I went to the Missouri State Fair 20 years ago after becoming an Emergency Medical Technician. I came to a booth in the arena building that was a massage school with students giving chair massage. I decided to take a chance and get 10 minutes as I had never experienced massage before. At the end of that short 10 minutes I was amazed at how much better I felt and was hooked ever since. I was surprised that there was a school for massage therapy and put it on the "someday" possibility list. In 2005 my life changed significantly when my Dad died. He was only 57 and the fact that life is truly too short to waste a second being miserable, I changed my school direction from nursing to massage. I love going to work and I still get to help people by taking charge of their health. My two careers enhance each other and I have used my EMT experience many times with clients and during sessions. I have been an EMT for 21 years and a massage therapist for 10 years.