Welcome

Boomer Of The Month - November 1997

Born on Winter Solstice 1946 - a leader of the pack by 
birthright!!

I was in the first sit-in in high school, involved in the first 
Federal Grant at college to run a 'hot line', elected first 
President of the Parent Advisory Council for the school district 
by the time my first child was in second grade.

After years of Supermomdom, I traded in my spatula for a 
hypodermic and
became a psychiatric nurse.  But during all 
those years I had a secret passion - writing.  I finally 'came out 
of the inkwell' when I was offered the opportunity of becoming a 
staff writer for Awareness Magazine four years ago.

Once the kids were raised and somewhat settled on their own 
journey, I eased up on the wife, mom, nurse role and signed up 
at UCLA in the screenwriters' program, living in a sorority house 
as 'one of the girls' for the first three months.

I formed writers' group two years ago, which is producing some 
great published writers.  And to my great delight my husband, 
Byron, caught the bug and has just finished his first manuscript - 
which by the way is by far the best manuscript I've ever edited!!

Life continues to unfold one adventure after another.

My idealism of the sixties has been refined over the years.  
Life's experience has taught me to value and view as precious the 
people who have come my way.  The years have shown me the necessity 
of perceiving, not just seeing.  I no longer am compelled to 'leap', 
but rather I've learned the value of testing, evaluating, respecting
and gently flowing into areas that are within my realm and ability 
to serve.

I'm still mom and wife and all those roles so important to me, but I've
learned the difference between 'role' and 'personhood' - I truly enjoy
being a person.

I embrace this next part of my life.  The trailblazers that have lighted
the path have lit it well.  I don't buy into the falsehood that entering
the fifties is something to dread.  I'm launching into the golden years -
continually being refined - and hopefully increasing in value!

Thanks for listening to the meanderings of a (proud to be a) boomer!

        BORN - SANDRA JOYCE GOSTEL  (now legally Julianna Joyce Perkins)
	       AKRON, OHIO

	HIGH SCHOOL - MORNINGSIDE HIGH, INGLEWOOD, CA.
	COLLEGE - MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE - W. COVINA CA
	          UCLA - WESTWOOD, CA