Who Am I?

I am a eighty-year-old woman who has lived many interesting experiences.

I was born and bred in Brooklyn, New York....Married young and had twins...a boy and girl. My son, now fifty eight, is 100% disabled from his military service in Viet Nam. He is an outstanding free-lance photo journalist, and lives in upstate New York.

My daughter died at the age of 21. She spent many years in Los Angeles and Cincinnati, Ohio.

I returned to New York City, in 1963, because I missed the culture. That is when "life" took an amazing turn.

I decided that being a New Yorker, to me, meant driving a taxi-cab and participating in the "Greenwich Village Outdoor Art Show", So, I got a Hack License...but was unable to get a job because I was a woman. I even was interviewed by Allan Funt (of Candid Camera fame) for his TV program, "What's My Gripe" but they didn't air it, because it was "too controversial"

I finally did get a job driving a big checker cab and was the second female driver in New York City.

I drove the cab for two years until I became the "get-a-way car" for a planned robbery....(I had a knife at my back).

After that experience, I quit.

While I was driving my cab I made leather on burlap collages for the Greenwich Village Art Show. I even had an article written about me in one of the newspapers, complete with photographs entitled, "Lady Cab Driver Paints in Leather."

I previously had experience as a Personnel Director, and I worked at Saks Fifth Ave, as a Personnel Counsellor. Eventually, I became the Retirement Counsellor and held that position until 1979, when I retired.

I divorced my husband, of sixteen years, in 1964, and became very active in the Women's Movement...marching in several Women's Marches and I lead a consciousness raising group for women.

I am well travelled, but my most exciting trip was a six week Quaker Peace Tour to the Soviet Union shortly after the USSR was open to visitors.

After I retired from Saks, in 1980, I left New York, and moved to San Diego, then later San Francisco. I still own a condo in San Diego, which I rent.

A two year search for a Retirement Community led me to "La Vida Llena" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. La Vida Llena is a lovely Continuing Care Retirement Community.

I have been here for sixteen years, and I live in "Independent Living" section. I consider myself very fortunate to be here.

Since retiring from Saks Fifth Ave, I retired another two times; once from The County of San Diego Administration, then later from The 2000 Census Bureau, which I helped set-up.

For the past fifteen years, I have my own Jewelry Business..."Jewels of Our Earth".

I design, create and sell one-of-a kind jewelry. It is quite a successful business, and I lead a very active social, spiritual and cultural life.

I have many serious physical problems...which I choose not to dwell upon....and take very good care of myself.

Within the last year and a half, I lost 81 lbs, but have gained back 6 lbs. (I became too gaunt) For the past nine years, I am attached to Oxygen 24/7 and I introduce my portable tank as "Jenny...Oxy-Jenny" and then I smile and add: "we are VERY attached to one another"

I enjoy working with Elder Wisdom Circle and I have started a related group here, at La Vida Llena.