Landrus and Noel Pfeffinger: How to achieve success and live well while embracing important family and community values

Welcome to the third year of my Blog, It Really IS All About You!  What a joy for me to continue to feature so many of you and your fascinating and often inspiring lives.  This month we catch up with the extremely busy, partially retired, Pfeffingers.  If you or your family grew up in our community, you have probably had the pleasure of working with either Dr. Landrus Pfeffinger or his wife, Noel.  Doctor, teacher, nurse, parents and so much more, they offer a very candid view of the importance of strong family and community values.  They also share with us their thoughts on the evolution of their own professions with relevance to the times we live in.  You will want to hear what this remarkable couple has to share with us.

I think many folks who read our Blog may actually have met you, since you are very vested both as dedicated parents and hard working professionals with deep career paths in our local community.  In fact I first came to meet you at your youngest son, Nolan’s, birthday bowling party when you were kind enough to invite my son, Nick!  One of the things that’s always impressed me about you both is your dedication to and love of your children---all of whom are remarkably different from each other.  What was it like to raise three such different children in Lamorinda?  How did you manage, while working full-time as both a surgeon (Lan) and a teacher/tutor (Noel), to be able to carve out so much time for them and give them each what they need(ed)?

Lan and Noel Pfeffinger visiting Tuscany on a bike tour.

Lan: I enjoyed (ENJOY) being a parent albeit at times it can certainly be a challenge! Bringing a life into the world is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Living in the Lamorinda area--Noel and I still live in the first and only home we’ve ever owned--now going on 30 years--has its positives, i.e., great schools, nearby culture, etc., but also has negatives in terms of "excesses" and at times a sense of entitlement mentality, which can be overwhelming. We always tell our kids that they live UNLIKE the majority of the people in the world and that they should appreciate that and make the best out of their lives--not only for themselves but also for others. As to being a physician/surgeon, early in my career I simply decided NOT to be engulfed by my profession other than taking care of my patients. That approach allowed me, for the most part, to be at home for dinner, and BE there for sporting events, plays, birthday parties, vacations, etc.

Noel: Basically, I was a stay at home mom until our youngest was well into grammar school and I started substituting, through which I found a full-time position teaching Spanish at  Acalanes High School. It was a challenge carving out as much time for the three children as I had prior to teaching when there were always the "after hours" obligations. Having been an RN, where I could leave my work responsibilities after the shift, I found teaching necessitated a lot more duties competing with family time. I found a couple of good alternatives, though, when I decided to find something more compatible to having a family and working. First, I did medical interpreting, which allowed me to still work in the medical realm and to speak Spanish, thus blending my two former careers. Then I settled into tutoring, which allowed me to schedule my own hours and arrange my hours around family time. I held some volunteer positions in my children’s schools but never "turned myself over" completely to the volunteering scene. 

Sometimes it seemed that parents were catering to children full time in that capacity, leading the children to believe that our role was to be "workers" for their behalf. I never saw nor experienced that growing up, and I think that allowed me to avoid promoting the "entitlement" mentality that unfortunately exists now. I do remember hours and hours of being on tennis courts with each of our three children and I think just playing with children over the years establishes a relationship of being there for them, all the while subliminally reflecting on character, honesty and competition. I loved the simple days of "just being with them" as they grew up and could have done away with the "rat race" of lessons, programming time, hearing all the advice in the Lamorinda area about "what you have to do" to have successful kids.

Tell us about where you both grew up and the core values instilled in you during your childhood.  What kind of childhood did you each have and where did you attend college? And how did you meet?

Lan enjoying the Trevi Fountain, Rome.

Lan:  I am originally from Gridley, Illinois, a small farming town of about 850 people. My father was born and raised on a farm to second generation immigrants. He had only an eighth grade education. He served in the Army during WWII, returned and became a carpenter by trade. My mother lived in town and was one of eight children. She had to leave school her second year of high school to help support her family during the Depression. While neither had formal "higher" education they both believed in the American dream for my sister and me and valued a good education as the pathway to that dream. We were taught the value of hard work and self-reliance. There certainly wasn't any sense of entitlement bestowed upon us and in that regard I am very thankful. It makes you appreciate much more that who you are and what you have are a result of your OWN efforts.

I attended North Central College in Illinois for undergraduate school and the University of Illinois for graduate school in microbiology for one year, before entering medical school at the Chicago Medical School.

Noel and I met at Children’s Hospital in Oakland while I was a resident at UCSF. She was/is a nurse. I was "smitten."
 
Noel: I grew up in Modesto in the central valley--a GREAT place in which to grow up. (Sadly, it's not such a wonderful spot now.) My dad manufactured poultry feed and my uncle was a rancher who grew walnuts and lima beans. It was a very agricultural area and, as a result, "living off the land" made people "down to earth" and hard workers. In those days, in that area, I don't recall knowing folks who were aggressive, pushy, wanting to get ahead. I think everyone knew he/she was doing a valued job and most people respected each other for their respective contributions. I don't recall my parents ever telling me I needed to go to college. It was just an unspoken "given." The last two years of high school I went to a Catholic boarding school in Marin County and  from there went onto Santa Clara University---the college where many of my high school classmates entered. I think it was the only college to which I applied. Lan and I met at Children’s Hospital in Oakland--I worked with adolescents, which was on the same floor as orthopedics.

Noel on holiday with the inscrutable sphinx.

How early on in your lives did you know what profession you were each passionate about?  How did that come about?
 
Lan:  I always did well in science and my older sister had become a nurse. By the time I reached college I had decided to go into medicine and thus majored in biology and chemistry. Aside from my sister, there were no immediate or extended family members in the health professions.

Noel: I have always loved languages and prior to going to Santa Clara I spent two summers in Brazil. Then in college, I went to Spain for my junior year abroad. I almost ended up in Spain and thought a Spanish degree wouldn't be particularly valuable in Spain, so, I decided to study nursing and enjoyed pursuing that career path as well. (If truth be told, I could easily have been a career student.)

We’d really like to know more about each of your professional paths.  Lan, let’s start with you, since as one of Nick’s doctors, I probably know the most about you professionally!  Tell us about your very illustrious career.
 
Lan: After medical school, I came to San Francisco to the University of California to do my internship and residency. After the 5 years at UCSF I did a year of post-graduate fellowships, one in adult foot and ankle surgery and the other on stroke rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery. I then joined a large orthopedic medical group and left the group after 18 years to "go it alone" for 8 years. After retiring from private practice in 2007, I began to work part-time at UCSF where I am an assistant professor teaching orthopedic residents. Additionally, I do independent contractor work at the county hospital in Martinez.

Lan, you decided to “retire” not too long ago.  I think there are great lessons to be learned in how you are accomplishing that, since you didn’t simply “walk away” from your profession one day and completely hang up the scrubs!  What are you doing now, and how did you determine that this was a good path for you?  And how did you decide when it was best to make the transition to part-time?
 
Lan: While I was ready to "walk away," I will give credit to Noel for suggesting that I might want to do something other than playing tennis, riding my bike, working out at the health club, and planning vacation trips. My part-time work has allowed me to "stay in the game" yet come and go as I want without the burden of running an office. Overall it has been a good transition from private practice.

Noel, you have helped and guided many students over the years.  Tell us about your tireless work as a teacher and tutor, and how this became your calling.
 
