I've worked in advertising as a copywriter for 22 years and then ran away and stopped working for "the man." I adventure-worked for a few years doing fun temp jobs like working as an editorial assistant for the State Legislature until I got a job with a small publishing firm in Indianapolis. I was their only staff, so I learned all aspects of the publishing business and after they shut down, I became an independent book editor and self-publishing consultant, as well as doing writing for business clients on occasion.

I also went on the adventure of a lifetime when I turned 50 in 2013. I walked the 500-mile pilgrimage in Spain called the Camino de Santiago. It was a game changer! Thrilling, exciting, amazing--just me and 22 pounds of my stuff on my back. I walked it again in 2016 and also volunteered for a few weeks on the Camino as a hospitalera. Since doing the Camino, I see life in a different way. It has taught me to live in the moment, face fears, and seek adventure and awe in my everyday life.

When I was a senior I thought it would be a cool prank to steal all the forks from the school cafeteria. So at the beginning of the year I started taking them, small amounts at a time, and hiding them in my locker. Then on the last day of school, I hauled all those forks back into the cafeteria and, with my friends helping me. we loaded up about 5 or 6 plastic lunch trays with all the stolen forks. I don't even know how many it was, but these trays were heaping mounds of forks. Then we sent them on the conveyor belt into the kitchen. Then we waited and listened as we heard screeching and yelling coming from the kitchen workers, "What's going on!!!?" They were dumbfounded. Me and my friends were cracking ourselves up. and high-fiving in the lunchroom. I have no idea why I did this! :)

Christ the King, South Bend

Becky Pluta Bonhama - she's on Facebook

Bruce Schwind - 1973
Doug Schwind - 1978
Brenda Schwind - 1976
David Schwind - 1982

Fairly accurate guesses!