was going to pull through whatever this was.
It has now been a month and he is pedal to the metal every waking minute. Otherwise, he is knocked out cold when sleeping. He has worn this 67 year-old and her 69-year old husband and cat rescuer out. But, he has also brought so much joy and laughter.
We are now on a quest to have his shots, neutering and microchipping. The fees and time involved are far beyond anything I experienced during my active involvement in TNR (trap, neuter, release) with Best Friends and NKLA (No Kill LA) 12 years ago.
Let’s keep questing and wait for the miracles that always come.
9/23/18: OrangeBoy has not done well. He is weak, fatigued, has an upper respiratory infection. Begins to recover and returns to the same symptoms.
10/22/18: OrangeBoy is growing. Received injections of antibiotics 9/4/18 and 9/25/18. Still very congested, runny nose and eyes.
11/1/18: OrangeBoy is growing and gaining strength. He continues with a stuffy nose, runny and watery eyes and nose, but acts like a normal, inquisitive, energetic kitten. My husband, Ken, and I love him, as does everyone who meets him. He is such an amazing, precious gift.
11/10/18: Great News! OrangeBoy is 99% recovered. He is pedal-to-the-medal! Now it’s time for snipping, chipping and kitten shots! We are so happy he is here. He has blessed and enriched out lives.
12/8/18: OrangBoy is still stuffy, but managing to climb the Christmas tree and steal his favorite ornament – repeatedly – fall in the toilet, release bugs in the house and furiously chase the other cats. He is 6 lbs, 1 oz of sheer unrestrained enthusiasm! He just jumped on my keyboard and launched WalMart’s site. I wondered if I should buy something. . . .
OrangeBoy, December 8, 2018, taking a moment to look at his Christmas tree. He has brought much love, joy and laughter into our lives.
We are heart-broken to report this was the last photo of OrangeBoy. We have not seen him since the night of 12/8/18. I cannot express the grief I am feeling right now.
It is Saturday, December 15, 2018. We have prayed and searched for our little OrangeBoy, but are still missing him. The pain is incredible.
December 27, 2018, I have never seen him again. I am still grieving. The photos are beyond painful. I keep asking, “Why?” I know this is the wrong question, I learned that when I had breast cancer. I would so love a Christmas miracle.
June 1, 2019. I still think of him every day and wish for a miracle. I love you, OrangeBoy 💝🙏🏻
On Friday, August 17, 2018, my husband, Ken, and I flew from Los Angeles to Boston to attend the Falmouth Road Race on August 19, 2018. We were members of the Mission One Buzz Team, running for Susan Hurley’sand Abby Porosky’s CharityTeams. This wonderful charity is there children newly diagnosed with cancer and their families. We picked up our rental car at Boston airport, drove 75 miles to Falmouth and checked into the Inn on the Square.
Falmouth is a strikingly beautiful setting. Peaceful, quiet, green, rich with American history, and great food. On August 18, 2018, we walked several miles from our hotel to Expo, greeting people and runners and having a great time photographing the beautiful wetlands and birds, including osprey and swans. I felt as if I had entered the set of, “On Golden Pond,” even hearing the song playing in my head. We spent most of that afternoon at a school on a baseball diamond photographing our running form. We were absolutely alone in this paradise for hours. This was one of most relaxing and pleasant Saturdays I have had in a long while.
Although the weather had been hot and humid, on race day, August 19, a cool breeze materialized. We laughed through our team photo with Susan Hurley, then walked to the pulse start and were off for the 46th running of the world-famous Falmouth Road Race.
The race is 7 miles, offers impressive prize money, attracts elites from all over the world and is rated one of the top summer races in the U.S. This year’s race included 11,063 2018 finishers. I am so happy to report that Team One Mission raised over $16,405 for the littlest of our cancer survivors and their families. What a great day and a glorious escape!
On August 15, 2018, I received the most wonderful and welcome opportunity to to boost my contributions and continue serving women’s running through the newly formed 261 Fearless Influencers project. I will join a team of amazing athletes and women who will spread the message of 261 Fearless to woman in every community around the world.
We have received so many life-enriching benefits though #261Fearless. We want to make sure women around the world can have the opportunity to share these blessings. These precious gifts include “giving us ourselves,” as Kathrine Switzer so wisely notes, new friends everywhere-forever, opportunities to play and run, and increased wellness.
I happily look forward to this journey and hope you will join me in this quest!
#261Fearless #261BeFearlessBeFree #261Friends
Skyping with 261 Fearless Influencers around the world, 8/4/18, 5:30 a.m. PDT
261 Fearless has given me a well-defined mission, with multiple strategic goals to accomplish along the way. The mission is to give women the gift of running/walking/physical activity. When all else fails, running/walking/physical activity is always there for me. I treasure it and look forward to it. It has sustained me through cancer and multiple losses. It is a grounding and stabilizing force. Goals are participating in 261 Fearless events, sharing the hope, friendship and opportunities, and contributing all I can, whenever I can. This is wonderful network of powerful and loving women. I am so blessed 261 Fearless is in my life.
