Were you raised in Cook County or how did your journey lead you here?

I had a nomadic childhood, moving all around the Midwest—Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee. When I was 18, I moved by myself to Minneapolis, where I worked full time and also went to nursing school. I worked for a few years as a Labor & Delivery Nurse, and then was hired for a public health job that had been posted in the Cook County News Herald. When I moved to Cook County I finally found my home ground. That was 35 years ago.

My nursing career here centered on community work. I was a Public Health Nurse for the County for 3 years, School Nurse at ISD 166 for 15, and Community Nurse for The People of Grand Portage for 7. It was all beautiful work, focusing on health promotion and developing community relationships. Then I was diagnosed with two breast cancers at the same time and experienced a brain injury from chemo. My life turned upside down. I couldn’t go back to work, and my career and income were instantly wiped out. 

Several years earlier I had taken a class at North House and, using those skills, built a rustic studio with my own hands on Good Harbor Hill. When cancer erased my income I moved there. Unable to go to a job, I had free time to do something I loved—writing.

The kind of writing I do is called channeling. In an alert state of relaxation, I open my consciousness and record inspirational wisdom from expanded energy dimensions. Through my writing I am promoting connection, compassion, and healing. I currently have 3 books in print and over 500 blog entries written under the pen name Jennifer Shoals. My books are available at Drury Lane and the library. You can find me at www.jennifershoals.com. 

What is your favorite part about living here?

I love Cook County for lots of reasons. I live on 30 wooded acres. I have electricity but haul wood and water. There’s a saying about that lifestyle: It’ll either keep you young or take you out early! So far, it’s keeping me strong into my 60s. In any weather I enjoy sitting under the trees and feeding birds. I enjoy learning about plants and animals. I like to hike, ski, paddle, snowshoe, camp, swim. I love the outdoors in any season. I enjoyed the longer hiking season this fall, but I’m sure glad to see the snow come now—we need it to prevent forest fires in the spring!

I also like the small-town nature of our community. I like going to the grocery store and seeing people I know, hearing about their grandma or new baby. We don’t agree on everything, but we have each other’s backs in a crisis. My children were born here and now my grandchildren are being born here too. I guess you could say I’m a first-generation Cook Countian. 

Do you have crafts or hobbies that you enjoy?

Pre-COVID there was a lot more live music going on in Cook County, and I liked to go out dancing. Socializing takes a little more effort now. I’m happy to see the Grand Marais Film Society and Friday Night Reels getting going. I belong to the North Shore Artists League and Cook County Market. I’m active in the DFL. I run the first aid trailer at Rendezvous Pow Wow. I volunteer in my community because “we all do better when we all do better.”

It is that time of year when many have set goals or resolutions for 2024.  Do you have any goals that you hope to achieve this coming year?

Someone mentioned to me that they pick a new word every year to focus on. My word for this year is LAUGH !