This is Me

This is Me!

I was challenged to write a “this is me” post….so here’s to you Heather!    This is Me!  Now how did Jack’s Music Show get into this?  Well I spent a lot of time with my grandson and he loved Jack’s Big Music Show and the music they had.  One of their songs just was an essence of me called This is Me.   If you ever have a chance to listen to it you will see it’s all about This is me and my energy!

Me as Child:  I was born Colleen Hochstetter.  My father died when I was 5 years old and my mother remarried and it was very unfortunate because the man she married was an alcoholic.  If any of you come from alcoholic families..you should understand my childhood.  It was not good.    Also when I was 16 I noticed right away that my uncle had some issues and convinced my mom to get him help.   It was found that he was schizophrenic and did get help.

Me in High School:  I met a great guy in high school that I was head of heels in love with and we married.   His family life was rather rough too so we agreed that when we raised our children we would never argue in front of them or show unkind emotions in the family.   We also agree we would not go to bed mad.   That wasn’t too hard since we just didn’t fight much.   I guess because we’d both had enough of fighting in our families growing up.

Me andFamily:  I seemed to be the go to person for my sister, my niece, my parents when they were alive, friends…etc.   I was the one that was called for help and advice.   I am very empathetic and have medical training and psychiatric training which must make people feel secure in asking me for help or advice.  My husband always says that when we travel people just come up to me and start telling me their life story.  Maybe I secrete some secret pheramone..lolol.

Me and my Career:  I was lucky to pursue the career I wanted in nursing and had a wonderful time since nursing allowed me to have many careers within careers.  I was fortunate to be able to work part-time once we had children so I felt I had the best of both worlds.   My husbands career allows me freedom in my life choices.    I have very strong family values that are:  family comes first…no matter what.   I once quit my job because it was not in the best interest of my marriage.

Me and Life:

I had my first alcoholic drink when I was 30 years old!   I enjoy rum and oj…but beware I can only hold about 1/2 glass then I get rather giggly.  My boys never let me forget it!

Spirituality is very much the foundation I build my life on.  Sort of do unto others as you would have them do unto you.    I was very honored when a few years ago I was ordained to be an Elder in our church.

Now that I am retired I have time to travel and visit family and friends and pursue what I love!  Living healthy and eating healthy.   I teach CHIP (Complete Health Improvement Project) classes and  teach vegan cooking classes.   I also take cooking classes from different vegan and gluten-free authorities so that I can share what I have learned. I  share this information on my blog about  healthy living and eating. I also am happy to be able to bring giveaways to people as my way of “paying it forward”.

I have had a doggie most of my life and am partial to Shihtzu’s.   I love to garden, both flower and vegetable, and get very frustrated when I can’t get the plants to grow in a new climate we move to.  I have grown gardens (vegetable and flower) everywhere we have ever lived and should be able to grow the biggest and best…lolol!  But it doesn’t always work out that way.  I love growing peonies.   I love to travel and have been to Central America & Mexico many times.  In fact traveling to Costa Rica years ago was the first time I got tipsy and laughed most of the flight which just mortified my boys!   They will never let me forget it and now when I have 1/2 drink they say…oh she’s hickuping she’s drunk!   I love my girly travels with my girlfriend..we are such matched travelers, we’ve done at least 6 trips so far and we are planning one to NYC this Nov and one to Rome in the spring!  My husband would NEVER just do touristy travel so he’s happy I have someone to go with.    I hope some day to see Africa.

I am finally not worrying so much about my sons…they are doing very well.   My oldest has taken a new job with the FAA and my youngest is still in a neuro-biological PhD program.   I love having grandchildren to love and spoil… but not have the stress and worries of raising them.  They are a treasure to me.   I have a special bond with my grandson and we love watching Jack’s Big Music Show on Nick Jr.  Our favorite song is This is me, this is me, this is me and my Energy!  What a great song about being “me”.

I love having company and cooking for them.   I secretly wanted to have a Bed & Breakfast when we moved from Montana to Alaska.  But my husband is a rolling stone so I never know what the next day will bring.   A settled life is not in my future yet.   Currently I live 2 weeks a month in Anchorage, AK and 2 weeks a month in Homer, AK and trying to keep things straight makes me feel like life is chaotic.   I’ve learned there are two parts to me.  I enjoy the chaos but also enjoy the quiet and solitude in Homer.

Thanks Heather for the This is Me challenge…it was fun and I hope you enjoyed reading this 🙂