Retired to Portsmouth, VA ('91) and moved into the house Ann had grown up in. Attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, graduating with an MSEd degree ('93) and teaching certification in secondary English, Speech, and History. With another two years study while working (teaching Special Ed in a Portsmouth middle school), acquired certification to teach students with Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, and those diagnosed as Emotionally Disturbed. After five years in the middle school, switched to teaching English in the high school. Big mistake. Five years of Special Ed and middle school had taught me how to be effective in one environment with students at a particular level of  development. The transition was tough; and when I looked at it, knowing it would be another five years to become a proficient HS English teacher - at well over 60 - it became obvious to me that retirement was a far better option. I'd lasted seven years in the classroom.

Now it was time to take all that newly available time (ha, ha, ha!!!) and write. It's expensive, though not so bad as some activities like golf, hunting, photography or world travel. Took on a low-level day job at JC Penney to pay for my habit. Built CHESAPEAKE BAY POETS, a still-growing collection of poetry reading/writing groups around the community. We have published the first of a series of annual anthologies from the area. SKIPPING STONES 2003 was a resounding success - not knowing what to expect (what if fewer than ten poets? what if fewer than 25 poems?), we actually received some 348 poems from some 87 poets from Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Suffolk, plus a few others! We published 128 poems by some 54 poets. Copies are still available for $5 from me or at the Broad Street Book Store in Port Norfolk in Portsmouth. The second year SKIPPING STONES 2004 drew submissions (poetry, ink drawings, photography) from a much larger area - Richmond to the Eastern Shore and Elizabeth City, NC, and all in between. The resulting book is packed with extraordinary poetry and illustration from more than 60 poets, artists, and photographers. The book reatails for $14.95 and is available at several places around town or from me directly. Click here to find out specifically where to find copies for sale. Besides editing SKIPPING STONES, I have written and self-published two small books referred to in the website (BOOTS, and GEEZER'S GUIDE). These books are available for $5.00 a copy. To buy copies of any of the books, just shoot me an e-mail and we'll complete the transaction. You'll be glad you did. (This will become easier when I open the website for CHESAPEAKE BAY POETS.) Meanwhile, Ann continues to work in the JC Penney styling salon. Daughter Christa, doing office administrative work for General Dynamics, is settling in to an apartment in the environs of Eastern Chesapeake/Western Virginia Beach. Son Rick, living in an apartment in Portsmouth, is working on the leading edge of digital imaging technology as a customer service specialist for Canon in Eastern Chesapeake - and working e-Bay for fun and profit.

For an in-progress verse auto bio that may or may not retain the form and content you see as you read today. It may look a little different next week or a lot different next month. As most of my work, it ain't done until ?I'm dead 'cause I keep piddling with it,  just can't leave it alone. Hoo Ahhhhh anyway.

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