rosebudaddict Profile

I am a retired special education teacher, having worked for 20 years with "learning different" high school students. I referred to my students as "learning different" rather than "learning disabled" because it was my firm belief that each of that had a unique way of learning (auditory, visual, etc.) and that it was our job as educators to teach to those styles. So, a lot of my job was working with regular education teachers on how they could adapt to my students. It was a hard job - made hard by the rigidity of most teachers. But I loved my students, so I hung in there. Now I'm retired but I still teach, but this this time as a volunteer docent teaching environmental education classes to elementary age kids. I love it because the lessons are mostly hands on experiments which the kids love to do. Besides teaching, I am a writer. I'm involved in a weekly "Memoirs" class and a monthly Writing Workshop in my community. I mostly write prose but have been recently dabbling in poetry. Not that it defines me all that much, but I am disabled. I am also a photographer (for 40 years), but unfortunately my disability does keep me from getting out and shooting as I use too. I've traveled some in my life, but not as much as I wish would have liked to have. When I younger and fully "able" I did a lot of bicycle tour, including a 4 1/2 tour across Europe. I am twice divorced with no children (thus no children) and I recently had a go around with my first ex wife in a failed attempt to get back together (I intend to write about this). I am progressive in my politics - an Obama supporter all the way (having worked in his campaign a bit). I love the Opera, just about as much as I love roses - thus my pen name. Though I don't have a garden myself, there is a fabulous rose garden in Walnut Creek,CA where I live - the Gardens at Heather Farm - which I visit frequently. For some reason, the music of the 60's, especially folk music, have remained my favorite music to this day. My Mac in my window and access to the world and writing companion.I have a lot of email correspondents. That should do it for now. I'm looking forward to being a part of this writer's community.