While I Have My Being: 2nd Edition (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781732127401)

Michelle, a born-again Christian and a native San Franciscan (who also spent two years of her school-aged years in New Orleans, LA, while living with her maternal grandmother), has authored several more books of poetry, as mentioned in the "Introduction", in addition to this one. However, this is the first one that was selected for publication. She is an avid reader and prolific writer, who took to heart, advice she was given, after having a non-fiction short story accepted by a magazine, then completely re-edited before publication, without her permission. The advice was simple, "Learn from the experience, copyright everything, and no matter what, keep writing." Michelle currently resides in Hayward, California, with her nearly 10 year old kitties, Buttons and Coco, littermates. She adopted them when they were nine and a half weeks old. They are a constant source of love, companionship and entertainment, all rolled into two; especially, when they are not cat-napping. She is a licensed Speech Therapist, who holds a B.A., C.R.S. Credential, and M.A. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from San Jose State University. She remains single, after a divorce many moons ago, with all the benefits that entails. Michelle is also now retired as a Speech Therapist from the Hayward Unified School District (combined public service with East Side Union High School District, Cupertino Unified and Alum Rock Unified of over thirty years - during which, she worked with students from the ages of three to twenty-one). She enjoyed that season of her life and now is thoroughly embracing this new season (Employed people often ask her how she feels about being retired. Her answer is a resounding, "I love it! It is great to do what you want to do, when you want to do it; and, if that means doing nothing at all, that is okay, too." That statement is usually followed by a very hearty laugh). Some of Michelle's other interests include: singing, playing her tambourine, dancing, sewing, crocheting, photography (cover photos were taken by the author), wood working, playing around with technology and gardening, as well as ministering the Word of God to groups of fellow Christian singles, women and within other small group settings. Michelle has also recently overcome one of her "fears" and discovered a passion for line dancing.