Welcome, and thanks for visiting my profile!

As you might guess, my "real life" name is Mary. My pen-name, MaryChodan, is also the title I earned when I became a first-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do nearly 10 years ago. (I had to retire, though, after I broke my left ankle on a school field trip to the bowling alley in 2007. Weird, I know...details will be supplied upon request!)

By profession, I am a part-time tutor, still looking for full time income. (Darned recession!) My next profession? That's to be determined, depending on Providence and the economy. By avocation, I am a Trekker, an X-phile, and a Stargater. My deepest love of the three is Star Trek (the original series). Accordingly, I joined Starfleet International, and am now a Commander aboard the USS Ganymede! (I'm also Head of Medical and Ship's Counselor!) I'm also half of 'Team D' on this board; the other half is my sister, whose solo name here is 'D'Artag-NOT'.

My favorite Star Trek character is Doctor Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy, and has been since I 'met' him at the age of 15 when the series began in 1966. (Yes, I'm 61!) I had the honor and pleasure of contributing an essay to the e-book The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend. The book is a collection of heartfelt, well-written pieces by De's fans on his significant, continuing influence on Trek fans and the wider world. It was compiled by Kris Smith, De's personal assistant, whom the late actor mentored for many years. Since this is the first edition, it will continue to grow and expand as more fans add more remembrances! (I'm probably going to add more to my recollections as well.)

In matters of faith, I am a Christian who is most comfortable in the Anglican/Episcopal tradition. The older I get, the more my faith and my relationship to God through his Son Jesus Christ become more precious...a pearl of great price.

In addition to teaching, and writing when I can create a quiet space for myself, I also enjoy good movies, travelling and spending time with people who are intelligent, funny and creative. Those people include my wonderful younger sister (also my roomie!), our other housemate, various friends around the country, my fabulous godchildren and 'my' Chinese kids. (More on my kids later!)

I was born in Syracuse, New York, and have blood family who are Sicilian, English/German/French/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/Belgian and Onondaga Indian (My great-aunt married an Indian chief!). I've never married, but am lucky enough to have 3 intelligent, kind, funny, great Vietnamese godchildren (now in their 20's and 30's...hard to believe). I also have two other kids...the children of the Chinese family we sponsored from Cambodia 32 years ago. Now in their early 30's, they have turned out to be marvelous human beings. I also have a feisty cat named Sierra, now 7 years old. She's a long-hair, grey dilute tortoiseshell with green eyes and a endlessly entertaining personality.

I'm very much enjoying the creative folks I'm meeting here, and I marvel at some of the very wonderful stories I've been finding.

Thanks again for visiting, and may you live long and prosper!

Me (Mary Elizabeth)