Helen Carter

As a widow I seldom have dinner parties anymore, so don't get much opportunity to "shine". I learned to cook by trial and error, cooking usual "country fare". When I married my remarkable, energetic, inventor/entreprenauer husband who greatly enjoyed entertaining, I "souped" up my cooking skills.

I held many, many dinner parties of all types, sit-down, small groups, large groups, sit-down for as many as 36 and "buffet types" for as many as over 200. One of my friends told a newcomer to town that going to my house for dinner was better than going to a restaurant! I miss these occasions and I miss gourmet (and "country" cooking).

Unfortunately, one by one my friends have moved out of town or state, and all my family members have done the same so I'm pretty much alone. In my job before the big "layoff" when I was involuntarily retired, I had occasion to interact with foreign national employees. I "adopted" one young person who has since introduced me to the entire family as well as friends made in this aarea since moving to the U.S. I do get a chance to visit with them every several weeks. Most of them have met most of my family, as well.

My job search continues but in the meantime, I am planning to do some volunteering..beginning with the public liubrary.