M-ongst Ourselves: Members at a Glance |
But there’s still hope! I’ve received a few brave Glances, but the in-box can hold so many more. Don’t know what to say? Call or e-mail me anyway--I’ll give you some hints. Together we can make up something that sounds really good.
Meanwhile, take a Glance at October...
N is for Nancy and for Nurse. Nancy Allen is a registered nurse and an avid reader who reads books on nearly every topic--one particular interest is the Holocaust. She thinks her interest stems from the Holocaust’s unique place in human history--notably, the immense tragedy of human suffering that it brought to millions of people. She also collects stamps, a hobby she adopted from her grandmother. People collect stamps for many reasons and often have favorite themes (a certain country’s stamps or a theme such as flowers, for instance), and Nancy mainly collects U.S. mint stamps (as in mint condition--never been used). Her favorite is probably her Elvis Presley stamp, one of the first modern entertainers to be so honored. By the way, if you are happy at the variety of stamps you have had to choose from in recent years, you can thank Nancy and all the other stamp collectors: one reason new stamps are issued so frequently these days is the enthusiasm of collectors.
Al Gore says he has been a "professional geek" since 1965 and a Mensan since 1969, when he joined the Greater Los Angeles group. After a few years with Mensa Japan in the 1970s, he brought his new bride to Phoenix (in 1978) and they have been living in the same house ("Victor Serebriakoff Slept Here") ever since. Their house is often the site of GPM events. Ursula and Al went to Switzerland on vacation this year; they hated to miss Bill and Laura’s Salon, and Tyger’s too, but now they are planning for their own in October. As an independent computer consultant ("too old to get a real job..."), he gets asked computer questions all the time. Please try to e-mail him at agore@primenet.com instead of calling him in the middle of the night when the cupholder on your PC breaks. That annoys the cats.
Marilyn McDonald sent along a Glance from Flagstaff! It goes a little something like this: "Poet. Writer. Editor. Teacher. Woman. Friend. Sister. Companion. Muse. Lover of Music. Singer. Reader. Introvert-who-passes. Allusionist. In another life I might have been a/an: Novelist. Poet. Pianist. Alchemist. Cellist. Harpist. Singer. Belly Dancer. Astronaut. High Jumper. Chef. Designer. Guide. Scholar. Benevolent Monarch. Librarian. Linguist. Curator. Stained Glass Artisan. Illuminator. Salon Mistress. Perfumist. Herbalist. Mystic. Wise Woman. Healer. Proponent of: Enough-Not-Too-Much. Random Acts of Kindness. Whimsy. Creativity. Wordplay. Eclecticism. Appropriate Eroticism. Good Taste. Good Manners. Compassion. Responsibility. Thoroughness. Wit. Reasonable Tidiness. Fellow-feeling. Non-Violence. Non-intrusive Personal Belief Systems. Camaraderie. Quiet Pleasures. Appreciator of: Irises. Soft Green Grass. Lilacs. Orange Blossoms. Amber. The Scent of Opium and Obsession. Cool Breezes. Warm Feet in Winter. Light the Color of Parchment. Jumbo Shrimp. Brie. Pistachios. Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice. Champagne. Heath Bars. Cloves. the Soft-spoken. Paisley. Lightning Bugs. Shooting Stars. Bel Canto sopranos. Melodies. Peace."
If you live in Gilbert like Lyn Stinnett does and think you have a long commute, think again. Lyn’s home is in Gilbert but she has been working overseas as a Physician Assistant for the past seven years. She has recently been transferred from Jordan to Turkmenistan by the U.S. Peace Corps. Turkmenistan is about the size of California and lies somewhere east of Turkey, above Iran/Iraq, and below Russia. This desert country has natural gas reserves, a lot of open space, and claims to be the "carpet capitol" of the world. Around 80 Peace Corps Volunteers live there, and Lyn is their Medical Officer. She spends long hours traveling a great deal, checking in with the other Volunteers. Once a year, for about three weeks, Lyn comes home for a visit and attends any Mensa functions she can squeeze in. Keep an eye out for her near the end of this year or the first of the next!
If your child’s upcoming wedding is not bliss on your bank account, you may be interested in the Shinto wedding Linda Zale experienced in Japan. The actual wedding was attended only by the bride, groom, and parents, and the reception was hosted not by the families of the newlyweds, but by their friends. Bosses, not parents, are given places of honor at the reception where guests pay to attend! (Each guest is presented with a gift from the bride and groom, however.) The newlyweds changed outfits four separate times throughout the event. Linda and her husband travel a great deal; Spain is a particular favorite. Two years ago Linda entered private practice as a geriatric care manager, building on more than two decades’ experience in this area, and has kindly offered to answer your questions about elder care. She can even refer you to specialists like herself all over the country, if the loved ones you are concerned about live far away. You can contact Linda at 951-6587. By the way, Linda is also a tap dancer--last January she and a partner won a gold medal in a shipboard competition while cruising the Mexican Riviera.
Speaking of which, the Glances are all tapped out. More in November