The Book of Charland . . .

Biography

Personal Biography - I was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana (cold, cold winters and very short summers). I married my high-school sweetheart, Robert T. Garvin, in 1961 and left immediately for Uganda, East Africa (Bob was to teach there). Our first son - Mitchell - was born in East Africa. We returned to the US in 1964 (to Montana State University) where Bob worked on his PhD. Our daughter - Sydney - was born in 1964 in Bozeman, MT, and son - Chris - followed in 1966. We moved to Massachusetts in 1969 and Matthew was born that same year in Framingham. Bob was at Harvard from 1969 - 1975. We then moved to Manchester, MO, in 1975 (Bob was on the faculty of St. Louis University Medical School), and on to Lexington, Kentucky (to Chandler Medical School) in 1978. We immigrated to Canada in 1981 when Dr. Bob "went commercial". We've remained, as have two of the sons (Chris and Matt) but Mitch moved to California and Sydney has remained in Kentucky.

Educational Background - Not at all related to what I do now, I received a BS degree in 1961 from Montana State College in Elementary Education. At the time I got my degree, women were either teachers or nurses, and the degree was an "insurance policy" in case something happened to your spouse. My one regret is not taking more courses in Fine Arts - not from the artist aspect (I can't draw), but in the technical and historical areas. I guess, in the end, I am far too practical to be a true artist.