groobie - good going, girl!
It takes a strong will to go through some of the things you talk about and come out a winner; you *definitely* qualify as a winner. Way to go!!
French history is something I love to read about as well.
They teach us that in school here, being it's so closely related to the history of this province (then again, I wouldn't know *what* they teach the kids in English schools... perhaps something else?) -- but it's one of those things that I could never get enough of myself. It's just fascinating.
