Hi, my name is Sheila, my screen name comes from combining social work with my  up coming age of 53.  I was born, raised and lived in rural Arkansas from 1955-1974.  I got married in 1973, 2 months out of high school.  In 1974 my ex-husband and I moved to Kansas City, MO where he began his first year of dental school.  I had always wanted to be around women but just had no reference point in my small rural area of the world to help me understand who I really was.  Moving to Kansas City proved to the catalyst for my discovery of my sexuality.  I was in a big city.  My ex-husband and I spent very little time together and I met my first "group of lesbians" where else? On a softball team.  I didn't know right away what was different about these women but I knew I had feelings I had never allowed to surface. After separating from my husband, needless  to say, I had my first same sex relationship in 1977 .  Fast forward 18 years.   At 40 I finally completely embraced my sexuality and if asked, have never again lied about who I am. I lived in kansas city for 24 years where I was pipe fitter for the gas company from 1979-1989.  Began college in 1990, finished undergrad in social work in 1995, finished master's in social work in 1997.  Since obtaining my social work degree I have lived and worked in Texas, Kansas and now have come full circle and returned to Arkansas, the home of my childhood. .  I am a mental health therapist and my specialty is working with at risk kid ages 12-20.  However, since I am working in one of my agencies rural offices I am the only therapist so I treat people from the cradle to the grave:)))  Been back six months. Cultural shock!!!  Kinda different from the  large urban areas where I had lived over the past 33 years.  It is growing on me though and I think I may stick around here a while:))) If there are any Master Level Social Workers out there, my agency is in dire need for LMSW.  Because of this, the income is quite good as are the benefits.  For some reason there is a shortage of licensed master level social workers.  And there is quite a need for therapist who are up to speed working with co occuring (subtance abuse/mental illness clients.