Page 8 - Voices-2021-12

COVER STORY

caramel apples he made for us all lined up on wax on gigs when I booked them. On the weekends,

paper. Oh, and the beautiful paper Christmas tree I worked in a local doctor’s office. In the early
he made when we didn’t have much money. Dear mornings and early evenings, I’d teach aerobics.
and precious memories. He was brilliant and a Then from 6 PM to midnight, I worked as an
good and kind man. executive receptionist at Arista Records. I worked

He was also my best friend, my teacher, and as an executive receptionist at Arista Records. I
my mentor. I miss him every day. Tragically he would roller blade or ride my bike from one end
was killed in a house fire 16 years ago when my of the city to the other.
parents’ house burned down. He tried to save I loved every minute of my life back then. It

their animals. Bitter sweet. was a much different time and a very different
He’s actually the one who took me to my first city than what you see now. The communities
speech and debate contest where I won a blue and textures were rich, connected—congruent
ribbon at 13. He was incredibly supportive of me hubs of tradition and values.

and my dreams and goals. It was very different than the overly techno-
digital stimuli, the constant media and marketing
Why Toastmasters? What brought you to the (lacking even the most basic integrity) you find
program? today. Digital devices in the smallest of hands

After graduating high school early, I moved where they are more important than people. A
to New York City to pursue my dream of acting city where people are connected by electronics
and modeling. This was in the ‘80s. instead of being present and holding hands with
What an amazing time I had in NYC. During grandparents and family.

the day I’d study theatre and audition and work In 1991, I came to the Portland area where I
was in a pilot for a sitcom. I fell in love with the
green, the water, the mountains, the forests, and
Cannon Beach. I didn’t return until 2012 when I

wanted to plant deep roots with and for my boys.
I remembered how much I loved the Pacific NW
and kept driving west until I arrived.
After getting settled in a cute little 4-plex

off Glisan and 90th and planting a garden in
the community plot near us, I sought out the
nearest Toastmasters. I visited Columbia Center
Toastmasters (now named Moser Community

Toastmasters after one of the most wonderful
Toastmasters and gentlemen I’ve been honored
to know). He was my mentor and friend and
influenced me in multiple ways. In fact, my boys

8 ONE COMMUNITY