"Quit trying to be a super professional and raise a child and try to death four parents at the same time."

In response to your website, my story of career transition started on October 8, 1999.  I was at my desk at the Osher Marin Jewish Community Center doing "desk work" as the marketing director for their CenterStage season. A fancy title for very mentally taxing work.  The phone rang and it was my brother-in-law asking me to come over and take care of my father-in-law as his wife- my usually arch enemy and mother-in-law- was in the ambulance with her , by  now, 25th heart attack.  My response was very ho-hum- "I really can't leave my job right now." Well, she died three days later. So when, on November 2 of that same year, I got a similar call, but now from my sister that my Father was in the emergency ward of Summitt Hospital in  Oakland, I just started to cry and decided to quit. Quit trying to be a super professional and raise a child and try to death four parents at the same time.  Life and dying on this level just don't mix.  Right now, I am in the deathwatch for my Mother and teaching Pilates part time and enjoying bouquets of time to reflect and be available for the next phone call.

- Karen  Attix,  Mill Valley. CA         THANK YOU, KAREN A.!

Providence –

“The Gift”

Until one is committed there is hesitancy,

the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation)

there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which

kills countless ideas and splendid plans:

the moment one definitely commits oneself,

then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise

never have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and

meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

-- W.N. Murray, the Scottish Himalayan Expedition