Hello Darlings! I'm Sherron...

...and definitely not one of the better skaters, but it doesn't keep me from hanging in and out with the group. Like many kids in the States, I skated in the rinks as a child and through the years at my own kids' birthday parties. My daughter, Jennifer (38) and son, Chris (26) were great on their skates, but in those later years I was pretty iffy and likely to fall. Not long after moving to Houston 20 years ago a group of us met HugoB at Peter's Wild Life and he mentioned the skaters. A spark was formed! I put on my 1st pair of in-lines 14 years ago at age 41, when I lived on Hazard. My son, Chris told me I must learn to brake before I went "out". So every day after work I'd skate in front of the house, just trying to stay up and learning to stop. Each day I was soooo nauseous from nerves, but I could feel an excitement building that thrilled me! I did learn to brake and skate on our street, but not necessarily the better ways and am still a work in progress....

I started skating from the Shiloh Club with Skate Trash several nights a week, other nights with all the skaters at some point, in the Art Car and Mardi Gras Parades in Houston and Galveston. I love dressing up and skating! I've been in and out of the scene because my husband's job has taken us out of the country for several years. My first experience skating abroad was in a French compound 10 miles outside Luanda, Angola. (Yes, we are in the oilfield and huge environmentalists!) My husband warned me before my arrival I wouldn't be able to skate in the compound because of the high speed bumps. Right - Houston's streets had me prepared. It was fun seeing the surprised faces of the French and Angolans to see me (to them) zooming around the compound. I'd bring candy and gum to hand out on my rounds :) Afterwards we moved to Macae, Brazil which is about 2 1/2hr drive from Rio de Janerio. When Mike went to meetings on occasion in Rio, I'd go along and spend the day skating the famous beaches :) My last day there a group of friends and I went "asa delta", hang gliding off the cliffs of Rio. Oh my gosh, W.I.L.D.! Two regrets: I got my NAUI certification (diving) about 8years ago and during the 2 years we lived in Brazil and even having our equipment there, never went diving! I did a lot, but I couldn't find time to take surfing classes either. Pro ~ we have many wonderful Brazilian friends and it's still possible! :)

Where ever I've lived my passion is "in going out and helping others". Growing up in MS, for my family it was just "the thing to do". So this spark started early and has become my flame in life. Here in the States some of my favorites have been working with Habitat For Humanity learning to roof, tape & float and tiling floor, Boys and Girls Country, HAWC (Houston Area Women's Center), Ronald McDonald House in Rio & here, soup kitchens, HMS (HoustonMargaritaSociety, which helps 4 Houston children’s' charities), FridayNightLight, a group from our church, Westminster Methodist who join with others every other month or so and see where is the greatest need. While we sort gathered/donated clothes and toiletries, we eat and make hamburgers to take down to the homeless. We've also made 250+ Health Care Kits for Haiti & made sure they got to the correct destination. The really cool thing for me is not only the good being done for those in need, but in those it brings together. Friends from all beliefs have come to help at the FridayNightLight gatherings; Christians, Jews, Muslim, believers of nothing or everything. It's what I call, "Building Bridges".

One of the most awesome opportunities for me was teaching English several days a week in an orphanage, Molemba in Luanda to 12-17 yr olds, with 2 French friends. A group of French ex-pat wives started this school in '91; taking 50 of the boys off the streets. The boys are taught how to grow their own food, harvest and sell it; then how to invest their profits. (We bought their goods, but had to give it away to Angolans because our systems couldn't handle the water used in irrigation.) One day I realized the school didn’t have a "school album / year book" nor did the kids have any pics of themselves and digital cameras were new (and huge). We had just been told we were being transferred to Brazil and I knew we'd be going home 1st, then back to pack before heading to Brazil. So we planned a school photo day near a beautiful hot pink flowering vine on the school yard fence, (made from old oilfield steel pipes). Poor little kids; many had only one shirt and no shoes and it was heart wrenching to see some didn't even know how to smile, but we had a fun time trying! In the States I made a school album with the photos of each and of us as a group, plus a copy of each child to keep of themselves. They may not remember names, but they won't forget the crazy American! It broke my heart to leave these kids, but I know every kind deed matters.

When my husband speaks of retiring and moving to Steamboat Springs CO, I feel a panic attack lurking. The thought of leaving the freedom of skating through the streets nights and the camaraderie of the skaters is an alarming thought... (as long as we keep a small place here).

Last but not least, I am a Realtor and I love helping others find their dream home. Hint, hint! (Try me, you'll like me ;)

I love LIFE and can't wait to go on this trip! WOO HOO! :) GOD ROCKS! And thank you, Steve for setting up everything.

Sherron :)