In 1976, at the age of 34, I moved to Tulare County to marry my native-Visalia-born husband, Greg, an Army Veteran who was working as a correctional officer at the County road camp at the time, was a lifelong jazz and big band musician and became my partner in rehabbing and managing our low-income rental houses in North Visalia, until his death in 2008.
Before settling in Visalia, I had graduated from UC Berkeley, got a Master's Degree while living in Germany for 18 months, a teaching credential from Cal State Long Beach, taught high school and college classes, and traveled extensively. Prior work experiences include, as a teen, helping my parents in their auto repair and patio furniture businesses,then hotel maid, and waitress. I protested the Vietnam War and campaigned for George McGovern for President in 1972 against Richard Nixon.