Noel: The common denominator for my "two careers" has been working with adolescents and teenagers. I enjoy being with them one-on-one, and helping them either health-wise or with their Spanish studies. One-on-one is definitely my style, as all my attention is focused on one person, listening to him/her and trying to adapt a plan to that person's needs. At that age, I particularly enjoy being with them when they are extracted from their peer groups and can be genuine and candid. Sometimes I think they need an adult who will see them as an individual, who allows them to relax and "be who they are." Plus, I really like seeing their improvement. There is a different dynamic going on with a student-tutor relationship than with one’s own parent-child relationship. 

Lan and Noel, Giza, Egypt.

You have also “retired,” Noel, but again, maybe not 100%!  What keeps you busy now professionally? 

Noel: In addition to still tutoring, I have a little job that I enjoy very much. It is reading and scoring essays for people trying to attain their GED. Spanish speakers can write their essays in Spanish, so those are the ones I score. I used to also score the English essays and it is very eye opening to observe the level of mastery of the English language and writing skills currently in the USA. Frightening, really. Living in this area we get a very skewed impression of the educational level of the younger generation. The general population's abilities are a matter of concern.

Let’s explore the philosophical side of your chosen professions, and how you see these two very important professions --- health care and education --- evolving these days.  With budget cuts, HMO’s, insurance companies playing a huge role in patient care, a possible nationally mandated health program for all ages --- so much to consider --- what are your thoughts, Lan, on the state of your profession?   In your opinion, what is the government getting “right” about health care and where are they missing the boat, so to speak? How about insurance companies and their involvement in the process?  What is your hope for the future of health care in our country?
 
Lan: I have a VERY guarded opinion regarding the current attempts at health care reform by the federal government. Americans have come to enjoy the BEST health care the world has to offer--this will NOT be the case in the current attempt at reform. There WILL be delay and denial of health care if current reforms are brought to full force. Many physicians will leave the profession, overwhelmed by an ever increasing bureaucracy interposed between them and their patients. I, like most physicians, believe there is a need for health care reform BUT NOT in its present form.

There have been numerous alternatives recommended regarding the current attempt to reform health care, which in my opinion is a thinly disguised predicate for single payer, government controlled health care, i.e., socialized medicine. As I have noted above, Americans have enjoyed the best medical care the world has to offer through private medical insurance plans, either individual or group. For the elderly we have Medicare, for children we have the CHIPS program, and for the disabled/poor we have Medicaid (it's call MediCal in California). Those who can afford it are self-insured.

A few options that could be considered include:
  

• Allowing small group employers to join with other "small employers" to form a larger pool, thus allowing them to afford "large group" insurance rates.
• Insurance companies should be allowed to compete across state lines, thus allowing greater competition with resulting lower rates not only for group but also for individual health plans.
• Tort reform is a necessary reform within overall health care reform. It IS a driver of higher health care costs.
• Mandated health care coverage by the government will drive up health care costs. (The Congressional Budget Office recently has indicated the current "Affordable Health Care Act" will now cost TWICE what was originally stated, i.e., it is now $1.8 trillion!) If Medicare is any measure of the cost of government-run health care, I feel very confident in saying that even "TWICE" will be an underestimate of eventual costs! (On a personal note, rather than see my health care premiums go down, as "promised" when AHCA was passed, my health care premiums have risen by 50% for the same coverage!) I know that I am NOT alone in that regard.
• Individuals should be allowed to purchase their OWN health care insurance, which is more tailored to their health care needs, AND be able to deduct such costs from their taxes just as companies do that offer group insurance coverage. In that manner they do not have to worry about losing their health care if they lose their job.
• Health savings accounts can be used and expanded.

Noel, as an educator, are you concerned about how funds are allocated in our public school system?  What are your concerns, and also hopes,  for the future of education?

Noel: I think schools should be modeled after the private sector--not be dominated by unions, tenured teachers and administrators. As a tutor, I see the differences between the various teachers in the district and there is a vast difference. I feel sorry for the students saddled with the teachers giving them an inferior education in comparison with some of the very good teachers. When we go to a restaurant, we don't settle for the restaurant deciding that some people will get gourmet meals and some will get packaged "TV dinners." The customers wouldn't stand for an arbitrary meal selection, where some get the good meals and others have to settle for the bad meals. Schools shouldn't be able to do that either. I think perhaps the superior teachers could end up accommodating more students by using technology, like on-line classes, because there are many more students than good teachers to teach all of them; there needs to be a way of providing everyone with the same advantages of good instruction.

One of the great things about your lives now, for lack of a better phrase,  is this “second act” of your professional path--the  ability to really spend time on your passions:  staying fit, bicycling, and travel--and still work part-time.  Oh, yes, and continuing to be amazing and supportive parents!   In fact, you usually come visit us now on your bike--and not just any bike, I might add! How did you become so passionate about bicycling?  What should those of us who are interested in it as a hobby be looking for in equipment, time commitment, getting in shape and best places in the Bay Area to cycle?

The Pfeffinger family cycling, Big Island, Hawaii.

Lan: With my current part-time work, with adequate notice I am able to take more time off for extended periods. We have done considerable traveling in Europe, Central and South America as well as Africa (Egypt). Our first bike trip was in France and we were "hooked." We have subsequently taken four bike tours from the Big Island of Hawaii to the countries of Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic. We have found it to be a great way to travel, far more "up close and personal," while at the same time staying in shape. Locally we go to the wine country for extended weekends with friends, family or by ourselves. Last year we did our own itinerary along the California coast from Monterey to La Jolla. We also take extended trips/ weekends to visit our kids who fortunately all live in California- at least for the present.

Noel: I had heard about a Tuscany bike trip a tennis acquaintance of mine went on and it became a goal of mine to do one also. It sounded like so much fun to me. It only took me about 4 or 5 years to get Lan  to come around. Now we are both loving the activity. Especially since we both have knee issues, so this is the ideal sport for people like us. Plus, we love to eat and bike riding allows us to "consume without guilt." 

Tell us about how you like to travel, some of your best experiences, and what’s still on the radar for future travel.

Lan: Aside from biking we also like to take cruises. Currently, we are planning a cruise tour to Alaska and Vancouver, Canada. In 2013 we are planning a bike tour in Argentina with additional time in Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.

Noel: I actually like to stay in one spot for an extended amount of time and just live the day-to-day life rather than hit all the tourist sites. I haven't got a certain spot in mind, but, that's my style goal for traveling.

I think that one of the most interesting trips you made was a combination working trip as a volunteer doctor combined with a mini vacation to South America.  Lan, please share with us where you traveled, the volunteer care you provided, and what you learned about medicine in emerging countries on that trip.
 
Lan: In 2009, Noel and I went to Peru and Argentina. We spent two weeks vacationing and I spent two weeks in Lima teaching orthopedic residents at two of their "county hospitals." While I enjoyed the experience and found the people delightful and the medical staff caring, without sounding too negative, the level of health care and access to health care in their socialized medical system is far below the level the American people enjoy.
 
So, what’s next for the Pfeffingers?  And any final thoughts you’d like to share?
 
Lan: Stay active, be happy, take care of your health (it is YOURS by the way), love your children and help them to be the best they can be without helping them by doing everything for them!  Oh, and by the way, after 30 years of marriage, with all its ups and downs, I still thank God I met Noel, my wife.
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Noel: This is totally "random" but I would like to share one last "activity" in which I have been engaged for the last 3 years. Several weeks prior to the one year anniversary of my mother's passing away, I got a phone call from the American Red Cross requesting that I donate blood. When my mom was ill and receiving transfusions, I said to myself, "Thank goodness there are people who donate blood." It clicked. That was the way I would remember her every year. So, in place of putting flowers on her grave, I donate blood on the anniversary of her passing away and on her birthday. It makes me feel like her memory is productive for others. (I know that is random, but it's brought me comfort in doing that.)

