I’ve been reading and writing (and criticizing) since I was 4.

In high school I did journalism and public speaking. In college, journalism and classical languages. When at loose ends, I produced newsletters, flyers, programs for funerals and other events.

Then I enlisted: more newsletters and programs, certificates and training aids, policy documents and briefings. And college. “You take too many classes,” said the First Sergeant.

After 12 years in the Cold War Army, I took an exit bonus, came home and went to work as a presentation specialist in the investment banking industry; that was the era of mergers and acquisitions. Meanwhile, I used Montgomery GI Bill benefits to earn a certificate in Desktop Publishing from Pratt Institute. I rooted around in the networks to see what interesting things I could learn. Scanning text, using proofing tools in different languages, making maps…

One day, the Towers came down, and the investment banking industry slid into the doldrums. I retired, but there was always a friend who needed a proofreader or a church that needed funeral programs, or me wanting to digitize my collection of Balkan folksongs and other World Music, design embroidery projects and quilt blocks, etc.

Going forward, I will be leveraging all the college credits I earned in the Army and the experience I’ve gained in the real world into a BS in Information Technology.