Dancing Mama

About the Book

Walking hand in hand with my father across a rutted dirt field stubbled with cornstalks to see the plane "Lindy" had flown across the Atlantic Ocean, I had no idea of its historic significance: no idea either of the history I would live through during the next eight decades. The year was 1927. I was six years old and hungry. All I wanted was my bologna sandwich lunch and maybe a nap.

What I would face in those decades to come were the kinds of challenges that make us all human: the loss of my beloved home in a flood; the Depression years of the Thirties when I lived with a grandmother; a hasty and unhappy marriage and a move to California in June of 1941. Then World War II, another marriage, children, a solid place in the community, and finally divorce. The challenge of single life after 32 years of marriage was daunting, of course, but I was determined to make a good life for myself. After six years of single life, I had a thirteen-year happy marriage to Emil Richmond. As a caregiver for six of those years after Emil suffered a stroke, and in the end I was a widow, I went on to begin life on my own yet again. And through all the years, all the decades, I danced, finding in my dancing moments the joy and gratitude we all need to meet whatever life presents.

About the Author

Juliana Richmond has always considered her career to be that of living a fulfilling, productive and happy life. Her working career as a medical assistant began during World War II when she found rewarding employment with an ophthalmologist. In the years that followed, during and after raising her family, she was "girl Friday" for thirteen years to a prominent surgeon in Los Gatos, California. She then went on to teach medical assisting, and finally closed her official work career at Kaiser Medical Clinic in Santa Clara, California.

After retiring, Juliana began to explore her creative side, starting with watercolor painting but soon finding her truest self-expression in writing. Alternating the two hobbies, she has continued her love of art as well as her passion for reading and writing. In 2006 the National League of American Pen Women in both the art and letters categories nominated her for an Achiever award.

In past years, she was active in many organizations. She taught Sunday school, was a PTA president, served art communities both in San Jose and Santa Clara, California as a docent and auxiliary president and finally she worked as an arbitrator for the San Jose Human Relations Commission.

Juliana lives now in Los Gatos, California where she continues to lead an active life, full of loving companionship, family, friends, travels... and of course, dancing.