What a great idea, Noel!  Thank you both for a very thoughtful Blog this month, and for sharing your inspirations and core values. 

So, dear Readers, in times such as these, I think the message of the Pfeffingers resonates well with many of you.  If you would like to chat with Lan or Noel personally, and perhaps continue the conversation, please contact me and I will put you in touch with the Pfeffingers.

Happy Spring!  (or, er, maybe Happy Late Winter?)!

Adios from Machu Picchu.

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

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Celenia Delsol--an intimate look into the mind, heart and body

Every once in a while you’ll have the gift of an opportunity to be completely taken outside yourself and into the story of someone else’s life through the power of our increasingly busy age of communication.  Whether it’s a tweet, a Blog, You Tube or some other digital format, we now can touch each other’s lives in ways former generations could barely dream of.  Keep reading, as you are about to embark upon such a moment now.
 
As you read about our multi-faceted and extraordinary client, Celenia Delsol, she will take you out of your place and time.  I invite you to journey with us through a life fully lived, a life taken too soon, and the good that has come and continues to take root from both.

When I first met you in 2007, what impressed me the most about you was how completely accomplished you are! Already a lawyer, albeit disassociated from that profession for some time, you were someone in search of more from life --- you were changing your professional direction to become a psychotherapist. Please walk us through your professional background and the journey that brought you to this completely different vision of your career path.

Law was not my first career. My undergraduate degree was in Broadcasting & Film, and I worked for the ABC affiliate, as well as the public television station in Boston. I was the Associate Producer of a “Frontline” documentary about the history of U.S. involvement in Central America. This was during a period of great unrest in that region of the world. It was a 4-part series, and the part I worked on was about Nicaragua. I spent the summer of 1984 filming in Miami (where a lot of Nicaraguan expatriates lived), Nicaragua itself, and Costa Rica. It was probably the most exciting work I’ve ever done. But television was (and still is) a fickle industry, and I wanted greater job security. 

Celenia gets her first (of many) college degrees.

My mother was in her early 50s and had just enrolled in law school. Let’s just say there was a little bit of pressure to follow in her footsteps. But I was not cut out to be a lawyer. My heart was never in it. When I became pregnant with my son, Julian, and my husband got a job in California (where I would have had to take the bar exam AGAIN in order to practice law), I had two great excuses to set law aside. I don’t regret the time and energy I put into getting that degree though. The skills I acquired, the analytical way of thinking needed, all of this has served me very well. But it was a very left-brained pursuit, and – being a Pisces – I felt something critical to my nature was missing.

When my son Julian was a toddler, I studied therapeutic massage. I know. Quite a switch from the practice of law! But I grew up in a very touchy-feely family. Lots of hugging and cuddling. I learned to kiss and embrace people when meeting them; hand shaking always felt a little stiff to me. Research has shown that as humans, we literally cannot survive infancy without loving, nurturing touch. It’s that important. And as the mother of a young child, massage became a way for the two of us to bond in ways that I believe have been lost in our culture of techno-this and electro-that. I worked as a massage therapist, and then as an administrator for the professional massage association (nice combination of right-brain and left-brain activity) for 7 years.

When puberty kicked in for my son, he began to present with some behavioral and emotional challenges that were beyond my “training” as a parent (Ha! I WISH there was training!). It was then that I decided to go back to school to earn a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I wanted to understand what he was experiencing, and I wanted to be a better resource for him. I earned my degree in June 2009, and I’ve been working in the field of emotional and psychological wellness since.

So yes, my career path has been very “curvy,” but I have to say…I’m glad that’s been the case. The recurring thread that I see is that I’ve always been drawn to work that involved making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. If that’s not part of what I’m doing with the bulk of my hours awake, then no thanks.

Would you say that your childhood --- your parents, friends, or even your community --- influenced any of these decisions?  What was life like for you growing up?

I was born in New York City in the late 50s to parents who had emigrated from Puerto Rico (“West Side Story” anyone?). My parents were both still in elementary school when they moved to New York. Both my grandmothers worked in the garment industry in what today would be called “sweat shops.” And both my parents were the first in their families to get a college degree (my mother did not get hers until she was in her 40s, after my parents divorced).

                    Carmen and Gil, Celenia's parents, circa 1955.                  

Education, education, education…this was drummed into me, my brother and two sisters from the minute we could write our names. Without it, there was no chance to improve one’s lot in life. Education created choices, options, opportunities that we would not have access to otherwise. Education was power. And power was important for a sometimes disenfranchised segment of the population. I believe this is even more true today: you can’t remain competitive in the global marketplace without it. Unless you’re just naturally a genius. Which I am NOT! So it’s no wonder that at the age of 51, I was walking down the aisle to receive a diploma…yet again! And who knows if it will be my last one? Never say “never."

A few years after we began working for you, unimaginable tragedy came to your life: the loss of your only child, Julian, to suicide. As someone who also lost loved ones to suicide --- for me it was my multi-talented mother and my beloved cousin --- I can only say how remarkable you were during that time immediately after his death, and how much I admired your grace and generosity towards everyone else, making them feel as good as possible. In fact, can I simply say you were inspirational? On top of all that, you and Julian’s father (Philip Rettger) set up a very meaningful and now sustaining fund at Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek. Can you take a few moments to tell us how you were able to redirect your grief towards actively creating so much good? How did you decide what to do regarding setting up Julian’s Fund?

Nothing can possibly prepare a parent for the death of his or her own child. It is a violation of the proper order of things. Children are supposed to bury their parents; not the other way around. Even though Julian’s father and I knew that he was challenged by mental illness (bipolar disorder), and we were acutely aware that suicide was a possible outcome for our son, we did everything we possibly could to support his mental health. We lived in hope that he would successfully launch into adulthood (he was 20 when he died). But one day he woke up and it was too much. For whatever reason (he did not leave a note, so we’ll never know exactly what triggered him that day), he was not able to access the skills he’d acquired to manage his severe depression and/or his manic impulses. He lost the battle that day, and we lost him.

It was Julian’s dad’s idea to establish a memorial fund at the Seven Hills School, and he has worked tirelessly to raise money for this fund. Julian completed middle school at Seven Hills – a truly remarkable and nurturing learning environment - and it was probably the last time he was genuinely happy in school. We wanted to give something back that would address the socio-emotional development of young people as they enter and navigate puberty. This was a difficult transition point for Julian, and is for many of our youth. The fund supports programs for students, parents and the community at large, and provides on-site counseling for students.

Our fundraising goal is $500,000, and we’re actually close to 80%. If we achieve the goal by 2015, the school’s library will be renamed after Julian.

Julian reading...

... and reading...

 ...and reading.

My son was a voracious reader from a very young age.  In fact, at his memorial gathering, we brought all his books (boxes and boxes and boxes of them) and displayed them on tables, asking people to take one or a few to remember Julian by. A year and a half later, I am still hearing stories from his friends, his friends’ parents, his former teachers, and relatives, about how the book (or books) they chose to keep in Julian’s memory have affected them. Or they’ll share stories with me about the time they were at bookstore (or a library or in a literature class) with Julian, talking about some book or author, and how that interaction with Julian allowed them to appreciate something different about what they had read, or enabled them to relate what they had read to their own life experience in a way they wouldn’t have if not for Julian’s insights. Reading, and later writing, were his great passions. In a way, I guess we’ve already started “Julian’s Library.” It’s out there in the world enriching the lives of others. That feels awesome.

