"We are the sum total of our experiences."
-Thomas Gilovich
I subscribe to the philosophy that "All things work for the good". It doesn't mean everything IS good. It means everything CAN work for the good.
I was born in Portland, Oregon in April of 1952. I have one brother who is 1 year and 10 days older.
I can't say I remember much about my life before the age of 7. That's the year my Mother died as a result of being hit by a car as a pedestrian. I do have some pictures, though, so that's nice. The next life-changing event was when my Dad died of lung cancer and a brain tumor 5 years later. That's where this story really begins.
After our Dad died, my brother and I went to live with an Uncle and Aunt, my Dad's brother and his wife. They were appointed as our legal guardians. We weren't too thrilled with that because we barely knew them. We only saw my Dad's brother and his wife a couple times a year up to that point. We had to change schools and leave all our friends behind. I was an extremely shy child and the transition was difficult on many levels. 
In spite of the difficult circumstances, destiny was starting to do it's thing. Other than getting us enrolled in a new school, one of the first things our new guardians did was to get us involved in a few 4-H programs. My Aunt was a 4-H Club leader and an excellent seamstress and knitter so those two things were pretty much a requirement for me. I also joined a 4-H Forestry program. Turns out I did well at all of them and won several county and state championships in each. I also did Water Safety and became a certified Lifeguard but I don't recall any county or state competitions for that.
My real claim to fame, though, was when I won a National Sewing Contest when I was 16, with a pink and white checked gingham dress with hand smocking. There were 55,000 entries! I won a typewriter, sewing machine, and $200 for the win. That was kind of a big deal in those days.
So, the 4-H program was another important life changing experience. My personality started changing from painfully shy to being more confident and trusting that I could pretty much do anything I put my mind to.
I also did well in school, probably because my Aunt & Uncle wouldn't let me participate in sports unless I got good grades. Participating in sports was my passion so I didn't dare let my grades slip. I graduated a member of the National Honor Society.
After High School I went on to Oregon State University for a year then moved to Wenatchee, Washington in 1971... and that's a whole 'nother story.
I doubt that I'll write a book about my early life but if I did it might be on the subject of finding silver linings in dark clouds.
This is my first entry into the February Challenge "What's Your Story", co-hosted by my dear friend, Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, Phoenix Broker and me.
Carol Williams: It's a Wonderful Life
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