I would like to introduce myself to my readers. I was born with the onslaught of babies that spearheaded the baby boom generation: a time when World War II came to a close and our fathers returned home after several years from Europe or the Pacific. My grandfather was a wealthy industrialist from New England, who provided his family with substantial resources. While growing up in the farming community of Hollis, NH, I was often accused by my teachers and on occasion, my friends “as being born with a silver spoon in my mouth.” As a small child, I had no understanding why many casted aspersions on me for my family’s life style.

I am the middle child of three children: my sister is three years older and my brother is almost eight years younger. I attended elementary school in Hollis and was sent to boarding school at the age of twelve. My mother suffered from alcoholism and my father wanted to spare me from an unpleasant home environment. My father’s mother, who lived next door to us in Hollis until I was five, provided me with ample love and a sense of security that I sorely needed. When she moved to Nantucket Island, MA, I was devastated! To my relief, my father purchased a summerhouse in Nantucket where I could spend three months a year with my grandmother.

My parents divorced when I was a senior in high school and within a year, he married a widow with three children aged eight through thirteen. We became a very large family and my home life finally became stable and vibrant.

I attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine and married a classmate a few months prior to graduation. He enlisted in the Air Force and we moved to Texas where he underwent pilot training. I was employed as a reading teacher at a residential school for cognitively and emotionally impaired children. I LOVED my job and was quickly promoted and assigned to be the principal of the campus that housed the elementary aged students. Working with children with challenges soon became my passion.

My husband and I were divorced when our children were three and five. Shortly after, I was a passenger in a car accident and spent eight months in the hospital. I had several follow up surgeries for the next five years. As a single parent bringing up two small children and working full time were VERY challenging. My own children and those with whom I worked gave me the strength and courage to succeed despite my physical pain.

When I returned to New Hampshire, I received a master’s degree in special education, an advanced degree in School Psychology, and attended theological school so I could use a more holistic approach (educational, emotional, and spiritual) to better understand these trouble children. I worked for more than thirty years as a School Psychologist in NH and volunteered on many boards of organizations that served children.

In 1985, I married a wonderful man, who is the father of five children, and between us, we have thirteen grandchildren. All the kids and grandkids are terrific and we indeed feel blessed.

When I began working part time eight years ago, I was compelled to begin my journey as an author. Writing has been a valuable learning experience and I am thrilled that I am able to share my uncle Barton’s heroic story with the world!