I would like to say that I found the sea, but now I know that the sea found me.  At age 13, living ocean side in Pompano Beach, Florida, I braved the blue breaking waves daily.  I didn’t just start with a mask, fins, and snorkel, but with a raft and a pole spear too.  The raft got me from the beach to the first reef with no life guard in sight, for back in the 50’s there were none.  The spear was just in case… and it became the infamous poker.  Eventually I got a horse collar, back plate and owned the first Agua-lung in Broward County.  I then met my husband to be and my friend, while gigging lobsters and selling them to the local hotels for movie money.  The evolution to becoming a diver.  So it was logical that when I retired and became a widow that I would move and live on the beach in St. Croix diving and developing my art career.  After 15-years of island life, I now reside in Fort Lauderdale and survived Covid.  Another great place to be.