Travel On Dragonfly

Brief Biography

I was born into my family of origin as the first grandchild in my father's family. I was the first child in my own family, and the only daughter. My own sibling was born in 1978 when my parents moved us to the northern border region of New England.

My parents were professional health care providers. We did not have regular, daily contact with our extended family. I was raised in a home where neither parent was present, but instead my parents were professionals who appeared at dinner time and spent holidays travel with their children to trade shows.

I was abused by other children in the years prior to school. This abuse was ignored by family and the community. I was given greater responsibility because my parents served in a healthcare role. I spent most of my childhood working. I was given small jobs by my father's employer. I taught other children to swim. As a teenager, I spent weeks at other families' homes. Some roles I would think " how do I do this? " After leaving for college, I benefited from years of prior independence.

I attended college and graduated by working three jobs and attending classes in the evening. I was a straight C student. My days and nights were full and I barely had any time to reflect. I remember that most of my time was harnessed by immediate problem solving. What can I do to pay for my housing? How do I replace stolen bikes to travel back and forth to classes? Can I grieve for the death of a dear friend and continue to study?

After receiving a degree in Philosophy, I worked in several part time jobs. I sold tickets to the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra. I worked as a school portrait photographer. I had a position in production for a local television station. The primary element to emphasize was the divergence of my earnings from the costs of housing and transportation. Specifically, I would emphasize that nothing I did was ever earning me basic provisions.

In 1999, I was in a car accident where the driver of a Canadian truck pushed my vehicle into the guard rail of I-89. Eight months later I was in a car driving in a rain storm to my production gig when another driver ran a stop sign and hit my car head on. These two accidents were settled through insurance claims. The money I received allowed me to move to Albuquerque, NM for four years.

I worked at the University of New Mexico after my settlement. This was the only position where I earned a salary with benefits. When all the money from being hit by other drivers was depleted, I returned to Vermont. In 2006, I worked at the University of Vermont for the Rubenstein School for Natural Resources. My paycheck went directly to a landlord. I had a total of $40.00 per month for all other expenses. I started teaching yoga therapy for extra money.

After a short time as a Resesarch Specialist on a Substance Abuse and Mental Health grant in Vermont, I took a vacation to Savannah, Ga. Here, I decided I needed to allow more freedom in my schedule. I needed to work through the trauma of my auto accidents. I believed the work of yoga therapy was my best method to pursue.

I moved to the Pacific Northwest. I recall budgeting the $900.00 I had saved by staying with my parents and working in a temporary position at a local ski resort. I lived in Spokane, Wa for six years, from 2009-15. During this time I was hustling money in part time jobs as an instructor of yoga. I substituted in the public schools until the lack of financial compensation drove me to homelessness.

The intake agent for the state of Washington suggested that in order to receive health insurance, I stop work. This was how I became aware of my extremely difficult menses. I was brought back to Vermont for a laparoscopy in 2015.

Since my diagnosis of endometriosis, I have been unemployed. That means, I have not had any income since 2015. I continue to work and communicate the experience of women's reproductive health. I live in a country with more affluence that most other places. I have been homeless since 2015, when I was told that in order to qualify for insurance, I would need to stop working.