Email: dtc1@erols.com
Occupation: Freelance writer
Grad school: Southeastern Seminary, Wake Forest, NC
What I thought I would be doing: I thought I would probably teach math or English at the highschool level.
What I AM doing: I'm writing for several Southern Baptist missions periodicals. I write stories about missionaries and then the leaders' guides telling how to keep the children interested in what they are supposedly learning (through crafts, games, etc.).
I also teach a group of ten three-year-olds in the Mothers' Day Out program of my church. I only teach three days a week, four hours each day, September through May. I'm off when my kids are out of school and it allows me time for writing. I also am the substitute pianist for our church. It's fun to be paid for things I enjoy doing!
AlongTheWay: In college, I probably took some classes, but what I remember most is being in a singing group that practiced more hours a week than I studied. With only twelve in the group, it was my circle of friends, my surrogate family, my 'clique.' Somehow I graduated with a degree in sociology ... obviously, I intended to go to graduate school.
After college I was a 'Missionary Journeyman' to Honduras. Based on the peace corps program,I spent two years as a secretary to the missionaries in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It was a growing up experience for me.
I graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC with a Masters of Divinity in Religious Education. My first job was at Braddock Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. The best part of the job was that I landed my husband there. David and I were married in February 1988.
Since then I have worked in various part-time ministry jobs and I've had two kids: Emily will be nine on July 18, 1998 and Stephen will be seven on July 15, 1998. I stay busy with all my jobs and volunteering at school and church. I sing in choir, ring in the hand-bell choir and teach the 2nd-3rd Grade children's choir. In my spare time I am taking piano lessons again.
I've written a novel which actually was reviewed by an editor at a reputable publishing company. It wasn't bought by the editor but she was very encouraging and suggested how I could re-write it for future publication. I just decided to start again from scratch and plan to begin another novel in the near future ... when I find the time.
Future plans: I want to kick back and retire on the royalties from my critically aclaimed and wildly successful novels.
David and I will be traveling a lot but I'll still remember the little people who made it all possible.
Favourite Teacher: Sharon Prechtl
Because: She believed in me. She challenged us to rise above the mediocre level we usually accepted. After I chose a topic for the major American history term-paper, I realized that the only other person to choose it was Stephen Smith. I didn't want my work to be compared to the Validictorian-wanna-be work of my friend. Mrs. Prechtl encouraged me and said I would be fine. I got an A+ and so did she.
Stupid: You wanna a list? Probably, the stupidest thing I did was care so much what everyone else thought. It would've been more fun to tell everyone where to get off and just enjoy myself.
But since that is not the kind of thing you were looking for ... the funniest thing I did was to be smack in the middle of a food fight ... instigated by Betsy Templeton (Smith). Mr. Westrick called all of us into his office. We were the goody-two-shoe kids and he was obviously at a loss for what to say. I'm not sur who was more embarrassed, him or us. I just remember saying, "Yes, Mr. Westrick," and "No, never again, Mr. Westrick." ... several times.
Something I'll Never Forget: Brad Sandler's streak. What a crazy guy. Waiting at the Star Ferry for his 'appearance' ... pretending to look the other way. I think he really did have a future in adult films. What a loss.
Best Memory: Graduation night. Staying out all night. Closing down several clubs one after another ... each place getting a little sleazier than the last. We all danced with each other, laughed a lot, cried a little and it was great.
Other Memories: The all-nighter senior trip to Macau by slow boat. What a crazy time.
Taroka Gorge ... playing cribbage and hearts all night ... and I can't remember for sure who else was there!
Laan Tau ... too many things to write down just one.
My first love (and I don't mean sex)... and an i.d. bracelet I still own.
The huge gap we felt after the class of '73 left. It took half the year to re-group.
Most embarrassing moment: Once I got caught having gossiped about a good friend (a guy). I called and left a message for him to call me back. A little later I got a call. As soon as I picked up the phone I launched into a long involved apology and justification for how it wasn't really my fault. When I finally took a breath, I heard a snicker and Marcus Woo (NOT the friend I had wronged) said, "This isn't who you think it is." And he laughed out loud. I've never again assumed I knew who was on the phone without proper identification. To this day I will never answer the request to "Guess who this is!".
What I've learned: You only live once. Life is too precious to be as careful as I was in highschool. You gotta take risks or life is boring.
Something I'm proud of: Raising two seemingly normal children who love each other and who enjoy life.
Getting paid to write. It's my dream job. Especially after Mr. Rittman told my parents that I shouldn't even bother taking the A.P. English exam ($25) since I didn't have enough talent to bother. (I tested out of Freshman English and I'd say, apparently I have enough talent NOW).
Something I regret: Basically,no regrets. I did the best I could at the times that I did them. Although, I do wish I had taken piano lessons more seriously, earlier in life.
Rumors I've heard: Sorry, no rumors.