Some time had passed between visits and at our next meeting [in the spring of 2011] a glowing and extremely svelte Celenia showed up in our offices! While searching for answers, and continuing on your professional journey, you discovered something very exciting: Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). How did EFT come into your life and how were you able to embrace this approach to create a better path for yourself? Was it an instant change or a bit of a journey?

Although I managed to keep myself in one piece for the first six months after Julian died (mostly by keeping myself busy and distracted) when the 2010 holiday season hit, I went into a very, very, very dark place. My grief became paralyzing, and I lost my desire to live. I was so sure the moment of learning about my son’s death was my life’s lowest point. I was wrong. Six months later is when I hit rock bottom. I spent my days in bed, and when I was awake, I stuffed my grief with food. I gained over 50 lbs. and hated the sight of myself in the mirror.

 

 Celenia Delsol, December 2010.

The good news is that when you’re at “rock bottom,” the only way out is UP!

In early January 2011, I spent a day with a friend who talked to me about “energy psychology,” an emerging approach to mental wellness. Emotional Freedom Techniques (also known simply as “EFT”) was the format of energy psychology she introduced to me. I was impressed and intrigued by the shift that occurred within me in just an hour of work with her. So I went home, committed to using EFT on myself to begin chipping away at the emotional quagmire I found myself in, with respect to losing my son. There was sadness, there was anger (at him, at myself, at the psychotherapeutic community that had “failed” him, at society at large for stigmatizing those with mental health challenges, etc., etc., etc.), there was guilt (oh brother, was there guilt!)…I just kept peeling away at the emotional layers of crap (pardon my French) weighing me down. 

After about four days, I realized I hadn’t thought about killing myself that day, or the day before, or even the day before that. As a student of psychology, I sat up and said, “Wow! I need to learn more about this.” I didn’t stop being sad, or missing Julian. I didn’t forget or deny anything that had happened. All the feelings were still there. The difference was that the feelings were no longer paralyzing. The sharp, jagged edges of my grief had softened. Do I still get teary-eyed when I talk about Julian? Absolutely. But it’s no longer the kind of sobbing that makes me wonder whether I’m going to stop breathing. Do I still miss him every day? Absolutely. There are constant reminders everywhere I look, everywhere I go, but I no longer want to hide from the world. Do I still want to be with him? Absolutely. But I can wait. I’ve still got some living of my own to do. Oh, and side benefit: my attitude towards food changed. Thus, the svelter Celenia. 

 A svelter Celenia (30 lbs lighter) in December 2011.

In my experience, EFT was nothing short of miraculous. I went from being suicidal to having a mission. How many people get to experience that kind of a shift? The burning question for me became, “How many lives could be saved if this could be shared with others?”

In fact, you are so completely passionate about this positive technique, that you have reframed your practice around EFT.  Please take us through the commitment you have made to EFT and why.

I am in the process of becoming a certified EFT practitioner. I currently work as an EFT Counselor. I am not a licensed psychotherapist, but I do help people with emotional and psychological blocks, and in some cases, once those are removed, clients’ physical health improves as well. After all, mind-heart-body, they’re intimately connected, right?

Your website is a wealth of knowledge about EFT. I have already viewed your extremely helpful and free videos on YouTube, and am excited about the notion of how everyone can create positive change for themselves through this fascinating technique. You know me --- I’m SUCH a skeptic! But the science and research behind it fascinates me and I am extremely encouraged by what I’ve seen so far. Can you walk us through the science, the research and the actual history behind EFT and links to any videos that might be helpful to readers of this Blog?   Your website is a great jumping off point and you have a wonderful E-Zine that readers can sign up for. Please share those links with us as well.

I think the best way to serve your readers is to simply direct them to my website. There is SO much information there, and they can pick and choose what they would like to learn more about by selecting from several links. www.EnergyPsyc.com is the place to go.

How can readers contact you for help on incorporating EFT into their own lives?

The most direct way to reach me is by phone (925-408-3310) or by email: Celenia@EnergyPsyc.com. And by the way, I can also work with people via Skype or iChat (if you’ve got a Mac). So you don’t have to live in the Bay Area if you’re interested in experiencing the work that I do.

I know you continue to be very involved in community and fund raising activities of value and those that you believe can provide positive change.  What are you most focused on these days, Celenia, and which organizations are you supporting and fund raising for?

I devote my financial and time/energy resources to two organizations working on suicide prevention, support and education.

Right here in the Bay Area, we have the Contra Costa Crisis Center, (www.crisis-center.org) which operates a 24/7 hotline (800-273-TALK). They also conduct free support groups for Survivors of Suicide (people who have lost loved ones to suicide). And they do lots of other amazing, important work. 

In my own practice, I’ve established a “Pay It Forward” program, which allows a new client (who is either struggling with depression and suicidal thinking OR who has lost someone to suicide) to come in for a session that has already been paid for by the last “Pay It Forward” client. At the end of their session, they pay whatever they feel they can or want to for the next “Pay It Forward” client’s session. As little as $1 and the sky is the limit. Whatever they pay, 50% goes to the Contra Costa Crisis Center. So that’s one way that I’m supporting their work.

The other organization I support is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.AFSP.org). Every year they have a major fundraising walk in a major city called the “Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk.” The last time it was held in San Francisco was in 2006, and their next San Francisco walk is this coming June 9-10. It is literally an overnight walk, from dusk till dawn, through the city. The metaphor of this event represents bringing suicide awareness out of the darkness and into the light of day. I am a big proponent of bringing the subject of suicide out of the closet. In stigmatizing the subject, we send the message that it’s not OK to experience or talk about suicidal feelings or to ask for help. And then precious lives are lost. This has got to stop. Every 15 minutes, someone in the United States dies by suicide. Every 15 minutes! I say, “Enough!”

If people want to register for the walk themselves (there’s a $1,000 fundraising minimum to participate in the walk) OR want to donate to “Team Julian,” go to www.theovernight.org. If you’re donating to my team, click “donate,” enter my name, Celenia Delsol, into the search box, and you will be redirected to my donor page.

By the way, my 75-year old mom, (whom Lynn met) is doing the walk with me. Wish us luck!

Any last advice for our readers, Celenia, as we embark on our own unique New Year’s journeys?
  
My license plate says "Love your Life," and my business slogan is “Heal Your Heart & Love Your Life." Every day we wake up and have the following choice: to appreciate this day, and everything about it...or not. Which one is it going to be for you? Choose well!

Celenia's license plate says it all.

Celenia, there are not enough words to thank you for sharing your and Julian’s life story so openly with us all.  Readers, don’t hesitate to take Celenia up on her offer for contact, coaching and collaborating on any level.  She is just as remarkable in person as she is here digitally.   Her genuine love for you shines through in every breath she takes.  

Also, we encourage you to join us in supporting the amazing causes that she has embraced and help in the fundraising goal for what I’m sure will be known eventually as Julian’s Library.  With hugs to all….

Marion Leland --- 97 Years Young!

When I started thinking about this Blog, I realized that I met Marion when she was in her 70s.  That’s a bit inconceivable to me, because she is so young at 97 years of age, that I keep thinking I’ve been working with her since she was in her 50s --- but that, of course, would be a bit impossible since I was still a teenager then! 

