The stories and views in "The Will to Love" are exclusively mine and some names have been changed to protect the guilty or ordinary who are still alive.  Friends and family who experienced the truth of my parents unique and joyful marriage were thrilled I was willing to take on the challenge of presenting "The Will to Love" to the world.  They trusted me to do a good job of making it real, even though I look at everything about life from a different view.  I've been told I am a force of nature, Mary Sunshine, an unusual person, totally Yin with no Yang, and this means I laugh lots, whine occasionally and am always trying to figure out "the meaning of life."     Therese Patrick is the name I chose at age 12 when I decided to be a writer. Within my own marriage I've also tried to figure out my husband, Ed.  We have four daughters, two grandsons and have moved seven times.  My professional life transitioned with each birth and move from a bookkeeper to office manager, tech writer and recently, business consultant.  There were a few years of working in home health care, geriatrics and hospice.  With my youngest daughter now in college, I have returned as well and am working toward my AAOT in Arts & Letters. I currently volunteer for: Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Oregon and Rose City Romance Writers (3 years as Treasurer and Golden Rose Contest Coordinator) I'm also a member of Romance Writers of America and Willamette Writers.  Formerly I volunteered as secretary for EAA 902.  Writing and reading are a main focus in my life but I also enjoy gardening, cooking, kayaking and cycling.  Ed and our daughters have brought country living, dogs, a horse, bunny, cats and mole-dirt-mountains into my daily life.  Ed's also a private pilot and introduced me to a variety of airplanes, motorcycles and power watercraft.  After traveling with Ed, for over a year, I've mastered the details of being a savvy traveler.  Life is an adventure, I've chosen to take that journey.    Feel free to contact me through the sidebar link or send me an email at:  theresepatrick @ ymail . com Family Newsletters:  2006;  2007; 2008