About the author
EARLY INFLUENCES
I had awesome parents, and I am still close with my wonderful family. My dad and mom were both in the education world and taught me to be a life-long learner.
My dad was a language arts instructor before he became a college administrator, but in his spare time, he loved reading, hiking, sailing, and science. He kept whole laboratory in our garage storage room. He passed those pursuits on to me, and I made a career out of them. He died when I turned twenty-one.
He was raised by a single mom, and as the oldest, it helped put food on the table. Their hard won life taught me a work ethic that brings so much more than profit.
My mom was a free spirit. She loved arts and crafts, and we were always messing up the house with them. She was generous and volunteered often in our community. When she got her master's degree, she taught college classes to PTSD vets using recreational activities to develop coping skills and reconnect with others.
Her mom was a writer, and she taught me to write my thoughts down. It does two things she’d say. “It gives them longevity, and it is a window into one’s mind, allowing growth.”
He father was carpenter, and taught me what I visualized, i can build.
Both my parents and my grandparents were a powerful influence on me, ahead of their time, and gone too soon.
Recent Influences
After losing my dad at twenty-one, I joined the military where I met my husband while we were working on the same aircraft. Together we raised four, self-sufficient, amazing children. I got my master's degree in education and taught LA and science at the middle school level for two decades before retiring.
We have added a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law, and four grandkids to the family. We love retired life with our border terrier, Nikki, but it's not all lounging. I think the word re-tired says it all, again-tired, I work just as hard, but I get to choose my endeavors.
Roxanne Ward lives in Northern Idaho with her husband and their dog Nikki.