about Bette
I’ve had a full and interesting life, working full time and raising two boys along with my husband. All the while, I had dystonia, a rare neurological disorder originating in the basal ganglia of the brain. Doctors told me my dystonia would remain incurable. Then the doctor said, almost as an after thought, -- “By the way, you will not die from the disease.” That’s when I decided to make something of myself.
My husband and I owned two women’s specialty stores, but after seven years, a recession took its toll and we decided to close the store and start something new. After doing some research in the library, we clearly saw that the computers were about to make it big.
We went to a highly concentrated school in Minnesota. Upon return we went to work for a dealer, Ralph selling and I teaching word processing. Up to that point I put most of my efforts into seeing that my sons received good educations. They did and today they are college professors.
Meanwhile, I continued teaching word processing for the dealer. I taught both employees and customers after a sale was made.
After five years, I left the dealer and began my own word processing training center located in the first level of my home. Since I had accumulated a good many leads over the years, I did well in my own business.
For those who wonder how I managed while having dystonia, I have a word I have become accustomed to using when asked. I say, “I learned to push!” The tremors were especially difficult and my leg muscles have become very weak. My handwriting is horrible because of the pain in my hands. And, I really hated those botox injections given in my neck. But, I now realize how much easier computers made things for me.
I’ve always wanted to write and now I had my chance. I first wrote “Learning, Coping, Living,” followed by “The Talking Baseball1,” then “The Talking Baseball 2” and “Hurricane Within Me.” This is a compelling book.
All in all, I’m thankful to have lived a life and very thankful that I was able to bring two wonderful boys into the world.
— Bette Levine --
Bette Levine
