My elementry teachers, Mrs Butler, Mrs Lee, Mrs Zinn, Mrs Strasavich and Mrs Smith. Everyone of these ladies helped me build a foundation for success.

And the love of my life Red.

My mom taught me to be strong and independent.

My aunt was a go go dancer. This was when they danced in hanging cages and wore fishnet stockings and sequined bras and FULL bottom bikini's. I use to watch her sew her costumes and she had a lot of boyfriends that treated her like a queen. She taught me that I could be anything I wanted and not give a shit what people thought.

Oprah because she has had so many fabulous shows throughout the years that turned me on to new things. I love Oprah.

My mother, of course. Now I realize she did the best she could and I appreciate her much more than in the past.

My 6th grade teacher, Miss Shupp. I think she was probably a lesbian, though of course I never knew for sure. I don't remember a lick of any subject she taught, but she encouraged me to follow anything I wanted to do.

All the women from another site (that actually didn't have anything to do with being gay) who told me their stories and supported me when I realized that I'd been gay all along.

My first girlfriend,who taught me that when you come to a wall, you can either climb it, go around it, dig under it, or sit on your ass in front of it. It was my choice.

And a woman-to-be, my daughter :). She's smarter than I am in ways, and I enjoy hearing her thoughts on life.

my mom and grandmother are the strongest women I know

my mom
:byebye:

my grandmother :)

Kris & Doris - they were a mother/daughter pair that I worked for as a very young woman. They were the first women I knew who weren't manipulative, controlling, selfish and self serving. They were kind, generous, sensitive and had more class in their little fingers than all the women I had known combined, before them. They had a huge influence on who I ultimately became.

Kamereon - I learned a very difficult life lesson from my love and time spent with Kam. To this day, all these years later, I still say WWKD [what would kam do] when faced with a hard decision. If I could change my heart, I would change it to mirror the heart she had.

All of the butches I have spent time with who have loved me, cared for me, believed in me and encouraged me to be the woman I wanted to be and not who they wanted me to be.

All of the femmes who I have spent time with who raise me to a higher place of love and acceptance.

Hillary Clinton

Women
 

My career was guided by two very strong female professors. The first one I met during my undergraduate studies. She introduced me to the natural environment.

I met the second professor in my graduate studies. She introduced me to wetland ecosystems. I fell in love with wetland ecosystems.

Because of these two women I am an environmental scientist that specializes in aquatic ecosystems.

The woman who taught and showed me that strength was non-negotiable, who showed me that giving back brings you a greater joy than you will ever know, who taught me that being you is all that matters, that honesty is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others and so many more things was my Mom. This has helped make me who I am today and I am forever thankful.

Another woman who left an impression on my soul is my high school English teacher, she gave me my love for language and words which if you know me is one way to get my attention.