| 03/04/09 11:44 PM |
#147
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Ginger Walling (Strait)
I can't begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading your stories. I have been enlightened, impressed, entertained and inspired. Kudos to all of you reunion planners out there who have made this website possible. I am honored to be apart of the Class of '69. Thanks to each of you for making my memories so special. I've been tagged twice now, so here goes ...
1. My life has and will always center around my family. I grew up as an only child in a Christian home with strong conservative values. I will always respect and honor my parents for their unconditional love and the sacrifices they made over the years on my behalf. Life in Freeport was great ... not a care in the world.
Oh, and by the way, I lived at 1814 W. 8th, and my phone number was BE3-3939.
2. After graduation I headed off to Southwest Texas State along with many others from BHS. I attended classes for 2 1/2 years before leaving. At the time I had plans to eventually continue my education in Houston.
3. Max (Class of '68) left Lamar Tech to embark on a career in law enforcement. He joined the Houston Police Department where he spent the next 33 years as a patrolman and helicopter pilot. I have always been so proud of his commitment to protect and serve his community with such honor and integrity. We married in '72 and just recently celebrated our 37th anniversary. He still loves me in spite of my faults and shortcomings. I can't begin to imagine going through life without him by my side.
4. Our life in the big city was off and running. I never went back to college to get my degree. After doing some substitute teaching, I decided to go to work for our local school district as an administrative secretary. I worked on two elementary school campuses over the course of my 27 year career. Both were located in economically disadvantaged areas of our District. Daily experiences opened my eyes to what so many underprivileged children face in their young lives. For many of them being at school was the best part of their day. Can you imagine? I stayed very involved with tutoring and literacy programs.
5. At the young age of 25 Max was diagnosed with cancer. His inoperable tumor would require months of radiation, chemo and eventually surgery. With the help of a great team of doctors and the Lord's blessing, the cancer finally went into remission. We soon realized that we needed to start living each day as if it were our last. To this day Max remains cancer free.
6. A few days into his treatment I discovered I was already pregnant with our first (and only) child. What a miracle that was for us!! Bryan was born in '75, and has always been a source of pride and joy. He continues to bring us many cherished memories. From the time he was in first grade he was involved in sports ... baseball, football, soccer, basketball, swimming and water polo. We were there every step of the way cheering him on. He still goes to the gym on a regular basis and trains for triathlons when time allows. As busy as he was with athletics, Bryan graduated from high school with honors and was off to college and fraternity life. Where had the time gone? He graduated in '97 with a degree in Industrial Distribution/Industrial Supervision. He immediately went to work for Lyondell Chemical Company and is still employed as an account executive in their polymers division. After being transferred to Seattle for two years, he and Adri, his beautiful wife of five years, are back in The Woodlands. They are expecting their first child (a little boy) in late July. I can't even begin to tell you how excited we are.
7. After months of being in severe pain, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at the early age of 37. No more aerobics for me! Through the help of some very experienced doctors, some reconstructive surgery, and modern medicine, I am able to go about my day in moderate discomfort. The disease has taught me to accept the things in my life that I cannot change. And if this is the only serious illness that I encounter, then I will consider myself blessed.
8. Our family always enjoyed playing together. When Bryan was younger we bought a camper and vacationed on a regular basis at parks and campgrounds all over Texas and beyond. Athletics eventually took hold, and we sold our camper. Over the years though we did manage to slip in a few family trips ... theme parks, water parks, snow skiing, float trips, baseball games, hunting, fishing, etc. Max and I began traveling more after our nest was empty. We've enjoyed many states but Alaska, Montana and Wyoming top our list. We love being in the mountains with the wildlife!! Our three most favorite places to be in the world are Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park, the back porch of Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park and on the bus in Denali National Park. We took a cruise once to the Caribbean as a family reunion with some of my cousins. The fellowship was fun, but I couldn't wait to get back to Galveston. The only trips we've taken overseas have been with Samantha Brown on The Travel Channel. LOL We leave that to our son. He's been everywhere! Perhaps eventually we'll venture out on our own.
