My heart is always on Mackinac Island, Michigan no matter where else in the world I may be. I was extremely blessed to be a "cottager" in this northern boarder resort for 35 years. I spent most every summer there since I was 19. My family used to gather at our home on Mackinac every summer from June through September. I went home as often as I could. I was also very lucky to be an "islander" on Mackinac for three years, living there year-round where I was the director of the island's library.
Mackinac Island has a mystical quality found no where else in the world. For three centuries Mackinac has been a gathering place...and that tradition continues today. Thousands of tourists (known as 'fudgies") come to Mackinac Island each summer to experience the uniqueness and beauty of this Jewel in the Crown of the Great Lakes.
Our Family Home on the East Bluff
Our house was built in 1891. It is on the East Bluff overlooking Round Island. My parents came up every summer and my brother and his family visit for several weeks. We sold the house in the winter of 2003. What a blow ... but time goes on.
When I was a kid I loved to go to the Windy City and I especially enjoyed visiting Chicago's Field Musem the Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Darn those Cubs, they are still breaking my heart!
Man! I just can't seem to stay in one place!
My first teaching job was in Ottawa, IL at Warren P. Shepard Junior High. I was there from 1970-73.
I got an opportunity to go overseas. I taught social studies on Kwajalein at the George Seitz Jr./Sr. High School in the Marshall Islands from 1973-78. I often passed through Honolulu, what a great stopping off spot!
When I returned to the states I spent three winters in Santa Barbara CA ... one of the most beautiful city I've ever lived in. I went to Mackinc Island, MI in the summers. It got to be too much of a drive, so ...
I moved to Palm Beach FL in 1981. I decided maybe I should try getting a fulltime job again, so, I became a stockbroker for Quick and Reilly. Palm Beach is a great place! I continue to go back as much a I can to soak up the sun and visit good friends.
I moved to Mackinac Island full time in the spring of 1991 and was the Mackinac Island Public Library librarian from September 1991 to August of 1994. Here's a tour of the library.
I became a full-time graduate student from 1994-95 and earned my Masters in Information and Library Studies at The University of Michigan concentrating on public library services. It was living in graduate houseing, going to all the football games and soaking up all the big ten collegiate expereinces. I loved it!
I was the Assistant Director of Lapeer County Library in Lapeer, MI from Dec.1995- Jun.1998. I helped develop the library website as well as the community network called Lapeer County Information Depot. I also developed the Marguerite deAngeli Collection Online Exhibit.
I moved back to Ann Arbor, MI. in the summer of 1998. It's a top-notch community with a tremendous variety of things to do. It's a great town for a single person. Still went to Mackinac every chance I got.
I joined the staff of Washtenaw County Library working an an assistant to the Internet Coordinator. At the same time I was awarded an internship at the School of Information at the University of Michigan where I served as Community Information Systems Coordinator for practical engagements performed by graduate students with community partners.
I own my own business, Terwilliger Associates and have been doing that since the spring of 1999. I work with libraries, non-profits, local governemnts and other entities to help them evaluate, organize and make information accessible. That covrs a wide range of things, from preparing and writing press releases to building image databases. My fondest project was working with the Ladies Profressional Golf Association as their archives consultant.
Now I live in Tryon, North Carolina where I am continuing doing consulting work. My main progrjects down here have been with local agencies. I did quite a bit of public information work for the Polk County government. I was the community relations specialist for the Polk County Public Library for three years. I also do assorted development and public relations projects for Thermal Belt Outreach, a nonprofit safety-net organization that runs the food pantry and helps people in crisis situations. My main job is being availalbe to my parents, which is the reason I moved here.
I am play golf at the Tryon Country Club where I am the 18 hole ladies champion third year running. I am active in the Columbus Methodist Church and am an alto in the choir and sing some solos. I enjoy being near my parents who are still chugging along in their log cabin out in the woods with their horse and two dogs.
My olderst nephew, Matt Terwilliger was #42 on the Ohio State Buckeye basketball team. [He chose that number to honor his fgrandfather (my dad) who is on the Northern Illinois Univeristy All-Century basketball team as well as in the NIU Hall of Fame. He was also AAU National Decathalon Champuion in 1942.] Ohio State won back to back Big Ten titles and played Florida in the National Championship in 2007 and won the 2008 NIT tournament. He and Jamar Bulter we were winningest seniors in the history of the school with 105 wins during their stay at OSU. Matt wants to play basketball in Europe.
My youngest nephew, Luke is graduating high school this year and will be attending Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio.
The man in my life is great. He goes out during the day, comes home to eat and then goes in a separate room and goes to sleep, occassionally he want some attention and he doesn't talk much. He's 9.5 pounds and 2.5 years old. He's Boots the Tuxedo Cat.
So, who knows what the next chapter will bring? I've always felt that life is to be experienced and a good way to do that is to try lots of things and live lots of places.