I was born in 1959 ,in Lesotho , Southern Africa. I was privileged to be born a white middle-class US citizen of an educated family. My father was a professor who taught philosophy , political science, African studies and public administration. My mother has an Masters in Social Work with a specialization in Counseling and therapy. I spent 15 years of my life growing up Africa and the Middle East, mostly in Muslim countries of Nigeria, Egypt, and Iran. My life was saved by a heart operation in Cape town by Christian Bernard who also did the first open heart surgery. I went to college in Dallas Texas studying art, and construction materials, methods, and management with a specialization in earth covered homes. I participated in a TAG program (Talented and Gifted) and designed my own independent study program that included participation in a Medical aid program in Honduras with Amigo's De Las Americas. I have been self-employed for more than 30 year as an artist/craftsman/ .