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I followed my bother and sister to the state of New York for college. West Point, Vassar, and Marymount were within striking distance of each other on the Hudson River which made weekend visits possible and helped when I missed home.
I loved my school and the cultural advantages NYC offered an art major, but I was always happy to return to Alton for the summer.
I met my husband at West Point and we married after he returned from Viet Nam. His career in the military and later as a physician included several moves. The years we were in St. Louis allowed me to stay in close contact with my aging parents-- memories I appreciate to this day.
I taught school before we had children (late!), and enjoyed being a "soccer mom" plus room mother & Brownie leader.
We left St. Louis for a small town in northern Maine in '96 which was a wonderful experience, and a great place to raise our children, but after ten years of dealing with the freezing cold, the pull of warm sunshine was stronger than the lure of the beautiful seacoast. We were empty-nesters at that point with our oldest working in Boston, and Ann & Tommy in college so we down-sized 35 years of "stuff" and headed south.
Kerrville is a friendly little town in Texas Hill Country, and it's been a good fit (except for very spicy foods). Our house borders a golf course which took away any excuse for not exercising.
Our landscaping projects were fun and being in the yard helped us to meet all our neighbors.
Sadly my husband passed away three years ago.
Life became a different journey from what I had expected, but I see every day as a blessing, and am very thankful for my wonderful friends and family. The children all came to Kerrville for Christmas which was great, and they're planning an overseas get together in 2012...if I collect enough frequent flyer miles!
I do seem to keep busy, doing what is hard to explain other than taking care of the house, yard, and finances on my own takes work especially in this economy and with the drought we had in Texas last year.
I volunteer at the Museum of Western Art, occasionally take golf lessons (then don't practice), and am learning to shoot a shotgun-- it's a Texas thing...longhorns hanging on your wall, a picture of bluebonnets over the fireplace, and a shotgun in your bedroom!
Knee replacement surgery a year ago allowed me to travel for the first time in ages so I visited Kitty in Amsterdam-- a charming, colorful city with magnificent art museums and delicious gelato. We also toured quaint towns in Belgium on our way to Paris where I ended my trip. My old Alton buddy, Molly McAdams (AHS '63) met us in Paris, and showed us some off-the-beaten-path spots only the French know.
Those of you with worn out knees-- the surgery is worth it.
Update from this summer-- I visited my daughter in Amsterdam again before we went to Italy for a 2 week adventure-- classic ruins, magnificent cathedrals, breathtaking scenery in the mountains & Amalfi Coast... and of course delicious food! It was my first visit to Italy, but I would love to return. Photo below is of the "invisible man" (:
