Generosity
Having the freedom to be generous is something I always longed for, so now that I am able, I enjoy doing random acts of kindness in the community, such as paying for somebody’s groceries. Just recently, I donated the money for a high schooler to get a sign printed to take to the Women’s March in Denver.
I have a home business as a consultant with Rodan & Fields. It is a line of premium skin care developed by the dermatologists who created Proactiv. It’s an amazing, empowering company.
I enjoy gardening. We grow beets, tomatoes, herbs, squash, greens for salad and strawberries. In the summer months, these are included in many of our family meals.
I have an autoimmune disease and we as a family have used diet to work to heal my gut and overcome a lot of the issues associated with it. My husband is a scientist, so he is dedicated to healing me. He does all our cooking. He is my hero.
My one-way ticket to Colorado
I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and moved to Colorado when I was 21. I had a friend who was living in Lakewood, and I wanted to leave Iowa. I had $100 to my name, and with it, I bought a one-way Amtrak ticket to Colorado.
A friend got me a job in a restaurant where I met another friend who had an extra bedroom for rent in Golden. So, I moved in with her, and fell in love with Golden instantly.
I met my husband Jack when he was a PhD student at Mines. After he graduated, we moved to West Virginia so he could do his post-doctoral. We never imagined we’d get to come back to Golden. But when he began searching for a job, he searched all over the country. And he was offered a job at NREL, of all places.
We’re raising two children here in Golden — Wendy, who is almost 5, and Jane, who is almost 2.
A diamond connection to Golden
About 16 years ago, I flew to the Midwest to stand in my cousin’s wedding. While there, my grandmother gave me her engagement ring — it would’ve been passed down to my mother, but she was no longer with us.
My grandfather’s brother recognized the ring and told me the story of Ellen St. Clair Bostwick — the original owner of the diamond. She was born and raised in Golden and got married here. On the flight home, I felt like I was bringing the diamond back to its home in Golden.
If you have suggestions for My Name Is…, contact Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.