My personal journal posts, photos, and videos are shared with close friends and family on my Multiply Site.
Schools (60's - 70's)
Simi Valley, CA
Organizations (60's - 70's)
Girls Scout Troop #297
California Cavalry Command
Genealogy
Knowing so little of my ancestors and wanting my daughter to be more aware of hers set things in motion. My mother died when I was four years old, and my father was a career Navy man, which meant we rarely saw him. My older sisters and I grew up with our maternal grandmother and her second husband. I never spoke with either of my grandfathers and only met my paternal grandmother once. Living in California, we were quite a distance from the majority of my parent's families: my father's in Colorado, and my mother's, most of who lived in Hawaii.
I started out by collecting information from several relatives in 1997. Next I subscribed to the usual genealogy subscription services. I then imported several GEDCOMs from fellow researchers. I've acquired dozens of vital records and obituaries. I first published the family tree online in 1999, hoping to connect with others researching the same people. I continue to utilize Internet sources and occasionally the Family History Library Catalog. The family tree is published on Geni where only deceased members profiles are public by default. Please contact me through that profile (see sidebar) to request an invitation.
My father's and mother's backgrounds are vastly different. My father's family represented by the surnames: HILL, McINTYRE, KENYON, HURD, HANNAN, POWERS, KANE, and McCORMICK hail from England and Ireland. Most of the family seemed to settle in Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. Some ultimately ending up in Colorado.
My mother was the third generation born in Hawaii and was of Portuguese and Chinese descent. Her father, a teenage stowaway to the Pennsylvania coalmines, was born near Lisbon. Her maternal grandfather emigrated from Hong Kong to the Kingdom of Hawaii and married a first generation Portuguese Hawaiian, whose parents were from São Miguel, Azores. Variations in spelling aside the surnames of my mother's family are DeCOSTA, CAMÕES, LAU, CARVALHO, and DeMATTOS/MATTOS.
My family history is published in biographies, photographs, and documents on my Multiply Site.
Arabian Horses
At the age of eleven I got my first horse. By the next year my grandmother, Rose Kennedy, bought our first Arabian, and from there my life progressed to nearly full time caretaker and trainer status. I was particularly passionate about Arabian horse research, visiting farms, and attending shows. At the most we had 13 horses. I took hundreds of hours of riding instruction for Stock Seat, Saddle Seat, and Dressage disciplines. In 1979 I went to work at Pereira Arabians in Santa Ynez, California, with the title of Mare Manager. However, my job consisted of many different things, including but not limited to: halter training the foals, grooming all of the horses, assisting the veterinarian and farrier, exercising and showing the stallions, communicating with mare owners, and giving tours of the ranch. In 1981 I took a full time position at Wheeler's Arabians in Red Bluff where I was involved in all horse related areas including: feeding, cleaning, grooming, foaling detail, training, and showing. Later, I worked part-time for Stallion Oaks Arabians, and lastly for North Arabians. In 1982 I left the business of Arabian horses to enjoy spending time with my own mare. I may have sold my last horse in 1997, but my heartfelt devotion to them all remains.
We boarded our horses at the old Barbara Worth Stables in Simi Valley, which was across the street from the Simi Valley Drive-In Theater. We were there when it was called the Rockin' S Ranch (1970-73) and Livingston Stables (1975-77). We also kept the horses at Rocken (Rockin') S Ranch (1973-75) on Happy Camp Road in Moorpark.
I took riding/driving lessons from Nicki (Oppegard) McGinnis in Moorpark (1973-74), Claudia Thompson in Moorpark and Simi Valley (1974-76), and Arlene Benschoff (1976-77) in Malibu.
Related Items:
- Arabian Horses (My Flickr Photo Collection)
Companion Animals
Spanning my adolescent and teen years I had goldfish, tropical fish, reptiles, hamsters, chinchillas, guinea pigs, a rabbit, cats, dogs, and horses. Even though most were labeled as mine I ended up having little say in their remaining so. To earn money to care for my companions I babysat and took care of other people's horses. As an adult I maintained that commitment to giving my animals the very best in all areas.
I began a 15-year career with a national animal supply retailer in 1982. During my employment I attended a vast assortment of animal care classes, seminars & trade shows; trained new employees; and assisted with product development & merchandising. I regularly hosted adoption and education events for several animal welfare organizations. In addition, I fostered dozens of animals, of numerous species, for different rescue groups. Throughout this time I had my own horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, birds, and fish. I devoted myself to their well-being and freely spent hundreds of dollars per month to keep them happy and healthy.
Since retiring I can no longer care for the numbers of animals I once did, but I am blessed with the companionship of one adorably timid Corgi.
I have numerous photo albums, videos, and blog posts dedicated to my beloved companion animals on my Multiply Site.
(Dedicated to my lost loves.)
I thought of you with love today.
But that is nothing new.
I thought about you yesterday.
And days before that too.
I think of you in silence.
I often speak your name.
Now all I have is memories.
And your picture in a frame.
Your memory is my keepsake.
With which I'll never part.
God has you in his keeping
I have you in my heart.
Author: Unknown
Contact me:
Virginia
Page revised: 03 Feb 2010