From: Elder Mary (4.13.149.142)
Greeting: Here's me
Date: March 13, 2005 at 4:19 am PST

I'm Mary and I live in Texas. I'm from Chicago, where I was born and
raised and lived for the first 44 years of my life. I still miss it
and consider it "home". I work full time as a business analyst for a
power company. My name here was suggested by Jo, I think, when another
Mary began posting. I haven't seen a post from her for awhile, but I
rather like 'Elder Mary' (I am, after all, 62) so I've kept it.

I became vegan in 2001 and have never looked back. You can read a
little about my vegan path in an essay I did here on 'Gratitude':
http://www.vegsource.com/jo/views/dec01views2.htm

I think that was written in 2001 - can it be that long??! Two of the
heroes in that story have died; my daughter, Laurie, in 2003 and Ruth,
earlier this year. I'm still learning to live without them in my life,
most especially Laurie, who lived much longer than someone with her
disease is supposed to.

I enjoy writing and sculpting, mostly figurative. I'm in the process
of trying to get enough pieces ready to fill part of a booth for a
local art fair in May. I don't know if I'll make it but I'll have fun
trying. You can go here to see one of my favorite pieces:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-3/971652/reclined4.jpg

I'm 61 in the picture I've included here, a picture which is included
because of Kristin's tip and Keith's instructions. Thanks!
The picture is really big because even though I tried, I can't seem to
make it smaller. Ah well.
EM