After graduating with my M.Ed. in Education, I taught for almost 4 years with the Shelby Co. school system. I then moved to Albuquerque, NM with my family. It was a bit of a culture shock, but I grew to love the Southwest. I lived in a small town called Thoreau (as in Henry David) and in Grants, NM before moving back to Albuquerque in 1987 to teach in the Albuquerque Public schools until Oct. 2006. I taught Native American and Hispanic children during these years and came to admire the tenacity and family values of both cultures. I was dismayed to see these same people pulled down by poverty and negative influences which made life so difficult for the children.
During those years I was blessed (most of the time) with 4 children - 2 boys and 2 girls. Eric (39) and Erin (36) both live in Chicago. Eric has a business in which he builds and maintains websites and Erin works in a boutique and raises my 2 beautiful grandchildren, Lily 7 and Blaise 4, as well as returning to school as a psych major.
Ryan (26) and Jennifer (24) both live in or near Durango, CO., which has become my all-time favorite place in the country! So beautiful there! Ryan is working with Jennifer's husband in his masonry business, learning the trade, primarily with rock, stone and tile. Jennifer has just received a wonderful promotion and is now the office manager of the Public Defenders Office for La Plata County in Durango. Jennifer and Josh have a beautiful son, Micah, who is vying for the title of cutest 3 year old in the world! (I don't suppose you think I'm biased or anything!)
After retiring in Oct. 2006, I moved to Brookville, OH. to either move-along or eradicate a renewed relationship with Mitch Gilliam, my very first boyfriend in high school. I'm happy to say we plowed through tons of debris and came up with a wedding in Sept. 2007.
We are both enjoying retirement, he as an air traffic controller. We currently are taking care of his elderly mother and are involved with a company called Take Shape for Life, which is a wellness and weight-loss company. We are the support arm of Medifast, Inc., which produces replacement meals for healthy weight loss. We are both health coaches and enjoy helping people navigate through the process of getting healthy and losing weight.
We hope to see everyone in June at the reunion!