I hope you’ve had a chance to meet Marion at our Holiday Open House this year and years past.  She is lively, a great joy to have a conversation with, and ever upbeat and optimistic.  I’m going to tell you a little bit about her here in this Blog.  She no longer keeps up with her computer and email, so we sat down over lunch and birthday cake here in our offices (a small party that she drove herself to after just passing her driver’s test with flying colors!) and chatted about her life and times.

 Marion Leland.

Marion grew up in Minneapolis and didn’t move to the Bay Area until she married her husband, John Leland.   He also grew up in Minneapolis and they knew each other from the time she was three and he was eight years old.  In fact, John’s uncle was the doctor who delivered Marion!  John later became a doctor himself, setting up practice as a family physician in the Bay Area. 

Marion, being a child of the Great Depression, is a very practical woman, and comes from a long line of smart, practical women.  Marion’s mother insisted she be able to support herself, and so at her mother’s urging Marion attended business school.  Putting that education to good use right away, Marion worked during the war in a manufacturing plant in Minneapolis that made gun mounts for battleships. She was secretary to one of the commanding officers.  Although her husband proposed to her during this time (she was 25 when he first proposed), she didn’t want to be a war bride.  Knowing a great catch when he saw it, John didn’t give up. He had  the perfect ring custom made for her at Shreve’s in San Francisco.  She finally allowed herself to be “caught” and they were married March 17th, 1944 at the Women’s Club in Minneapolis.  Marion Bryant became Marion Leland! 

Life in Berkeley, where they settled, was a busy time for her.  In addition to being a full-time mother to their daughter, Robin, Marion was very involved in service-based activities, including the Women’s Medical Society.  In 1948 her mother-in-law invited her to join the Piedmont-Oakland Chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) and she has been a member for over 60 years.  Marion is most proud of the work she did for this organization, as her committee was responsible for interviewing young women applying for scholarships to college and eventually awarding thousands of dollars.  For her scholarship work at John F. Kennedy School of Law, Marion was honored with a special plaque for her many years of work in securing scholarships and financial aid for deserving women law students. She also did some scholarship work at Diablo Valley Junior College. Even though she moved to Lafayette, and later, after her husband passed away, to Pleasant Hill, Marion still stayed extremely involved in this Chapter and its fine causes. She has not only kept in touch with chapter members, but also with many of the women who were recipients of these life-changing scholarships.  They adore her.

Marion lost her husband at a relatively young age from early onset Alzheimer’s. In fact we met at a meeting where I spoke about tax and financial planning issues for families whose loved ones were suffering from this awful disease.  Never one to sit about and feel sorry for herself, Marion immediately set to work to take command of her entire life and also of Robin’s. Without a husband at a time when most women relied on theirs for so many life decisions, she picked herself up and did everything from managing their complex financial situation, to learning how to clean the pool herself!

Marion, to this day, continues to care for her adult daughter, Robin.  Robin was diagnosed with an array of disabilities during her late teen years, moved back home, and has only been able to work outside the home briefly.  To say that Marion has become profoundly knowledgeable about her daughter’s complex needs and an advocate for her, would be an understatement.   Most women, faced with the early loss of a husband and a grown daughter to care for, would feel incredibly sorry for themselves.  But here’s where Marion’s story becomes so unique:  she simply never complains. She has told me for many years that it’s a benefit to have a responsibility --- something beyond oneself.  She does credit herself for being an information seeker and has constant contact with those professionals who can help her improve upon her knowledge.  Her deep Mid West American roots and strong family values, not to mention her incredible work ethic, have been instrumental in helping her support and focus on her daughter when she had no background and no exposure to otherwise guide her.  

 Marion celebrates 97 years on planet Earth!

When you meet Marion you’ll also note that she is remarkably spry, has a wonderful smile and laugh, is petite and very physically fit.  She tells me that her secret to this physical fitness is that she moves --- a lot!  When she was in Lafayette, everything  from working in the garden to cleaning the pool to walking the reservoir was part of her fitness regimen.  Now she still walks every night and these past three years she’s been taking Flex for Fitness classes at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center.   She also lifts light weights!  Her recommendation?  Get out with a group of your contemporaries and get some sun, air, light and exercise!   

Her doctor says she’ll easily make it to be 100, and I’m not betting against it!  In fact, we are already planning Marion’s “surprise” 100th birthday party!  Look for your invitation in three years! 

If you would like to reach Marion, please let us know, and we’ll put you in touch.  Or we will simply point her out to you at our next party! 

Wishing you all a wonderful and fit holiday with your family, friends and loved ones!

Lana Artemoff: Former Insurance Agent by Day, Now Award Winning Artist in Retirement!

This left brain right brain stuff never ceases to amaze me.  Lana Artemoff has one of those brilliant minds --- a woman who could quote detailed insurance code sections and policy provisions in one sentence --- and then later head out to her garden or art studio to become immersed in an astoundingly gorgeous creative endeavor.   Svetlana Artemoff, her professional name in the art community, has become an award-winning artist --- immensely talented, she creates simply beautiful and stunning pieces of art.

I’m going to guess that most readers have had the pleasure of getting to know Lana (formerly of Marina Associates) over the years, so without further ado, I’ll just let you reacquaint yourselves --- and perhaps get to know another side (or two!)  of Lana you never saw before!  Loving wife, mom, grandmother and sister, as well as talented artist, generous volunteer and so much more, enjoy reading about good friend and client, Lana Artemoff.

 Lana visiting Zurich, Switzerland.

You and your sister, Marina Devoulin, have been very important women in my life, Lana. I’ve known you for well over 30 years not only as a mentor and as my own insurance agent, but also as a trusted advisor to many of our mutual clients over the years. How did you and Marina end up working together? Was this a planned career path for you?

Thank you, Lynn…I am flattered that you feel that way.   I always thought how great it was to meet someone like you, someone who shared my work ethic, was excited by the opportunities of providing a professional service and committed to a sense of personal balance.  I was thrilled by our brainstorming sessions.

As for my career, insurance was never my planned path.  I had visions of art, architecture or archeology.  I obviously got stuck in the “A”s!  However, marriage and children changed that game plan.  Reality dictated a need for supplemental income, and I started looking around for options that would fit.  At the time, my sister, Marina, was working at a local insurance agency and put me in touch with another agent who needed some part-time help.  Can you believe that $2.50 an hour was the going rate those days?  I spent almost 10 years at Bernstein, Lovell & Co., learned the ropes, secured my license and was ready in 1977 to join Marina when she bought out her employer and took charge of her own agency.

 Thanksgiving with Mom (now 92!) and family.

Tell us about your childhood --- where did you grow up and what were (and are!) your parents like?
  
My parents, Julia and Konstantin Grediakin, came to the U.S. in 1947 from Shanghai, China.  They were part of the collateral damage of the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Communist takeover in China.  Luckily, they had the vision and ability to find a better path. My dad was an electrical engineer, graduate of the Harbin Polytechnic Institute, and worked for 34+ years in that capacity at PG&E.  Mom kept the home fires burning with exceptional skill.  At her 80th birthday, all of the family accolades focused on how her culinary abilities made us feel loved.  Dad died in 2004 and Mom just celebrated her 92nd birthday this year.  I was born and raised in San Francisco’s Haight/Ashbury district.  Our home was a Victorian, built in 1907, and I can’t go back to that neighborhood without a strong sense of nostalgia. Our family stayed in San Francisco until 1990 when, in search of a bit more sunshine and a reasonable commute, we moved to Sausalito.  In 2005, thanks to the internet and being able to work anywhere in the world (with an internet connection!), we decided to settle in a more peaceful setting in the wine country area surrounding Ukiah.

