panzade

• Answered Questions: 3
• Posts: 16,425
• Location: Florida
• Occupation: Dreamer

Artist/Artisan Avid bridge and tennis player Swim with the dolphins

I was born in Buenos Aires Argentina in 1951 to an Australian mother and an Austrian father. They met in 1946 after my father was released from an Australian internment camp near Hay Australia. In the meantime my grandparents had escaped Austria by paying the Gestapo a large sum of money to exit. Traveling through Italy they landed in Argentina where my parents joined them in 1950. In 1960 we emigrated to the United States where I have lived ever since. As a child I was spoken to in English and German and I replied in Spanish. Fitting in quickly with the American kids I managed to get rid of my Latin accent and consequently forgot how to speak my native tongue. Through years of hard work I have become very fluent and can usually pass myself off as an Argentinian. I understand German rather well and French less well. I was raised in the Northern Virginia area where I enjoyed a wonderful childhood through the 60's.
In 1968 everything changed as my parents enrolled me in a British boarding school located near Bridgend Wales. It was an exciting school and an exciting time to be in Europe. After some initial homesickness I was able to enjoy the school and traveling throughout the UK. After a year back home, I returned to Spain in 1971 attempting vainly to start college at the University of Madrid. Eventually the school was shut down by Franco and I left for Firenze in search of a friend.
After being in Europe for so long I came back to a nation polarized by the Vietnam War. During these years I began working as a carpenter and playing in a rather well known Bluegrass band, the Coup De Grass. In 1980 I moved to Jensen Beach Florida to be near my one true love: the sea.
I have spent the last 24 years learning my craft, playing music professionally , doing volunteer work, getting married for a couple of years, getting a divorce, raising cats, sailing my Hobie cat and generally enjoying life.