I am a retired school teacher (2010)after teaching approx. thirty years, and have two daughters. I have always loved history and it was my second teaching field in college. I have visited Monicello several times and continue to be interested in Jefferson. I also am interested in Monticello, not only as a part of history, but because I like to compare it to the 200 year old house I grew up in. A stone manor house with the following buildings on the farm: slave house, smoke house, wash house, ice house, and spring house with bell tower. I feel this experience gives me something in common with Monticello.