 Lana, George and friend.

Your husband George had a distinguished career as a San Francisco Fireman. How did you both meet and what was life like as the wife of a firefighter in one of the trickier cities to battle blazes in the world?

I never had a strong identification with being Russian, but it’s something that follows you around like your hair color.  There was always a vibrant Russian-American community in San Francisco.  And so meeting my husband, George, was part of that Russian connection.
 
Firefighting in San Francisco in those days seemed to me a bit like war.  The firefighters had to be ready 24/7, the bells would ring at each station, citywide, and the responsible company would be out the doors to face who knows what. There were some huge 5-alarm fires, sniper attacks from neighbors, and the overall risk of the job.  It became easier when I knew there was nothing I could do to make it safer or better.  I just had to trust his good sense, ability and the terrific backup of the other members in his company.

Another thing I’ve always admired about Marina Associates is the very family friendly and nurturing nature of the business. I think each of your children (and maybe grandchildren?) have had the opportunity to work in the “family business.” How did you manage to make that possible? What were the challenges and successes that stick most in your mind?

I can’t take any credit for that…Marina was and is the biggest supporter of a family business. She deserves her own spot on that point.  I certainly benefited from and supported the concept that we wanted to balance the needs of family and workplace and welcomed the chance to mentor our own family members whenever possible.  Flex-time was a given in our agency, long before it became a corporate tool.  As for a virtual office and telecommuting, we dreamed of that happening and jumped on the chance that it gave us to be sensible about resources.  Less overhead meant more service to our customers. Less stress on our staff (flex work hours/no long commutes), meant greater dedication to the job.  In some ways, the challenge was to keep us all from working all the time, which is what technology makes possible.  The other challenge was “where can we get the next family member?!?” and wondering if age 5 was too early to start them with filing!  I think the greatest success was that we were able to demonstrate that being an insurance broker was a career worthy of their fine minds and commitment.

 Lana enjoying a quiet moment in her studio.

For years I’ve loved chatting with you about our mutual love for gardening. But only recently have I really had a chance to learn about your love of painting. Tell us about both these passions and how you fit them into your life as wife, mom, full-time career woman, and now recently, retiree.
 
Gardening is and always will be a great love of mine.  Even when I was immersed in my career, I always made time for working in the dirt.  Some years it would be a major renovation, others just a small trial plot.  That’s the beauty of gardening – it’s whatever you can handle.  Art isn’t that easy.   Somehow it took more time, more energy and definitely more focus.  I started painting in oils more than 40 years ago and kept it up until I couldn’t really find a spot for it.  It wasn’t until 2001 that I decided to try watercolor.  By chance, someone offered me a studio (cheap!) and the next thing I knew, I was painting regularly.  It was an important turning point.  I realized that it really helped to have a space devoted to my creative work.  That was one of the first things I found for myself when we moved to Ukiah.  I’m lucky that now we’ve been able to build a small studio on our property and I can go there…whenever!  And that’s the reality of retired life these days --- “whenever” is filled with aging parents, growing grandchildren and all those wonderful wish lists we’re all working on.  I’m painting in oils, watercolors, pastels, colored pencils, pen/ink…whatever works for the subject.  I love painting flowers (isn’t that a bit like gardening?), and have taken on numerous commissions for pet portraits.  I still can’t live without my daily planner or calendar to keep me on track!

 Brooklyn--notecard created by Lana.

Master time juggler that you are, you and your sister not only found time to have lunch together pretty much every day you worked at Marina Associates, but you also found a way to pattern your work schedules so that you could each indulge in a particularly beloved passion: travel! Where have you been, where do you still want to go? Please share with us some of your favorite trips and travel stories.

It was a real bonus that my sister and I could accommodate our indulgence for travel.  Once the business and family were taken care of, the next agenda item was when/where was our next trip and can we put it into the calendar for the next year?   My husband and I took a great trip last year on the Trans-Siberian Railroad.  We’d been to Russia before, but we’d only hit the tourist spots.  This was a chance to slow down, take in the scenery and absorb a bit more.  Both of us have family that came from many of these Siberian outposts.  Although revolution, war and time has erased their traces, it was enough for me to breathe the same air and look around at the same vistas that they would have seen long ago.  Next year we’re working on taking a road trip to Alaska on the Al-Can Highway in our new VW Camper Van.  It’s a long trek, but it will be fun to figure out a way to combine some camping, some great lodges, a ferry ride and some gorgeous scenery.  I have figured out how to take my art along, and my pastels and pencils are ready to go.  As for 2013, well, I’m  hoping for Egypt, Turkey and Greece…or geez, where is the atlas!

  George at the Great Wall.

Travel is becoming increasing taxing and difficult it seems. What are some tips you can share with our readers about ways to globe trot and still have fun and protect your sanity (and pocketbook!).

Travel is actually cheaper and easier than it has ever been…and more accessible.  I used to go to the library, check out the travel books, write to various places and then wait for a reply and a brochure if I was darn lucky.  Now there is a plethora of options.  This is more of a challenge than our anti-terrorist security measures.  People are finding themselves locked into decision anxiety --- “is this the best/cheapest/etc. way to spend my  “X” days of vacation?”  My tip is to figure out where you want to go, and then address the “how” part.   All of us have a personal comfort level, so just check out these trigger words:  escorted, tour group,  individual, rugged, adventurous, posh --- I think you get the drift.   Then, given your parameters, you can set your budget.  Otherwise, you’re likely to apply for the wrong job…aka wrong trip!

Tell us about your current life as an artist. Do you think of this as your next “career”? What upcoming shows do you have planned?
  
I’ve always been an artist and I can’t think of it as a career, it’s more like being blonde or blue-eyed.  But, I do have some aspirations!   February is usually the Russian Festival in San Francisco, June is the Taste of Redwood Valley Wine & Art Tour, September is our local Studio Tour and I’m hoping to have a show at Scharffenberger Winery in the Anderson Valley for 2013.

 Dahlias by Lana.

What are your favorite volunteer activities and what charities are you particularly supportive of? 

The Redwood Valley Outdoor Education Project is a nonprofit that owns 40+ acres of beautiful land bordering the Russian River.  They have put together a program, which all the students in the Ukiah Valley School District can access in the form of daylong field trips where they are introduced to this marvelous “outdoor classroom.”  Topics range from bird watching, plant identification, soil building, composting and the environment.  There are only two paid staff workers.  All  the rest is accomplished with volunteers.  I’ve given them some help this year and hope to do more in the future.  I’ve also volunteered to help with my grandson’s home schooling.  We’ve had some great cooking classes and have put together a kid-friendly cookbook.  Later this year, I’ll be facilitating a mural project for one of his home schooling groups.

 Soccer dude, Rowan, Lana and George's grandson.

I think many readers would love to reach out to you, Lana, and also attend your art shows or visit your gallery! What is the best way to reach you? Do you have a website?  And one thing readers should note:  as a professional artist and within the art community, Lana is known by her full name, Svetlana Artemoff.

I have postponed having a formal website for now, but am sending out a quarterly “Art Newsletter” to my clients, colleagues and friends, which will give them information about new work and upcoming events.  I also have a digital portfolio that can be shared upon request.  Therefore, the best way to reach me is either by email – lartemoff@yahoo.com or phone – 707-462-3279.

