Marcy's Topics: Relationships/Vietnam War/Pets/Politics/History/Global Warming

I help anywhere that other Super's need me if I can. I research for a living so 'you ask' and I'll research!

I am a young 63 year old. Quit rolling those eyes ... I'm 63 not dead! LOL I live in British Columbia, Canada approx. 27 miles outside of Vancouver. Many of my relatives and friends live in different parts of the United States so I have a vested interest in both countries. Almost all my life I have worked. I worked in the 60s at the W.C. Bennett Dam (Americans helped build that dam as well); taken medical training courses and worked in offices re psychiatrists/health offices/ and finally decided to try my hand at working with all men in an Oil Pipeline company (office capacity.) I loved it! All of us got along well, had great senses of humor and yet worked our buns off. I loved to get up in the morning to go to work.

I have also suffered from panic attacks that turned into Agoraphobia. There wasn't much known about it when I had it, but I did manage to find a wonderful Irish doctor here, that helped me get through it. I have a pledge to always help others that suffer from this dreaded disease. Yes, it's a disease and not a mental problem. I do extensive research on anxiety issues. I am a survivor and one tough lady.

I have lost twin sons 3 days after birth. I have lost members of both sides of the family and a few friends to suicide. I have lost friends to AIDS. My father died in 1973 at the age of 59 and my mother passed away a year ago this past June 13th just before her 84th birthday. She had Dementia.

I was married to a mentally abusive man, that was beginning to turn into physical abuse. This is when I found out just how strong I really was and I left him. I lived on my own for 4 years as I needed to know who and what I was about. I eventually met and married a wonderful man and we will be married 33 years this August 12th. I am truly blessed.

I love people, love helping people and love to learn from others. I have a great thirst for knowledge, and alway strive to expand my mind and thus my life.

My husband builds yachts (90% are American owned) and the latest one he is working on is 140' long and 3 stories high. I am extremely proud of his work ethics and the knowledge and trust he emits to his crew of 20 men. He is not the sole builder of these yachts as there are mechanics, electricians, etc. Each group is as important as the other. We have made some fine friends with these men and their families. They come from all parts of the world to build these yachts.

My hobbies (my passion) is writing (scripts as well) but, haven't had time to finish it and I plan on it because I need to know if I've got what it takes. It's exciting even though I know I could get a rejection slip in the mail. LOL Also there are a great deal of movie companies making movies in Vancouver, Toronto, Alberta, etc. The B.C. Government has just given the movie industry a break by cutting back on taxes. As you know the movie industry brings lots of money into any country and yes, there are some American workers here. I have been told I am a good artist (drawings) and have been commissioned once and finished the job, but didn't care for it as it took the fun out of enjoying how and when I wanted to draw. Right now I am working on a project for the Women's Abuse Center. They asked, and I'm donating it. It should be finished by Christmas. I cross-country ski, love fishing, gardening (we have a park-like setting and many people stop in to have a look and take little snips of this and that.) Environmental issues are high priority for my husband and I. We'd like to leave our planet in better condition than it has been for future generations. I love to cook (especially Japanese cooking) and love entertaining friends.

I'm a laid-back extroverted person, love to joke around and laugh a lot, but also like to be treated like a lady. I go around in jeans, T-shirts a lot of the time, but love to get dressed up and looking fine on occasion. I love being a female! I have many friends of all ages (the young keep me on my toes and in tune with the world and my older friends stop me from becoming too silly and teach me their wisdom.) I am blessed to have them and some I've had for well over 30 - 40 years.

I now work for a Women's Abuse Center in British Columbia Canada. I am aware that most posters on here are American, so it would be great if some of you would consider giving clothing, (adult/children of all ages) and food to your local Women's Abuse Center. All donations go directly into the Womens/children's fund. This also covers rape. There are no boundaries to the color of skin, culture, etc. Anyone that needs help at these Centers receives it.

Many of us have heard of women being mentally and physically abused, and although I have donated a check for years, I really never saw the true reality of it all until I started working there. I have seen broken women by the hundreds with hardly a breath of dignity left in their bodies. I have seen women in the hospital with over 100 stitches in their body; broken bones, bruises, teeth knocked out and on two occasions a sloppy attempt of the abuser trying to cut the woman's throat. I have heard about the ones that died from this abuse. Laws in Canada and the United States are weak in protecting abused women and children, but we're all fighting in some way and those laws are slowly changing. I would also like to add that there are also abused men out there. Abused you say! You bet! Any man worth his salt has been brought up to never hit a woman, so they don't, but they sure do get some good punches from the woman. Most men won't say a word about it for fear they will be ridiculed as being weak, so they simply put up with it and make excuses for scratches, bruises, teeth knocked out and black eyes. We back abused men too!

I would appreciate it if you would think about giving every so often to the Women's Abuse Center. Christmas is a rough time as well, so what I do is go to some place like Wal-Mart and get a gift certificate for the family I have adopted through Christmas (you never meet these people) and also a gift certificate for food. We donate Xmas trees and ornaments just so the kids can know what a real Xmas should be like.

In my heart I believe when one is blessed and getting through life even with a slight limp, we should give back. My husband and I have had our problems financially, but now we are doing better, so it's time to give back to those that need it.

I thought it was about time you all got to know me a little. It's been a pleasure reading all the answers you have so kindly taken the time out to answer. I read most of them. I was lucky enough to hear from a few of you through email and I continue to hear from you. It's nice reading about people and what they think and I've learned a lot.

Thanks! God Bless Marcy