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My husband and I are often asked what we do since we are
officially retired...here are some answers
The experience of my husband being diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer in
2005 was a wake-up call. There is first the tremendous shock of a sudden
sunset, then the continuous, emotional presence of the 'what if' and then...the
overwhelming financial burden even if you have a relatively good health
insurance.
The event, however, allowed me to discover a strength I did not know I
had...never give an inch on a valid issue even if the odds are stacked against you
and nothing seems to come your way.
That his diagnosis came right on the heels of me losing a kidney (after three
physically very painful attempts to save it) did not help matters.
That's...and because those events brought our lives to a screeching halt...when I
began my what I call second career.
I became a Notary Public, and a certified Real Estate signing Agent.
I also became an active Rotarian again after a 15 year hiatus in the Palm Desert
Lunch Rotary which meets every Tuesday at the Desert Falls Country Club at
1111 Desert Falls Parkway; I am responsible for new member recruitment and,
occasionally, arrange for speakers on subjects of general interest.
I involved myself with Toastmasters International where I acquired my present
skills (and the guts) to speak in public.
I was also a member of the Soroptimists but my temper and my pocket book
were incompatible with the rarefied strata of an elitist ladies' club and it came to
quite a nasty break-up with them.
As a member of the Stonewall Democrats and the Democratic Women of the
Desert I became active again in Democrat affairs throughout the West
Valley...and I am proud to be labelled a 'Yellow Dog Democrat'.
The issues I mentioned in my election platform are very dear to me because I am
officially retired...here are some answers
The experience of my husband being diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer in
2005 was a wake-up call. There is first the tremendous shock of a sudden
sunset, then the continuous, emotional presence of the 'what if' and then...the
overwhelming financial burden even if you have a relatively good health
insurance.
The event, however, allowed me to discover a strength I did not know I
had...never give an inch on a valid issue even if the odds are stacked against you
and nothing seems to come your way.
That his diagnosis came right on the heels of me losing a kidney (after three
physically very painful attempts to save it) did not help matters.
That's...and because those events brought our lives to a screeching halt...when I
began my what I call second career.
I became a Notary Public, and a certified Real Estate signing Agent.
I also became an active Rotarian again after a 15 year hiatus in the Palm Desert
Lunch Rotary which meets every Tuesday at the Desert Falls Country Club at
1111 Desert Falls Parkway; I am responsible for new member recruitment and,
occasionally, arrange for speakers on subjects of general interest.
I involved myself with Toastmasters International where I acquired my present
skills (and the guts) to speak in public.
I was also a member of the Soroptimists but my temper and my pocket book
were incompatible with the rarefied strata of an elitist ladies' club and it came to
quite a nasty break-up with them.
As a member of the Stonewall Democrats and the Democratic Women of the
Desert I became active again in Democrat affairs throughout the West
Valley...and I am proud to be labelled a 'Yellow Dog Democrat'.
The issues I mentioned in my election platform are very dear to me because I am
| Carole B. Schaudt |
convinced that they are on the course Palm Desert has to take to stay competitive and prosperous in the times that lie ahead.
My husband is my rock...no matter what I throw at him he still cooks me dinner (since we became an item in 1985 when he told
me he didn't like the way I cooked Italian food I can count the days I prepared a meal on the fingers of one hand...later I found
out he doesn't like Italian food no matter who cooks it).
It was very disturbing for me to see him quite literally fall apart from the effects of the chemotherapy, the strain of being
sidelined because of the illness and the financial devastation it caused; nothing is more hurtful than to see the man you love
feeling useless and lost in depression.
Thankfully, his ability to cook has returned, he again gets a nice, freshly prepared meal onto the table in 30 minutes, even
though chopping onions (or mushrooms) takes him much longer. What is now, more than two years after his last treatment,
finally back is his language ability...he had lost a large part of his native German, and his English became spotty. Today he
writes everything related to my campaign.
To overcome the boredom, and not to slide deeper into depression, Robert opened an Internet bookstore [A Noble Life, LLC]
selling titles that deal with alternative religions and lifestyles and are not readily available (Amazon has them, though); when we
discovered that we could not burn candles because he reacted to them, even to those made from soy, he decided to make his
own from food grade Palm Wax and natural fragrances; when Lea Berghmans opened her store selling Belgian chocolates
(Robert's all time favorite and my only serious competition) in downtown Palm Springs we found that we could not afford them,
at least not in the quantities he liked, and he got the raw chocolate and made them himself (the quirkiest thing in this is that Lea
became a customer of his and sold those he made in her store because of the quality of chocolates Robert made)...now he is
planning (the prototypes were well received) to make all natural soaps...
...you see, we are doing a lot...
My husband is my rock...no matter what I throw at him he still cooks me dinner (since we became an item in 1985 when he told
me he didn't like the way I cooked Italian food I can count the days I prepared a meal on the fingers of one hand...later I found
out he doesn't like Italian food no matter who cooks it).
It was very disturbing for me to see him quite literally fall apart from the effects of the chemotherapy, the strain of being
sidelined because of the illness and the financial devastation it caused; nothing is more hurtful than to see the man you love
feeling useless and lost in depression.
Thankfully, his ability to cook has returned, he again gets a nice, freshly prepared meal onto the table in 30 minutes, even
though chopping onions (or mushrooms) takes him much longer. What is now, more than two years after his last treatment,
finally back is his language ability...he had lost a large part of his native German, and his English became spotty. Today he
writes everything related to my campaign.
To overcome the boredom, and not to slide deeper into depression, Robert opened an Internet bookstore [A Noble Life, LLC]
selling titles that deal with alternative religions and lifestyles and are not readily available (Amazon has them, though); when we
discovered that we could not burn candles because he reacted to them, even to those made from soy, he decided to make his
own from food grade Palm Wax and natural fragrances; when Lea Berghmans opened her store selling Belgian chocolates
(Robert's all time favorite and my only serious competition) in downtown Palm Springs we found that we could not afford them,
at least not in the quantities he liked, and he got the raw chocolate and made them himself (the quirkiest thing in this is that Lea
became a customer of his and sold those he made in her store because of the quality of chocolates Robert made)...now he is
planning (the prototypes were well received) to make all natural soaps...
...you see, we are doing a lot...
| ©2008 Robert and Carole Schaudt I believe firmly in the Right to Freedom of Speech, anyone may therefore, at any time, in any manner, use the contents of this website for his/her purposes, comments and publication; I would however appreciate if the source is disclosed if you do so. |
| Paid for by Carole & Robert Schaudt 74007 Oak Springs Dr, PALM DESERT CA 92260 |