My parents are terrific inspirations to me. Both grew up very poor during the Great Depression and had parents who stressed the importance of hard work and education. My mother is my greatest role model, and I am grateful for the lessons in kindness that she taught me and for the sacrifices she made so that I could complete my schooling. My father served in the Pacific in World War 2, studied under the GI Bill, and became a great scientist with NASA. I also have 2 wonderful sisters and their families. I lost my own life-love years ago to cancer but have stepsons and their lovely children to adore--and my very precious dog. I am originally from Washington, D.C., and later, Honolulu and Austin, Texas; I attended college and graduate school at the University of Texas and medical school at Texas A&M. Then, for a change of climate, I moved to the Midwest to complete my residency training at the University of Wisconsin. There I became a devoted Bucky Badger fan and learned all about life in the Midwest—which I simply loved. I stayed for 21 years. When the time came to move closer to family, I found new joy living the easy life in Salem. But no, I do not miss the snow—and certainly not the mosquitoes.