You wonder how I got this way?
« Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask | Posted on 08/17/2009 05:01 pm by john.pesina
My last good photo
I was born in 1951, which places me smack in the middle of the baby boomer generation. I grew up in a family very much like the Cleavers on Leave it to Beaver, except my dad was self-employed and my mom drank-a lot. My life was pretty ordinary until I left for the University of Texas in 1969. Having never experienced any diversity while growing up, starting college in ‘69 was an eye-opening experience for me as you probably remember, or might not remember, depending on how much you embraced the 60′s.
After UT, I attended the Texas Academy of Art, studying commercial art after which I worked as an illustrator and art director in Houston for 7 years prior to getting married. This was back in the days B.C. (before computers) when all the art was done by hand. I finally got married in 1982 and am still married to the same guy with whom I’m usually very happy. Probably my biggest accomplishment though over the years is helping to raise two great kids while self-employed and not going completely crazy (not requiring hospitalization anyway) along the way.
I’ve had a lot of great experiences over the years. (I also made some pretty bad decisions, with some not so wonderful outcomes.) Thank God most of those happened when I was younger. I’ve always had dogs-from a 7 lb. lightweight to 80 lb. heavyweight. Right now, we’ve got 6. We’ve got flat coats, fluffy coats, flop ears and ears that stand straight up-straight tails, curly tails and bushy tails- yappers, barkers and howlers. We’ve even had a dog that we’re pretty sure is bi-curious. My house has gone to the dogs-literally.
I’ve been a pre-school teacher, taxi driver, a hot air balloon pilot and art director. I was even hired to model lingerie way long ago. Doug and I also built custom homes and started a mortgage company. And although I’m really sick of it, since I’ve done it for over 30 years, I still face paint from time to time (if the money’s right). My life is nothing if not at least varied. So, there it is. Come on in and take a look-see if you’d like. (I don’t bite.)