| THE LIFE OF MRS. CANTEY |
Mom and dad take turns holding baby Mrs. Cantey. |
Entering the world
I was born Susan Elizabeth Macintyre to Sheila Scott and Archibald James Macintyre in 1950 in a Scottish town called Aberdeen. Both of my parents taught mathematics at local universities. Our pets consisted of three parakeets, some goldfish, and a few wild toads. I also had an older brother, Alister. We had a very happy life, living in a large house with live-in housekeeper and gardner. Our garden boasted lilac trees, flower beds, roses, my mom's rock garden, sweet pea, strawberries, and green peas. Ah! Those were the days.
In 1958, my dad got the bright idea to emmigrate to the United States. By August 1959, we were all in Cincinnati.
click here to read about my dad |
Mrs. Cantey in Elementary School |
Mrs. Cantey's life as a youth.
In Cincinnati, I attended Clifton Elementary School. I had to walk a mile there and back every day, barefoot, in the snow, uphill, both ways. When I got older, my dad got me a dinosaur to ride! (kidding)
In March of 1960, my mother died of cancer. It was very sad. I still miss her.
click here to read about my mom. |
Mrs. Cantey in grade 10 |
Mrs. Cantey as a teenager
In 1961 I started as a little teenie weenie effie at Walnut Hills. Seventh grade was easy. It went down hill from there. On the first day of school, dad sent my brother and I to school in a taxi. I don't think Alister minded, but I was mortified. I talked him into signing us up for the school bus after that. In those days it was cool to ride the bus and carry your books in a loose pile. Book bags were for geeks. I had a leather book bag with back straps and a hook in the front from Scotland that I hid away.
The Beatles were very popular, and I liked them a lot (saw them in person twice and went to see "A Hard Day's Night" a bunch of times)...but I really preferred the sound of Motown. "My mamma told me...you gotta shop around!" etc.
I graduated from Walnut in 1967 with a 2.7 GPA and was accepted at CCM but got married instead of going to college. (I don't recommend that!) I became a wife and later a mother. I sang back up, and occasionally filled in on keyboard, in my husband's band: "Heather". We did Stones, Crosby Stills and Nash, Janis Joplin etc. Unfortunately my marriage only lasted for five years, so me and Aretha Franklin were both singing "Set Me Free!"
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Mrs. Cantey as a flower child. |
Flower Power
In order to make a living after my D-I-V-O-R-C-E (since I only had a high school diploma), I became a waitress. In 1974, I had a religious experience which changed the direction of my life. I started writing music and cut a record album in 1975. Soon, however, it became perfectly clear to me that I was not talented or driven enough to make a living in the music world, so I decided to go to college. Although I had been accepted at CCM for voice, I thought mathematics would be more practical since I was a single mom with responsibilities. I qualified for several loans and grants. I tutored part time and with the help of some money left to me by my grandpa Scott, I graduated from UC in 1978 after only 3 years, summa cum laude, phi beta kappa, with a 3.94 GPA. I had worked very hard!
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A young Mrs. Cantey (alias Ms. Mac) |
Mrs. Cantey gets a real job.
I had to choose between becoming a statistician (lots of money...but not what I wanted to do) or teaching. I chose teaching and have never regretted it. Well...maybe once or twice...on Mondays...1st bell...(kidding). I was very blessed to start my career at Walnut Hills and hope to retire from there sometime between 2008 and 2013. The more Walnut changes, the more it stays the same.
My favorite course to teach is Calculus. It's not easy, but I know the subject very well. I taught an evening class in calculus at UC for 25 years. Calculus has been very very good to me.
In 1996, my son's wife had twin girls. In 1999, she had a little boy. So I am blessed with 3 grandchildren who spend almost every Friday night with me. (To see their pictures, stop by my room!)
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Mr. and Mrs. Cantey at Carolina beach. |
Ms. Mac becomes Mrs. Cantey
In the summer of 2000, I met Mr. Cantey. It was pretty much love at first sight. I had been happily single for almost 30 years, but he swept me off my feet and we got married in April of 2001. We are very happy. I don't know how I lived without him. Marriage is a wonderful institution. Mr. Cantey is my soul mate. Never settle for someone who is not you true love. It pays to wait.
We live in a small cape cod house in Pleasant Ridge. We have our offices in the basement and a room upstairs dedicated to the grandchildren and Mr. Cantey's daughter.
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on the road |
Another picture of my dear husband and me!
Mr. Cantey and I love to travel. Here we are on the road in Evansville.
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Here I am in my basement studio. |
My Hobby - Music
These days I am enjoying creating music in my basement recording studio. I am self-published, and recently won a regional NSAI song contest. My original song "Small Things" won the Blue Diamond People's Choice Award for best song about faith and was also chosen to be on the DAYCIN NSAI CD sampler of best songs, receiving a second Blue Diamond Award.
In 2005 my song "The Day the Water Stopped" was chosen to be performed by two local elementary school students at the Dayton Children's Water Festival.
I have a secular CD for sale at www.CDBaby.com called "The Sea of Calculus" and single songs can be purchased from i-tunes. Check them out! It's free to listen. :-) I also have CD's available at Everybody's Records in Pleasant Ridge.
I perform several times a year at the "Night Sky" in Troy Ohio and at various churches, retirement centers, and miscelaneous other venues. I do secular and religious gigs as well as competetive vocal performing.
In 2006 I won a faux fur coat in the Ageless Entertainers Vocal Contest for most online votes. Guess who voted for me...heh heh heh. Thanks guys! Come vote for me at the Blue Ash Idol Contest! It's every year in January or February.
Well, that's my life! See you in class.
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