Helene Hoffman

What have I been up to?!!!! I have moved around, and had tons of great experiences. Went to college at Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison; then lived in Chicago and Oak Park, IL for 15 yrs; then moved to a village in Yucatan, Mexico for 2 yrs - we slept in hammocks, had no hot running water, and I really learned Spanish (for survival purposes); then moved back to Chicago for 10 yrs; then moved to Starkville, Mississippi for 6 Long Yrs; then moved to Long Beach, CA and have been here for the past 3 years.
My events: I earned a law degree in 1982; got married in 1987; when I returned from Mexico earned an L.LM. degree in Health Law (its like a doctorate for lawyers); had my two kids who are now 16 and 13; after we all moved to Long Beach (S. CA), my husband and I separated, and we are getting divorced.
I also have taken up writing poetry, short stories, and non-fiction articles, which has been an incredible experience for me.
Am still practicing law, which I actually still like. Now, that is a miracle!

I still remember our h.s. graduation. Our class President who gave a stirring speech in which he condemned a lot of things, including the type of traditional school education we had gotten. After he finished, about half the class stood up and cheered him, while the other half stood up and shook their fists at him, screaming 'Commie, go back to Russia!'.