I grew up on the south shore of Long Island in New York – Brookhaven to be exact.  My last name during those years was Briggs and my nickname in High School (given to me by my best friend Holly) was “Briggsy”.  I attended Bellport Senior High School (class of ’67), Suffolk County Community College, and the Potomac Horse Center. I played the flute from 4th grade on and entered college as a voice major.

My two passions, from the time I was a kid, have always been dogs (Shelties) and horses. My parents bought me a horse right as my Mom was getting sick with Multiple Sclerosis.  I attended summer camp at Equitation Lodge.  I kept my horse at Betty Puleston’s farm in Brookhaven. Life was special.  In the summer we rode horses, bikes, went to camp, went on the boat and went to the beach.  In the winter we rode horses, rode bikes, went ice skating on Fraisier’s and Alberger’s ponds. And we went to school and church and did all of those very normal wonderful things.

When I attended Suffolk my Dad finally relented and let me follow my dreams with the horses.  That’s when I attended the Potomac Horse Center, which was just outside of Washington DC in Maryland. I graduated at the top from Potomac and was hired by a riding school/camp in Kansas City and the rest has been history.  While I love my childhood and will be ever more grateful to the folks that were involved in my life, I love the openness of the Midwest and I love not being blocked in by the city.

There was not a better place to grow up than Brookhaven/Bellport. Small town gave us a freedom that kids rarely experience  in this century. In high school we studied for exams at the bay, played guitars in our “groups” for hours, sailed, swam,  hung out, went to dances at local churches and lived a pretty safe life.

Bellport Sr High School was a great place to receive an education.  We had some of the best teachers and a lot of liberties.  We traversed the swamps with our Bio teacher during school hours and stuffed crows as after school activities. We had progressive math, reading and language programs as well as programs you could choose in your spare time. Bellport was a great school and now having raised two daughters, I really appreciate the choice we had between regents and other classes. My school years were not without their own troubles but I love the fact that over 40 years after I graduated from Bellport High School, my nephew is its reigning Principal. Way to go, Nelson!

The three women, who were part of my life, that I most admire are Joan Charles, Betty Puleston, and Molly Sivewright.  I’ll tmake a point to write about each of them .

My life has not been an easy one but it is good. I do what I love and that has its cost.  I have had lots of challenges and have had to overcome some big obstacles but all of it has contributed to who I am.  My goals are to keep on keeping on, to never stop learning, and to always notice the beauty around me.

I have other interests, too.  I love researching my family’s genealogy. It’s almost totally from L.I., until you get to abt. 1640 and the Terry’s.  The genealogy has increased my love for history, which has created and interest in our Founding Fathers, which has contributed to my conservative /patriotic values.

Yep, I’m pretty conservative, with really strong opinions, and the older I get the stronger I am.  And I’m a Christian to boot- but I promise not to cram my ideals down your throat, if you refrain from cramming yours down mine! The nice thing about a blog is that you can skip what you don’t want to read but I can still write.  And  I’ll read your blog- even if your views are totally different than mine. A big lesson that I learned from one of the 3 women I most admire, is that we need to be who we are and who we are should allow others to be themselves. That is a motto with real impact.

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