When I decided to write You DO Have a Story, there were a couple pitfalls. At 84, I was rapidly going blind, losing my short-term memory, and was a tech idiot. What to do? I looked for help and found Claire Burke – so talented, adorable, and ready to work. We met at Second City or Starbucks, and basically she would clean up my messes – editing, illustrating, and converting my writing to files. She is the bacon to my eggs.

Born in 1934, my early years were spent being a pest. My mouth had a life of its own. Everything ordinary followed: education, teaching, marriage, and 6 children. The normal ended when my husband, Bill, died unexpectedly at age 50. My world turned upside down. Where to go? I managed a congressional campaign, and then a nonprofit. I settled down and earned a Master’s degree and spent the following years in grief counseling. Vero Beach, Florida is my home in the winter and Old Town, Chicago in the summer. For fun, I do amateur standup and storytelling. My mouth still has a life of its own.