It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t know as much about Lana’s amazing artistic talent while she was working, because I would have pestered her endlessly and there’s no telling how much more behind all my questions might have put her in her day!  Meanwhile, I hope her generous thoughts encourage all of you who are also talented in oh so many ways and on oh so many levels to make time for whatever inspires you --- be it your inner artist, musician, volunteer or simply citizen of the world.
   
I know Lana would love to hear from any and all of you who knew her in her working days, just to say “hi” or perhaps to volunteer with her.  We also have a lot of “home-schoolers” in our audience, who may want to share ideas with her.
 
As I take this moment to thank Lana for sharing her life with us, and her extensive family, I’m going to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving with your family, friends and all loved ones as well.

Pat Maughan and Amos Lakos: Two Remarkable Librarians with a Very Global View

Pat and Amos visiting Mt. Nemrut, Turkey.

Our clients and colleagues are always so generous with us --- you kindly want to hear about our families, stories and travels even as we shine the spotlight on you.


Over the years as Pat Maughan and I got to know each other, I told her of my mom’s attempts (sometimes successful!) to become a writer. In Pat’s many faceted work as a UC Berkeley Librarian and later, Communications Director (and without telling me!), she used her incredible resources to unearth a few articles that my mom published over 45 years ago in some very obscure and I thought long-lost publications. That Pat even thought of this gift, let alone took the time (considerable!) to embark upon this project was, to me, breathtaking. But for those of you who know and have worked with Pat over the years, I’m sure this comes as no surprise to you. Lovely, kind, and pretty darn funny, fashion forward and always up for a great adventure, she’s the embodiment of the Librarian we should all be fortunate enough to have had coaching us in our times of need!


So fast forward a bit after we met, and she has met her future husband, Amos Lakos. Also a Librarian extraordinaire, with an amazing and brilliant wit, Amos has a world view that allows him to look at things with a perspective very different than many. I think you’ll really enjoy reading about his global upbringing, and the lucky chance that brought him and Pat together.


I also think you’ll find it fascinating to read their very informed thoughts about what the new Information Age bodes for the future of the written word, and how society is forever changed. Enjoy!


Pat, I first met you during the years when your mom was becoming increasingly frail and dependent on you. I truly admired how hard you worked to make her life as perfect for her as possible in HER vision during those tough later years. Tell us about your mom and family, your childhood, where you grew up and your core values.

Pat strolling on the Great Wall of China.

All four of my grandparents emigrated from Ireland to San Francisco. In addition to a sister, I grew up with 14 uncles and aunts and 21 first cousins nearly all of whom lived in the Bay Area. My parents were both products of San Francisco’s Mission District, where they learned, and in turn taught me, the importance of hard work, education, perseverance, loyalty, and humor. My mother was one of the most generous people I’ve ever known, and I wanted to repay her goodness in some small way by helping her when she needed it toward the end of her life. Though it was one of the most difficult periods in my own life, I have never regretted a single moment of helping her.


You became one of the premier and most distinguished library scientists in your field, Pat, retiring recently from UC Berkeley. How did you come to the field of Library Science? Walk us through your many roles at UC Berkeley.

Gosh, thank you for your flattering comments! As a matter of fact, I fell into librarianship quite by accident. I attended college during the late sixties and early seventies when students didn’t really think about “employability” or “career paths” as they do now. I attended Santa Clara University, which offered me a broad, well rounded liberal arts education but which did not prepare me to enter any particular field, “English major” that I was! My second job out of college was in a technical library in the Silicon Valley and it was there I discovered with an additional year of graduate school, I could actually enter a profession. I received a full scholarship to Pratt Institute and earned a Masters in Information Science. After working at Columbia University, I joined the staff at UC Berkeley Libraries where I had the most varied career of any librarian on staff, starting as Head of the Engineering Library, then heading Berkeley’s fourteen Science Libraries, becoming Library Communications Director, and finally serving as a charter member of Berkeley’s Teaching Library, where I designed and led assessment efforts and taught faculty, graduate students and undergraduates how to access, research, and manage information.


Over the years I’ve known you, you have participated in and spoken during many industry conferences. Tell us about some of your more memorable moments. Did attending these global conferences help spark your love of travel?


In the final decade of my career, I became recognized internationally in the field of Information Literacy programming, an emerging specialty within the field of higher education librarianship. As a result, I was invited to present papers at a Finnish National Conference in Higher Education in Helsinki, at several TICER (Tilburg Innovation Centre for Electronic Resources) Summer Institutes in Tilburg, Netherlands, at the Konstanz Workshop on Information Literacy, University of Konstanz, Germany, and online, with the Colegio de Estudios Superiores de Administracion, in Santa Fe de Bogota, Colombia. My capstone achievement came in 2010 when I designed and delivered a five-day workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece, for research librarians and faculty from throughout that country on integrating library research into undergraduate curricula. In all honesty, these conferences didn’t spark my love of travel. That happened long ago, when as a high school senior my parents took the family on a European tour. I was immediately hooked, and made sure to study a year abroad (in Paris) during college. Since then, I have visited over forty countries in Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. I still have a long “bucket list” of destinations.

The Mongolian Steppe.

We often tease --- but it’s true --- that your talents could just have easily led to a successful career in fashion design --- you are TRULY a fashion forward thinker. Why isn’t that a path you chose? And how do you feed your inner “fashionista” short of taking up a second career in the industry?


Honestly, at the time I was determining a career direction, design and fashion never presented themselves to me as options. Although I have some innate artistic and design talents, they were never formally developed. My education was rigorously academic and scholarly. Later in life, I took a battery of tests to determine what fields my skills and abilities were most suited to. Interestingly, librarianship turned out to be one of them (so did entrepreneurship). Twenty years or more after I’d graduated from college, my dad reminded me of a conversation we’d had when I was twenty-one, where I’d told him I’d wanted to “work in academia.” I had forgotten all about it, but it’s funny that’s where I ended up. I feed my “inner fashionista” by following trade publications, watching fashion-related programs on T.V., and designing jewelry for myself and friends. I’ve recently taught myself to knit and am enjoying making fashion pieces in yarn, too.


So, let’s focus a bit on your husband now. Amos, I didn’t meet you until much later when you and Pat became, forgive this, an “item,” and eventually, husband and wife! Please share with us your life growing up, the places you’ve lived, and key moments that really shaped who you are.


I was born in Romania (1946) – in Transylvania (I don’t bite). My mother tongue is Hungarian –part of Romania that used to belong to the Austro-Hungarian Empire before WWI. I used to speak fluent Romanian as well, but after we immigrated to Israel in 1959, I stopped speaking Romanian and forgot the language. We settled in Jerusalem, where my mother (91) still lives. I finished high school in 1965, after which I served in the Israeli Army for three years. After that I studied Poli-Sci and International Relations at Hebrew University, graduating with a B.A. in 1972. I left Israel for Canada in 1972, but got stuck in Germany, as the Canadians changed the immigration requirements. I lived in West Berlin for the next 2-1/2 years, working mainly as a waiter. I also learned German and traveled all over Europe. In 1975 I moved to Vancouver, B.C., as a landed immigrant and studied for a Master of Library Science at UBC. In 1977 I moved to Waterloo, Ontario, to work as a librarian at the University of Waterloo. After meeting Pat in 2001 in Denver, I started looking to move closer to her and in 2002, moved to work at UCLA. In 2007, after 5 years of commuting between L.A. and Oakland, I retired to live together at last with Pat in Oakland.


