3) What events shaped or changed your life?
-My parents gave me love, a sense of humor, the courage to ask questions. They encouraged me to be creative.
-An Amish woman taught me how to quilt.
-I opened my own business after getting laid off from an elementary teaching position.
-My husband of 31 years has given me love and encouragement beyond measure.
-We adopted a daughter from Korea. (All grown up, successful, delightful.)
-My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2001 and moved in with us. We took care of her for nearly four and a half years.
4) Did you overcome obstacles - take risks - get lucky?
Dumb luck. Nobody told me I couldn't do whatever it was I wanted to do. A couple of times I've been at the right place at the right time. I'm a really hard worker and don't give up easily.
With the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative, I just wanted to take the anger and sorrow I felt at losing my mother bit by bit and turn it into something positive.
5) What have you done that no one would guess you'd done upon first meeting you?
People are surprised that:
- I can present a program to 450 people without throwing up.
6) What is still left to be done in your life?
More of the same, I hope. Plus, I want to live in Italy for about 3 months.
Ami Simms - Using Quilting to Help Fight Alzheimers
