I’ve been around for almost 74 years, so this may take more than a few words. I am Canadian born of US parents, grew up in Maine and worked 38 years in education in Florida until I retired to NC 12 years ago.

Since then I have gone through all kinds of transformations: married 42 years, 4 children, 17 grand children, 1 great grand child; divorced 6 years ago after discovering my true sexual orientation. Hello. Though this all started long before I started coming to Jubilee 5 years ago, I believe that Jubilee gifted me with the courage and the joy of accepting my life as it is…almost like one of Howard’s beautiful baptism rituals…finally able to let Roger be who he is. Thank God for Jubilee! Of course now you will probably hear a lot more about my latest passion for end of life issues such as home funerals and green burials.

My wife and I moved to Asheville in 1990 after an eight year stint in San Francisco. We opened a restaurant on Pack Square and enjoyed eight wonderful years watching downtown transform to the vibrancy we see today. With the birth of our second son in 1998, we stepped away from the business and I began a new career in real estate.

I discovered Jubilee! somewhat through the back door. Several of our staff rented rooms at Hanger Hall and Howard would often consult soon to be couples at our café. I learned of a community that was built on love and tolerance and that we are all, spiritually, part of something far greater. Oddly, this was the same message that I often received from my World War II, depression era, strictly raised, Catholic father. Still, it wasn’t until 2003 I started attending Jubilee! and actually joined last year. I have been very active in this community including work with YMCA youth programs as well as tutoring and mentoring at a local elementary school. I look forward to bringing these same efforts to Jubilee!.

I am the son of the son of a preacher man, growing up in the Methodist church in North Carolina and Virginia. After a career climbing the corporate ladder I jumped off and joyfully landed in Asheville 6+ years ago. My wife and I were anxious to get back to the mountains and closer to her family, kids, and grandkids, most of whom now live here in Asheville. I’m currently self-employed and still work in the corporate world, and love working at home, communing with the woods and my local bear friends.

I have been moving toward Jubilee! for much of my adult life, and finally arrived about two and half years ago. Recognizing home immediately, I became a regular attender, started volunteering for various projects like Room in the Inn, Concierge, greeter, coordinating North Circle of Care, etc. and even danced in Barrie Barton’s most recent extravaganza. I am fortunate to reside in Weaverville in an old house with a nice deck and view.  I live with a great dog, Mac, a Siberian Husky who is going blind, and my wonderful partner, Mark, a North Carolina Dukie, who is going back and forth to Durham and who also calls Jubilee! home. Like many Jubilants I have worked on projects designed to bring about greater justice and peace to our world, and to foster greater charity. I love the strong sense of community that is Jubilee! and the atmosphere that nurtures creativity and acceptance here. I work as the Regional Executive for the American Red Cross in WNC, and have too many years of experience in organizational management and development, and have served on many Boards. Oh Yeah!

I am almost a native of Western North Carolina, having moved as a young child from New York to Hendersonville. At that time Hendersonville was really the South, and the mountains were really Appalachia. I started life out as an Irish Catholic living in the Bible Belt. I lived many different places and did many different things between the time I left for college in New York City and moved back to Asheville 19 years ago.  I attended an Episcopalian church with my children for a time, but that didn’t really suit me, and I am happy that I have now found my home at Jubilee!. My son is a regular participant with the teen group, and I am grateful for his connection with that group. My daughter, a graduate of Hanger Hall School, is on her way to Guilford College in Greensboro but remains a committed Episcopalian. (What can you do about kids?)

I am a working attorney/divorced/single mother with many outside distractions, including doing what I still can to take care of two teenagers, supporting the right social issues, and learnint to express my own creativity.  I love Jubilee!, it's combination of solidity and quirkiness, and knowing it is truly full of people with whom I can be myself.

When I attended Camp Greystone in Tuxedo, NC, as a young girl, I was aware that the Asheville area and these mountains were where my spirit and Mother Earth connected -- a sacred space of growth and healing. I returned to live in Asheville in 2001 and began a time of personal transformation and expansion. As a psychotherapist, I participated in a grant bringing mental health services to patients at Buncombe County Health Center and then moved to MAHEC Women’s Clinic where I am in Behavioral Medicine – teaching residents and providing mental health care to pregnant women. I also facilitate support groups for women experiencing cancer and for caregivers of family members dealing with cancer.

Soon after moving to Asheville that synergy of Jubilee! drew me into the dance and the deeper experiences of the Spiritual Journey Team – thanks to our Judy Bennett! I have been active in coordinating with presenters and workshops for Jubilee! through the Spiritual Journey Team for the last few years. At Jubilee! I have been able to follow my Buddhist, Native American, Divine Feminine and pagan paths – all parts of us are welcomed and honoured.

It is with great pleasure, joy and excitement that I begin this opportunity to give back and serve Jubilee! .

June of 2005 found my cat Charlie and I pulling into Asheville, not knowing one person here, no place to live, and no job, looking for a new way of life, searching for "Pandora." Well, I found a beautiful place to live, I found a decent job and I began to establish myself in this new land.

It took 9 months to find Jubilee! and it was a slow start at first but it all changed when I took Pathways and then a Barrie Barton dance workshop. These classes allowed me to make connections with a few new friends. I then signed up for Barrie's next big production "Knock Knock". After a year of weekly rehearsals I realized that I was bonding with, not 45 new "friends," but 45 new "family members." It truly was an amazing experience and I now hold deep connection to all that participated. As for work, I currently am doing woodworking, mainly in the River Arts District. As for fun… you will find me cruising the mountain roads on my motorcycle, blazing remote trails to high vistas, flipping a fly rod in a trout stream or simply sitting on my deck at 3000 feet just taking it in. Did I find Pandora? I sure think so, I just love it here!