Diane Johnson Nelson

After 2 marriages and divorces, I finally met the man who is my soulmate. We married in 1986 and still have fun together.

I was in real estate for awhile and I worked at my husband's marine dealership for about 10 years. I also had a retail baby store on London Road in Eau Claire.

We moved to Chetek, WI and lived there for 11 years. While we were there, I had 2 restaurants...Amigos Texican Restaurant, and Nana's Cottage. Nana's was so much fun! We had a whole room full of old clothes, shoes, jewelry, make-up, hats, gloves, etc. Women and little girls would dress up and then come into the restaurant for high tea. We were popular with tourists and had articles in Wisconsin Trails and Midwest Living. We also won awards for our food.

I had to give it up when I developed knee problems. I have had 3 total knee replacements, a hip replacement, and an ankle/foot fusion. How did I get to be an old lady?

After my daughter's death in 2004, I decided that I would live each day to the fullest and enjoy different types of people and different situations. I am living my life for both of us and love the diversity in this world.

We recently sold our winter home in Casa Grande, AZ and our condo in Eau Claire and we bought a house that’s big enough for my sewing machine, embroidery machine, serger, and my art (watercolor, acrylic, alcohol ink, zentangle, collage) supplies. My husband also has many guitars, amplifiers, speakers, sound systems, etc. Most people are downsizing at our age but we’re going the other way.

I love to sew, quilt, knit, crochet, paint, write, and spend time with my kids and grandkids. I enjoy every minute I spend with my husband. We are "makin' music" with 2 groups of seniors. Quent plays guitar and I play baritone ukulele.

I belong to a weekly women’s Bible study. I also host two 4-day, 3-night retreats each summer for 16 women each. One is sewing and one is watercolor and acrylic painting. I also have small groups in my home.

I had Helen Forsjord for all of my business classes. I always aced everything. One time when I received my report card, I saw that I got a "B". I questioned the "B" because I had all "A's" on my work. She informed me that my grade dropped because I had been chewing gum!

During high school, we would go to Fourniers, the Pines in Bloomer or Pine Point in Menomonie on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Pines was an 18-year-old beer bar and dance hall. To go in the bar, you had to present an I.D. and were then given a stamp on your hand. The stamp was round with "PINES" written in the middle. They would use different colors of ink each week. Everyone wanted to be inside the "cage" where beer was served.

I bought several colored pens and became proficient in drawing the stamp on my hand and the hands of my friends. I would sneak in and drink Coke!