I am passionate about living and when I turned 57 my husband gave me a bottle of Heinz 57 sauce and it struck me that doing 57 variety of things during that year would be a fun challenge. So I asked Mamie Dixon, retired high school orchestra teacher to give me lessons. And I have been practicing and playing ever since; I am 61. But before you think ‘oh my goodness ,4 years ,she must be good, I am an overachiever, try many things, flighty, can’t sit still except for a movie, and I really do not practice consistently. When I saw your blog about about not practicing, I instantly connected and thought ” there is a kindred spirit”. I have been married to my high school senior year boyfriend for 39.33 years and I have been a math teacher/instructor for 39.33 years,too. I did 18 years of high school teaching and now am in my 22rd year of college, East Carolina University. Other hats I wear are mom hat to 3 adult sons, mother in law to 3 beautiful young women, grannie annie to 4 grankids, caregiver to 2 dachsunds (Ozzie & Harriet), sister to older brother, Bible studies teacher Christian at a Methodidt church, facebook member, bicycle rider, ballroom dancer, tap dancer, zumba aerobics, beginner crochet, collect water colors of favorite artists, collect dolls esp Shirley Temple, and scrapbooker/historian for my family, been on a few mission trips and I love to travel.

I decided to take violin lessons because I have my Dad’s old fiddle. He played every stringed instrument and also the accordian. My favorite tunes he played were Red Wing, Soldier’s Joy, and You are my sunshine. I played clarinet in 5th-10 th grades and tried piano for 3 years in my mid 30′s. I have a good ear but I am not a relaxed person. I prefer to learn by ear/memorize but can read music too.
I take yoga sporadically but when I do it helps me to limber up.