Terry Michael

Script reader and assistant to director Robert Altman at Lion's Gate Films. (1975 - 78)
Assistant to producer Bob Radnitz. (1978)
Editorial Assistant to Nan Talese at Bantam Doubleday Dell (1992-1994)
Associate Editor at Victoria Magazine in NYC (1994 - 2004)
Associate Editor at Better Homes & Gardens Magazine in Des Moines (2004-2006)

Smith College in Northampton, MA (BA in 1989)
Oxford University, Trinity College in Oxford, England (Summer semester, 1988)

Marengo Elementary

Indianapolis, IN; South Pasadena, CA; Carmel, CA; Westwood, CA; North Hollywood, CA; Nashville, TN: Indianapolis, IN; Northampton, MA; New York City, NY; Des Moines, IA; Noank, CT; National Harbor, MD; Sacramento, CA

After my parents divorce, Mom, my sister and me moved from Indianapolis to an apartment at the top of Amberwood Drive in South Pas. It had a picture-window view of the entire Valley -- beautiful at night. Daytime not so much (smog!). We could see Catalina on a clear day which was never.

My Mom became the head of the Cosmetics Dept. at Bullock's Pasadena -- such a beautiful store and her department was as elegant and pretty as she was! She bought our home on Gillette Crescent allowing me to finally walk to school without climbing the long Amberwood Hill hill to get home. The house was near Tom Fetzer and Mike Plummer (on Diamond). We moved to a cottage in Carmel after I graduated in 1970. I moved back to South Pas to an apt. across the street from the Junior High in 1972. Worked at Cal-Oaks Pharmacy for several years until I moved to Nashville, TN to marry a roadie for Waylon Jennings. What could go wrong?

My sister, Pamela Elizabeth Michael ('66), and she currently lives in Florida.

Colleen (Griffin) Bennett ('70), Nancy Anderson (70), Sandy (Helsel) Friedman ('70), Gloria Miller ('70), John Klof ('67), Paul Benavidez ('67), Dennis Graue ('67) David Graves ('68), Mike Plummer ('67), Nola Wood ('70)

Walking to school on chilly autumn mornings. Being so self-conscious I can't recall ever eating in the lunch room on campus. Too shy to join the drama and theater department-- something I know I would have loved. Laughing with my friends whenever we could. Going to the baseball and football games with my friends and being especially happy when I went with my Mom.

Life choices and paths taken are often two completely different things. I learned the difference much later than many of my high school friends who seemed to understand that setting goals focuses your mind, body and spirit toward success. That lesson was learned when I decided to go to college at 37 and move to NYC after graduating. I always wanted to be a writer. Finally, the light went on. Wishing and wanting it really bad wasn't going to get me there. Sometimes, our epiphanies are embarrassingly slow to come but if you're searching for answers, they do eventually come. Promise.

I am a poet.

The Zombies, Jack White, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Mayall, Nina Simone, Eminem, The Pretenders, Tim Buckley, Janis Joplin, kd Lang, David Shea, Beatles.

Living in downtown Sacramento and sharing an art studio/living space with Paul Benavidez ('67). I help Paul prepare for upcoming art exhibits in San Francisco, L.A. and Ventura, and I write poetry. (2023)

My high school friends have had wonderful relationships, marriages, children, and careers. I'm so proud of them sailing through each decade with such grace and joy. I'm afraid it wasn't quite such smooth sailing for me early on, but I've had an interesting career in film and publishing, and a life filled with great friends. They guide me toward everything positive, and more importantly, we laugh a lot and as often as possible. Being thankful to live on this beautiful planet with my friend Paul, whose artwork constantly amazes me. Politically, Trump's mental issues and cruelty are exhausting, and I'm heartbroken that we are destroying our planet through neglect, greed, willfull ignorance, insufferable arrogance, and false pride. To quote Greta, "we are burning our own house down."