I love the natural world; and I have explored, enjoyed, and absorbed it via hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and canoeing. The Minnesota Boundary Waters…ahh…canoe trekking at its finest, listened to loons in the night air, watched beaver and otters playing, portaged between lakes, glided on still waters, and kept going no matter the wind, waves, or rain. Because the sun always shined again. Explored canyons in Utah, hiked among Saquaro in Arizona, climbed 14ers, and crawled through caves.

I am a Life-long Learner. Most importantly about developing myself as a person, as well as learning several professions. From Chicago, I moved to the rural Blue Ridge mountains – it was the 1970s hippy, get-back-to-nature thing to do – complete with guitar and banjo picking front porch gigs. Took a motorcycle trip through Wisconsin in the Fall – went to see the colors, but also learned how to ride in snow… Dabbled in wood working – made lamps from downed trees; a table lamp from a beaver chewed stump, very cool indeed; another from an uprooted aspen tree, gorgeous wood grain. Lived on a small urban farm for 14 years – chickens, burros, goats, dogs, cats. I always marveled how lucky I was to be riding a burro bareback in my own yard in town or burro trekking in the mountains on weekends.

As a professional, I started as a Registered Dental Hygienist; went back to school to learn electronics and became a Certified Quality Engineer; then went on to a graduate program in Biometrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, spending the final 25 years as a Biostatistician/Data Scientist including medical research, clinical trials design and analysis, and public health research. I was the first and only female Journeyman Process Control Instrument Mechanic (the guys called me Journeybroad). As recognition of this, I was interviewed by and appeared in Women’s Day magazine.

I have always been into recreational sports: racquetball, pickleball, volleyball, softball. Two friends and I started our own Denver Rec women’s slowpitch team in 1978 and kept it going for 25 + years. Have played the accordion since I was 6 years old. There’s nothing like a polka to get people smiling.

I am graced with a wonderful partner, Jan.

Peaches from my perspective: The Peaches advertised for younger players to help them practice. I answered that ad, began going to their practices, and found a joyful, fun-loving group of active women. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Peaches! Being a Peach means you have community, acceptance, FUN, support, and purpose.