Sandra Salamone

I ran away from home when I was 17. Graduated from high school and then spent a couple of years working for minimum wage. Then my life took a left turn.

I spent about a year in Northern California with a motley crew of guys who dredged for gold as a way of life. It was all about money, gold, guns, drugs, booze and sex. And thank the gods I made it out in one piece. After a huge dust up between me and one of the guys, I returned to So. Cal to live with my grandmother. And then it was out of the frying pan and into the fire. I moved to Taiwan.

I taught English in Taiwan for just about 10 years. I loved it there. I fell in love with the people, the food, the culture. But the train that is my life kept on moving. And after a love story with a Chinese Boy came to a horrible, devasting end, I once again returned to So. Cal and my grandmother.

My life from that point got pretty normal. I entered college and graduated with a BA in Journalism. I worked as a reporter for just about every major newspaper in So. Cal. I met my husband Loren while working at the Ventura County Star. We married. I was 42. Kind of late for kids. So we had chihuahuas. And I buried my grandmother.

That was 14 years ago. I'm retired now. We still have chihuahuas and now I'm an entreprenuer. I started Girlie Girl Creations, making hand knit shawls and novelty handbags. I do the Spring and Fall Craft Fair circuit throughout Ventura and L.A. Counties. And I have an online store.

My life is calm and quiet now. And I'm happy.