Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

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An Unexpected
Adventure
Arlene Doerr, AWC Dublin, happily moved to Dublin when her
daughter asked, leading to an exciting new life and lots of time
with her beloved grandson.
I
grew up in a small rural town in British
Columbia, Canada, the eldest of three
children and all first generation German
Canadians. My first language was not
English but rather German, and my traditions
and culture became a blend of both. As I
entered school, I could still understand German,
but speaking it became more and more
awkward. English became my first language
while my second language changed to French as
I assimilated more into Canadian culture in my
late teens and early twenties.
I spent my childhood exploring my province
with my family. My favorite times were
picking huckleberries in my beloved mountains,
climbing and exploring in search of this
wonderful treat. We were, however, not the
only ones who loved these deep blue berries.
One day we were all picking berries off a remote
logging road. My mother was quickly losing
patience with my father because he was not
replying to anything she said. She parted a bush
to scold him for not answering her only to
realize she had been conversing with a bear!
At the top of her lungs she cried “BEAR!” and
the number of people who spilled down off
the side of that mountain road took us all by
surprise. The bear was also displeased and took
off as well!
Arlene Doerr
After high school, while everyone
else in Canada in the 1970s was
moving west, I had to move east
because there were no colleges
nearby. I received my degree in
due time and began work as an RN.
Arlene being
part of the art.
Italy, April 2022
40 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 41