Today is my 76th birthday. Michael P. Garofalo, January 23, 1946 -
My daughter, Alicia, and I, 2021
My two grand-daughters, Makenna and Katelyn, and I, 2021
My parents were Bertha June (1921-1994) and Michael James Garofalo (1916-1997). My two brothers were Paul (1948-) and Phillip (1952-).
My parents and I in 1947
In South-Central Los Angeles
My maternal Grand-Mother Mabel Ast Blaize on the left,
and my Paternal Grand-Mother Lena Garofalo in 1947.
Paul, Big Mike Dad, Philip, Me, Mom
Circa 1958
I grew up in East Los Angeles and attended St. Alphonsus Catholic Grammar School, Cantwell Catholic High School (Honors Diploma), California State University at Los Angeles (B.A. Philosophy), and the University of Southern California (M.S. Library Science).
I worked for the City of Commerce Public Library System from 1963-1969.
Blanche Karen Eubanks and I were married in 1967. We celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary in 2021.
Karen and I in 1970
Biloxi, Mississippi
Served in the United States Air Force, Air Training Command, from 1969-1973. Honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant.
I worked for the County of Los Angeles Public Library System from 1974 to 1998. I retired as a Library Administrator, and Regional Administrator for the East Region in the San Gabriel Valley. I worked at offices in the Compton library, Bell Gardens library, East Los Angeles library, Norwalk library, Huntington Park library, and West Covina library.
We lived in Bell Gardens and Hacienda Heights - both in the East Los Angeles metropolitan area.
Karen and I, and our families and community, raised two children, Alicia June and Michael Delmer. We now have two grandchildren, Katelyn and Makenna.
Alicia June, my daughter, and I in 1976.
Alicia, me, Karen, Mick, circa 1990
My colleagues in East Region at our
Community Library Managers Meeting, Circa 1993
For 15 years, I was the Regional Administrator for 22 libraries
in East Region of the County of Los Angeles Public Library System
I started creating websites in 1995, and a blog in 2005.
Karen and I lived in Red Bluff, North Sacramento Valley, California, from 1998-2017, in a rural area on a five acre parcel. We both worked part-time for school districts. I was the Technology and Media Service Supervisor and District Librarian for the Corning Union Elementary School District; and Karen was a Special Education Instructional Aide. We both enjoyed gardening and landscaping projects.
Red Bluff, California, Sunny Garden
Yosemite, North Dome, 2005
Sean, me, Mick
Alicia, Karen, April
Circa 2007
Karen retired on June 14, 2014, after working part-time since 1998 as a Special Education Instructional Assistant for the Tehama County Department of Education in Red Bluff, California.
Mike retired on July 1, 2016, after working part-time since 1998 as the Technology and Media Services Supervisor and District Librarian for the Corning Union Elementary School District in Corning, California.
I taught yoga, taijiquan, qigong, pilates, and other fitness classes at the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff from 2002-2016.
In 2017, we moved to Vancouver, Washington. We are now both retired.
Family in Oregon in 2013
Vancouver, Washington, 2017
Our New Home
Flinn and Garofalo Family Gathering
Vancouver, Salmon Creek, Washington, Summer 2021
I am very fortunate in having fairly good health, a positive attitude, and stamina for work and play for all of my long life. I was fortunate in being able to be productively employed for 54 years, and earning good medical insurance for Karen and I.
I am a philosopher by inclination and practice.
I have been active with various sports, physical conditioning programs, walking, fitness, Taijiquan, Yoga, hiking, etc., during my entire healthy long life.
However, during this past COVID epidemic period I did not walk each day, kind of huddled in my home office and read, smoked too much cannabis, daydreamed, lolly-gaged, goofed-off, and acted like a lazy depressed retiree. Therefore, I was very out of shape at the end of 2021.
My personal goals for 2022 are to:
1. Maintain a dietary habit that reduces my blood sugar.
2. Reduce my body weight to 225 pounds.
3. Walk and exercise every day.
4. Read and write: Four Days in Grayland Cloud Hands Blog.
5. Help and take care of my wife, family and friends.
6. Support humanistic and environmental causes.
7. Explore Photography using my Canon SX740 camera, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop; and work on our Family Photo Projectš with Karen.
8. Enjoy old age.
9. Travel to the Coast and Yurt camp each month for four days.
10. Yet to be Determined, New Opportunities, Unknown
That about sums it up!
