I left Pacifica to go to Brigham Young University where I eventually received teaching credentials in Physical Education/Dance and English. (By the way, while taking kinesiology, I had many occasions to thank my lucky stars for Mr. Gloisten's wonderful teaching.)  During my sophomore year, my dad was killed by a drunk driver coming down the wrong side of Highway 1. You may remember the headlines. That was a very sad time for all of us.

At age 19, during my junior year of college, I got married. I graduated at age 20 and began teaching here in Santa Clarita (think Magic Mountain). I started out teaching physical education until I got pregnant 7 years later. I had my daughter, Gina, and took a year off to be with her. I then began teaching dance at a junior high school and continued for 11 years, during which time I went back to school to get my Masters Degree in Counseling and Guidance. Teaching dance was definitely the most fun I have had in my career. It included many performances and actually kept me in great shape. (I have since then managed to undo all the good shape stuff!)

After 14 years of marriage, Gary and I got a divorce. It was certainly not what I would have wished for, but as they say, life is what happens when you're making other plans.

Since it became apparent that I would be funding Gina's college education by myself, I reluctantly left the dance room for life in the office. I became a junior high school counselor where I remained for 5 years. During those 5 years, I again went back to school for my administration credentials. I then became an assistant principal and that's where I remain. I have absolutely no desire to become a principal. This level of stress and bureaucracy is about all I can take! I love the kids--teenagers are great people; but some of their parents are another matter entirely. There are days when I despair of anyone ever taking responsibility for anything!! But I digress...

Gina grew up into a lovely young woman who is now 26. Unlike me, she is tall, slim, blonde and blue-eyed. During my years as a frustrated northern Californian trapped in southern California, Gina and I went on many trips to Pacifica and San Francisco. She fell in love with the place and, when it came time to attend college, she finally settled on San Francisco State. She got her degree in Psychology and Holistic Health. We all know what a practical course of study that is!! She loved every course--even the stuff that would have been considered illegal when we went to school. And so what is she doing with her degree? She has decided to become a massage therapist. So she took the coursework and has now opened a little business with a friend. It's in Mill Valley and it's called The Body Sanctuary. She lives in Stinson Beach and just returned from a 3 month trip to New Zealand just because she always wanted to go there.

I get up there several times a year--my family has a reunion each summer on the Penninsula; I see Jeanie and Paul as often as possible; I always spend a few days in Pacifica each summer, and of course, Stinson is beautiful!! My dream is to retire in Pacifica or thereabout. However, since I've been gone, they've gone and turned NoCal into an exclusive club and we poor people from SoCal can no longer afford to live there. We'll see what happens.

I've enjoyed all of the reunions and am happy to have renewed acquaintances with a few of you. One of the joys of seeing everyone again is that it feels just as comfortable as if we had just seen each other last week. I have loved talking to everyone and enjoyed playing volleyball--even though it leaves me red-faced!