Harriet "Hattie" Resch

Name: Harriett "Hattie" Resch

Age: 72

Family: Husband, David Resch; children, Mollia and Clinton Jewett; two grandchildren, Henry and Eleanor Jewett; three stepchildren, David Resch Jr., April Morthland and Christine Caseres; and four grandchildren, Nicolas and Michael Hook, and Matt and Jennifer Caseres.

City of residence: Colusa

Occupation: Retired teacher of English, public speaking and parenting. I ran the School Age Parent Program at Colusa High School, teaching parenting skills, referring to on-campus infant center to practice the skills of parenting.

I worked as an intern marriage family therapist for a while at Colusa County Mental Health and then counseled young children and teens through a program called Healthy Start at Arbuckle Elementary School. I also directed school plays at Orland and Colusa high schools, Williams Elementary and directed a play for Glenn County Social Services for foster children through the Community Theatre in Willows, drawing actors from throughout Glenn County. Theatre can be transformative and healing. Now I am retired.

Hobbies and interests: I love going to plays: Local Stagehands performances, the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore., Yuba College and B Street Theatre plays. I also enjoy reading about philosophy, religion, spirituality and metaphysics about psychology. I'm interested in what makes people tick.

Being part of the Colusa County Arts Council, I love finding artists, encouraging them, assisting in setting up shows for them and the public. I also feel art has a very healing effect for people and applaud Colusa Regional Medical Center for using regional and local art in the hallways of the hospital to humanize the environment for the patients, visitors and hospital personnel.

What is your favorite book? "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and my favorite quote is from that book, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly."

Do you have any Easter traditions? Attending sunrise services at the State Park, followed by late-morning church service. Usually our family gathers together for a meal and an Easter egg hunt.

What are some of your fondest memories? Visiting Italy twice and meeting my husband's friends who were in NATO with him 40 years ago and driving to a little hill town, Casa Casserta, in Southern Italy.

What quality in people do you most admire? Compassion.

What was the last thing that made you laugh? My three year-old grandson imitating Mr. Fredrickson in the movie "Up."

What topic of conversation really gets you steamed? When people talk politics and they really do not listen to the other side; they entrench themselves in their pre-conceived ideas and refuse to dialogue and listen. Thoughts appear to be fossilized.

What are you thankful for? My family, my friends and my Presbyterian church.

Is there anything you're truly passionate about? Unconditional love, which requires both acceptance of people where they are and the natural consequences when people get off-course; and that parents give time and attention to their children as they grow up.

What do you hope to see happen this year? A re-evaluation of how I wish to spend my time; more with my family and more time with nature at Buck's Lake in the Sierra's. Also, pursuing my interests in spirituality; I am ever hungry for more knowledge.

CONTACT Jenn Anderson at 934-6800 or janderson@tcnpress.com.