Depression

I am a retired Clinical Psychologist now working with ED/LD classified kids in an alternative high school.

Physically, I am 61 years old, short (5ft, 6 in.), and rotund (240lbs). The best physical description I ever heard of me was, a cowboy leprechaun.

Socially, I am married (35 years her name is Dorothy), and have 2 daughters. Jeanene, age 27, is married and a hospice nurse in Columbus, Ohio. Michele, age 24, is single and in advertising sales for the Post and Courier newspaper in Charleston, South Carolina.

Geographically, I live in Annandale Virginia, which is one of the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Depression issues: I am an AcOA, and as a result have been dysthymic most of my life. I have had 2 bouts of major depressions with each lasting about 1 year.

I have turned my hobby of enjoying History into my profession; as I now teach it. Similarly, I have taken my radical political youth and incorporated that into my approach as a Government teacher. The result is an occupation I enjoy, with a bunch of kids I love being with.

I dislike apathy, official intrusions into my privacy and authoritarianism in any form. But most important I agree with the idea that "Mean People Suck"

Generally old school - I like movies and music from the 30's and 40's especially those incorporating Swing. About the only things I don't listen to (given a choice) are Rap and Heavy Metal.

I am a voracious reader. Working my wa through the latest Harry Potter at the moment.

My primary hobbies are martial arts and ballroom dancing. I studied Shotokan Karate for some 15 years and achieved nidan rank. Unfortunately, following cardiac bypass surgery in 2001, I can't really practice the hard styles now. So, I took up Chen Style Tai Chi about 2 years ago.

Ballroom dancing is a much newer activity that my wife and I took up this past year.