casa de Charlotte della luna

I’m hosting Getting to Know You Day each Wednesday on Create a Connection for the month of June. The subject of my first post is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and here are the questions with my own answers.

Where were you in 1987? In school? Working? Single? Married? Attached? What was important to you? Tell us a bit about your life then.
1987 was the year I completely changed occupations. I had worked the previous 8 years in a high-end boutique in sales and merchandising. The boutique, which was local, was bought out by a chain and I was laid off. I was unemployed for three months during which time I almost went crazy with boredom. On a whim I applied for a job as a Unit Secretary in a nearby private psychiatric hospital. I had absoloutely no medical or healthcare related experience but, after 2 group interviews and 3 individual ones, I got the job. I learned alot in the three years I worked there and it sparked an interest in identifying and working on my own issues. I have alot of respect and admiration for the mental health professionals I worked with – it takes a special type of person to work with emotionally and mentally distressed people. Working there also dispelled many of the myths that abound about mental illness. I experienced the strongest sense of family and teamwork there than anywhere I’ve worked.

Creatively, I was into making jewelry back then and sold quite a few pieces. Of course, this was back in the day before the current sophistication in jewelry-making.:)

Where were you in 1997?
This was during an eight year stretch when I worked at a gastroenterology clinic for a doctor I highly respect.
The most interesting part of this job was educating our Hepatitis C patients about their illness and co-ordinating their care.

Creatively I was very into reading and learning about alternative medicine, especially herbal medicine and aromatherapy. I had five dogs at the time and would mix herbal medicines and salves for their little doggie ailments. I learned to manage my frequent sinus issues through nasal douching (yes there is such a thing!) and aromatherapy.

Where did you plan to be or think you’d be in 2007? Have your realized your goals? What is one thing about your present life you love and one you’d like to change?
Ya know, I’ve really never been too goal oriented. My husband is, though, and I’ve worked with him toward various goals. Yes, we have realized many of the goals we set way back in the day.
One thing I love about my life is that I’ve lived in New Orleans for the majority of my life.
One thing I’d like to change is that I’d like to devote more time to pursuing creativity.

How do you see your life in 2017? Do you have any goals or dreams for your future?
I see myself retired and hopefully living on the beach – that is my dream. In my retirement I want to do volunteer work with shelter animals, with a wildlife refuge and/or a conservatory or botanical garden. I want to really get into photography and learn to create mosaics. And a million other things!