Catherine Louise Tarabochia

Tried college for 2 yrs but not my thing. I am still working on my degree and only have two subjects to go before I graduate. I 'm just doing it on the 60 yr plan. I married my partner, Sara, in Canada on May 25, 2004 and we are still waiting to see if Virginia will ever allow "gay marriage" or at least, recognize other states/countries marriage certificates. We met in 1995 at synagogue and dated for 4 yrs before we moved in together "no U-Hauls" for us after the second date. I have been traveling back and forth to Italy where the rest of my family lives to visit them and have some really good food and gelato. Well, Hell has frozen over and "same-sex" marriage is now legal in the Commonwealth of Virginia!!!!!!! My aunt in Italy is waiting for Italy to make it legal so we can have a big party there. In 2013, I have filed my papers to get my Italian citizenship and I am still waiting but over the Christmas hoildays I had taken my sisters (Class of '78) to Italy with me as a surprise for our 92-year old aunt and I caught the flu. I got to experience the Italian medical health system first hand. Doctor made a house call (unheard of here in the USA) and prescribe antibiotics for me and Lydia for grand total of 37 euros ($40 US). Sara and I went in June of 2015 for our 16th wedding annivesary. Visited Milan-went to the Expo, climbed the top of the Duomo and saw an excellent exhibit on da Vinci. My cousin has a beach house in a small Tuscan beach town, Cecina. it is very quiet, not a lot of tourists, mainly families. The house is a block from the water and you can see the water from the balcony. We sent 5 days there and had a very relaxing time on the water and made friends with the people we sat next to on the beach. Our last stop was the town were my aunt lives in the mountains of Tuscany, Massa Marittima. It dates back to Etruscan times but the current city was built in the 1000's. My cousin's house is built into the city walls which are about 3 feet thick. We stayed on the 3rd floor and the view from the bathroom is just unbelievable-the Tuscan countryside with Med. Sara and I talked about me going out on long-term disability in November and returning to live part-time in Italy with my aunt. I went out on long term disability November 1, 2015 and am still trying to figure out what I want to do with myself except sitting around reading and watching TV. I have been working on several ideas for a book. I 'm just trying to get the nerve up to start writing
I'm hoping to go to Italy at the end of May to spend several months with my 93 yr old aunt who is moving to Siena. From there, I am can go to Florence, Milan, Rome or any other place I care to visit. Good news, Sara is officially in remission from her cancer and is now, on maintainence doses of chemo every other week.

I transferred in my junior year from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. At that time, my graduating class had around 1,500 persons and the school ran on three sessions. I lived during racial segregation in the south and was bused to a white school 25 mili'mes away from my home. Imagine my surprise to find black teachers and a black vice principal in the school. My best friend, it turned out was black and my adopted family was also black. I became known as the "white sheep" in their family. I had a closeted relationship with a girl in school and tried hard to keep our secret safe for her sake. We broke up when I graduated and went to college. I have not seen her since but she still holds a special place in my heart.

Since I still live here its obvious that I get here quite frequently.

Yes, My sister Lydia (1978). I ran into Janet Smalley ('74) and have been lax about keeping up with her.

That I knew I was queer in high school and tried hard to keep secret. I really liked learning things.

I loved being "Goth" before "goth" was even "goth". My favorite teachers were Mr. Frank Wickes and Mrs. Adams. My biggest crush was Ms. Hannay but you have too watch out for redheads they are crazy-ass bitches when you let them loose.

Stay sober and be honest about my sexuality. Just celebrated 43 years of sobriety with a Popsicle (lime ). Much better than a fifth of rum or vodka - cheaper and no bloody hangover.