Actually, Amos, I know much less about your professional career path than I do Pat’s. Please share your professional journey with us.


During my 25 years at the University of Waterloo, among other things, I published a number of scholarly bibliographies (Terrorism, Negotiations between States) which are still used today (I hope). Later on I concentrated on Performance Measures and Assessment, set up the first MIS (Management Information System) in academic libraries and developed the first full time Assessment Librarian position in our profession. I developed the concept of “Culture of Assessment,” which is now an accepted concept and goal in libraries. I became quite busy with delivering papers, writing articles and conducting workshops. After I retired from UCLA, I was one of the first three recipients of the Career Life Achievement Award for my work in the area of assessment and measurements in libraries from the Association of Research Libraries.

The nomadic life, Gun Galuut Ger Camp, Mongolia.

You two actually met while you were both working for the UC Library system, correct? Tell us about how you met and your courtship --- I can’t believe how amazingly well you dealt with a long-distance relationship! How did you make that work? And what finally made you decide to get married after so many years? Nor-Cal won! How did that happen?


Pat: Amos and I were introduced by a colleague at a Higher Education Assessment Conference in Denver. At the time, Amos was living in Waterloo, Ontario, and I was living in Oakland, California. At the conference’s end, Amos invited me to dinner to which I replied, “I’d love to go, but it will have to be early. I’m taking a tango class this evening.” Amos replied, “I LOVE tango!” and summarily joined me for the class. It turned out that what Amos “knew” about tango had nothing whatsoever to do with the Argentine tango I’d been studying. (In fact, he’s shown no interest in tango since that evening!) After parting ways in Denver, Amos began to call me every evening from Canada, and we made plans to meet again in Amsterdam later that year when I was scheduled to travel to Tilburg for a lecture. The rest is pretty much history! Soon thereafter, Amos sought work in the U.S. and landed a job at UCLA. We were married three years later and conducted a long distance relationship and marriage for five years before he was able to join me in Oakland following his retirement.


You’ve both seen significant changes in your profession during your careers. What are some of the most profound and useful to those of us who depend on libraries in both our personal and professional lives? What changes are worrisome?


Pat: By far, the most significant changes in our profession have been the widespread use of the Internet and introduction of the Web. When I was in Library School, “computerized information searching” had just been introduced by the National Library of Medicine. It required mediation by a librarian and involved generating thousands of punch cards that were in turn mailed to Washington, D.C., where the search was run. Results arrived by mail on thick tablets of computer paper. There was no full-text of the retrieved articles, only citations/references to them. Now searches can be performed by the end user at his/her desk with results usually available immediately, and often including the full text of articles. Quite a change! I still observe a lack of knowledge among the public about both the nature and availability of particular types of information. Novice internet searchers often retrieve too little, unreliable, or an overabundance of information, because they haven’t mastered the basics of searching. They may also be completely unaware of what they are unable to retrieve through a Google – or other – search.


What further changes do you anticipate? We hear that books and in fact the paper printed word itself will completely vanish someday and be totally and permanently replaced by the digital word. What do you think of that notion? As a baby boomer who loves to read and write, I find it very difficult --- am I alone?


Pat: I can foresee a world where the printed word emanating from the developed world will be replaced by digital content. Much further into the future, the possibility of digitizing published works from the past and from developing parts of the world may also be possible, but it would take an enormous commitment by libraries and governments worldwide to achieve this. I also can envision new forms of communication taking the place of the more traditional form of books and articles. Multi-media tools are likely to grow in importance as will data manipulation tools. Today’s students prefer their information delivered quickly, on demand, and in easily “digestible” packets, rather than poring through book chapters and long scholarly articles. This, in addition to the unsustainability of current publication models, will likely affect how information is produced in the future.


Amos: Publications will change to digital format. Learning will change and with it universities. Technology pushes change, but real long term change will depend on how the U.S. comes to terms with economic and tech changes. Lack of clear goals and outmoded systems – especially political and legal – will slow down or even derail the country. I see an increasing percentage of the population with lower standards of living. If the cost of education continues to escalate, I think that the future is bleak.


You two are truly retired globe trotters. How do you decide where to go? Do you prefer to simply go it on your own or join a tour?


Pat: We usually choose based on something we’ve seen or read referencing a particular destination. For most of our lives, we were independent travelers, planning our own itineraries and finding our ways around the countries we visited. Just recently, we have experimented with a few small group tours, and we’ve found them to be quite good. In particular, not having to schlep suitcases on and off buses, or running to catch a train, has been a luxurious experience for us.

Amos and Pat relaxing at Lake Suwa, Japan.

We’d love to live vicariously through your travels. Please tell us about some of your more memorable adventures.


Pat: For me India would definitely be on top of my list of favorite places. It is a complete 180 from just about anything we experience here in the U.S. It is magical, exotic, colorful, and provides an overabundance of sensory stimulation. Egypt is another favorite, the grandeur and beauty of the ancient monuments are truly impressive. For a completely different experience, Mongolia is another favorite of mine. In contrast to India and Egypt, Mongolia is a nomadic country so there are few historic monuments to visit, but the nomadic way of life and the expansiveness of the country speak volumes to the soul. I could go on … I have loved all of the places I’ve visited for different reasons. The only destination I would caution people about before setting out is China – I loved a great deal about the country but the air pollution is truly oppressive. As to tour groups, we have traveled with Odysseys Unlimited (www.odysseys-unlimited.com/) three times now, and I highly recommend them. The company focuses on small group travel, and usually our groups have been 14-18 in size.


What trips are you planning now? What is your “must see” list?


Pat: Despite having visited over 40 countries, I still have a robust “bucket list,” including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan (… all the “stans!”), Bhutan, Tibet, Niger, Namibia, Yemen and Syria, Argentina and Peru, to name a few. My lifelong dream has been to visit all of the countries comprising the Silk Road. With political conditions as they are worldwide, I realize this may not happen, but I can still dream, can’t I, Lynn? We’re thinking about Sicily in 2012 or visiting the paradores and posadas of Spain and Portugal.


Amos: We hope to continue traveling as much as our health and our finances allow. I want to go to Argentina and the southern tip of South America, New Zealand, Sicily, Spain and France.

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul.

What else is on the horizon for Pat and Amos? And what else have I not asked you about that I should have?


Pat: I’d like to design and plant a Japanese garden in our front yard, and volunteer either with the public schools or with a social service or nonprofit in need of help. I also hope to further develop my watercolor and calligraphy skills and pursue other artistic projects.


Amos: to be healthy, relax, travel, read books, eat good food and enjoy my time with Pat and our friends!


If readers would like to contact you for ideas and adventures, how can they reach you?


Pat: pmaughan@yahoo.com
Amos: aalakos@gmail.com


I think, in closing, we can agree that Pat and Amos have contributed hugely to our collective body of knowledge and information. If you’ve been blessed to know them professionally or perhaps as a student, I know they’d love to hear from you. Or, if you have any follow up questions, or thoughts, be sure to reach out to this remarkable couple. We’ll circle back around with them in the future to hear more about their adventures, but also to have them keep us current in this never ending and ever curious (and yes, sometimes quite frustrating!) new age of information and technology.

Kanizawa Gardens, Japan, a place of tranquility in the middle of a fast-paced world.