Hi, my name is… Carol Bailin.
I’ve lived in Desert Ridge for more than 20 years and I love it because… The Aviano community is one of the most connected neighborhoods in which I’ve lived. From the block parties to clubhouse coffees to fireworks on the 4th of July, these are homes, not just houses.
A typical day in my life includes… A myriad of things depending on the day as I am now retired after more than 40 years teaching, most of which I spent as an English teacher at Horizon High School. On most days, you can find me playing tennis at the Aviano clubhouse before coffee and the Price is Right or Young and the Restless, or playing pickleball before heading to see my granddaughters, who live just north of Desert Ridge.
My family… Includes my oldest child, Alison, who is a local PR gal and travel writer (and I get to be her travel research buddy often); my middle child, Erica, who works at ASU and is mom to my two granddaughters and wife to my fabulous son-in-law, Peter; and my youngest child, Randy, who works in sales. I am also very close to my three sisters and am widowed 19 years now.
One thing I cannot live without is… Marco Polo! No, neither the pool game nor the actual historical figure. Marco Polo is an app where you can make a group and send video messages to each other all day long. I have one with all the women in my family as well as silly ones for video discussions of everything from Bachelor Nation to soap operas to holiday plans.
My favorite movie I could never get tired of watching and why… Love Actually, for all the people, especially Hugh Grant in the dance scene.
When I was younger, I wanted to be… A teacher or an attorney.
The song I would sing at Karaoke night is… Bridge Over Troubled Water.
The one person who motivates me is… My mom. Though I lost her in 1994, she is with me every day. A single mother of four daughters at a time when not many women were doing it on their own, she ensured each of us graduated college and put us on a path for full, happy lives. She was tough as nails, but one of the funniest, strongest people ever to grace this earth.
The last thing that made me laugh out loud was… Probably something my daughter Erica did. She is like our own personal Saturday Night Live.
The perfect day would be… Waking up and having breakfast with my grandkids and daughter, Erica, then hopping on a plane to a wine country with Alison – likely Sonoma or Napa – for a few tastings, followed by watching Notre Dame beat USC and then a fabulous wine pairing dinner at a five-star restaurant with friends, who of course have flown in to have dinner with me.
My favorite local business is… Breakfast Kitchen Bar!
My life… Is pretty damned good.
The best gift I’ve ever received was… A diamond ring to replace my wedding ring after the band cracked, but it was given to me in front of one of my classes hidden in a silly Halloween gag.
My dream vacation would be to… Return to the greatest place on the planet, Four Seasons Resort at Punta Mita, which is just outside of Puerta Vallarta.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever received… Don’t sweat the small stuff.
