I came to Maine from Pennsylvania on vacation in 1967. In 1969 I moved to Kennebunkport. In 1980, when my daughter was not quite five, I became a UU and was hired as DRE at First Parish UU in Kennebunk. I had no idea what I was getting into! Before beginning that job I went to my first Religious Education Week conference at Star Island. Amazing and life-transforming! "Star" is still one of my all-time favorite places ever! In 1992 I moved to Brunswick to be DRE at the UU Church there, remaining until 2008.
In 2008 I attended the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine in Portland (www.chimeofmaine.org), graduating in June of 2010 as an interfaith chaplain. Along the way I have visited the Grand Canyon and have also traveled for four weeks by Greyhound bus around the entire eastern half of the U.S., stopping with a different UU host family or church every few days. I am a writer and a storyteller as well as a volunteer companion two days a week at the Center for Wisdom's Women (www.wisdomswomen.org), a drop-in center for disadvantaged women in downtown Lewiston. I have participated in many district Women's Retreats over the years as a song leader and workshop leader and was on staff at Star RE Week for a number of years.
I currently live in Lewiston with my two cats and lots and lots of books! My daughter, now grown, is currently staying with me. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone here and to an exciting and inspiring year with you as your interim DRE. My license plate is an African word that means "a woman who works hard in the sunshine". Do you have a favorite children's or young adult book or favorite poem or song? I'd love to hear about it!