9. In '04 Max and I retired, sold our home, packed up 32 years of memories and moved to the country. We said at the time it would either be the worst or the best decision we ever made. I am pleased to report that it was indeed the best. We built a new home on our 200 acre farm (complete with a pond and our own family cemetery) outside of Troup. Each day continues to bring us blessings and adventures. Retirement rocks!! I don't know how we ever had time to work. We have made several new friends in our community through church and related social activities such as ice cream socials, fish fries, chili suppers, etc. Sounds a lot like Mayberry, doesn't it? They have welcomed us with open arms. With the exception of church on Sunday mornings, we avoid going anywhere unless we can wear jeans. We have a great deal of company (relatives, our Houston neighbors, friends from work) and enjoy entertaining them in "country style".
10. Just a few days after Bryan was born, Max's dad suffered a fatal heart attack at the young age of 58. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and passed away in '97. Max's mom was in a nursing home for 10 years with the same disease before her death last year. Those of you who have had the misfortune of sharing this experience first hand know only too well how heartbreaking it can be. For those of you who haven't, I pray you never have to find out. A couple of years ago my mom decided to sell her home in Freeport and move to Jacksonville to be closer to us. It has been more of an adjustment than she anticipated, but she manages to stay in touch with all of her friends on a regular basis. We take a trip or two a year to go back for a visit. She is in pretty good health for 83. She still drives and cooks for herself. We, however, make frequent trips into town to check on her.
11. Among the loved ones we have lost over the years are three very loving and devoted companions ... an American Cocker Spaniel named Duffy, an English Cocker named Possum and last, but certainly not least, a little runaway mixed breed named Lambchop. Each one touched our life in ways we can't even begin to measure.
12. Max and I share a passion for antiques. We have plenty but are always on the lookout for more. We always enjoy trips to Canton, Jefferson, Tyler or Gladewater to look for more. We also enjoy visiting antebellum homes along the Mississippi River in Louisiana and Mississippi. I would love to take the riverboat cruise some day.
13. My favorite room in my house is the screened in back porch. I love to drink my morning coffee and watch all the birds that come to the numerous feeders throughout the yard. Who knew there were so many different kinds of birds in the woods? I have to keep a guide handy just so I can identify each one.
14. Marble Slab and Starbucks remain two of my guilty pleasures. I think M&Ms make excellent hurricane rations.
15. I weigh 40 lbs. more than I did 40 years ago. I blame part of that on my meds. The rest of it came on gradually after I retired. Life is good. What can I say?
16. I don't own a swimsuit. I have made a vow to never again expose my thighs or upper arms to the general public. I don't color my hair.
17. I love going out for breakfast. It makes me feel like I'm on vacation. Some favorite spots include LePeep and The Bunnery.
18. The reflection in my mirror is beginning to look more and more like my mother than me. Oh, dear!!!
19. A pedicure each month is on my "must do" list.
20. My favorite flowers are sunflowers and gardenias. I love to decorate with both.
21. Margaritas are my adult beverage of choice. Unfortunately, my intake is limited due to my meds. I stop for one every three months on my way home from having my blood drawn. It's sort of like getting a sucker from the doctor.
22. Max and I also share an interest in art and music. We love to attend Impressionist Exhibits and Western Art Exhibits. If you haven't been to the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, you need to add that to your bucket list. We enjoyed many a concert while living in the big city ... Elvis, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rolling Stones, Eagles, George Strait, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Norah Jones. Our taste in music has broadened over the years to include The Three Tenors and Il Divo. Yet there's nothing like listening to The Big Chill sound track to make you feel young again.
23. My favorite TV shows include Dancing with the Stars, Grey's Anatomy, 24 and any reruns of Frasier. I still miss The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Leno and Letterman don't even come close. Robert Redford will always be my favorite film star, but I enjoy a movie with Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford or Russell Crowe.
24. My only regret in life is that I have let so many friendships slip away over the years. I hope through this website I will be able to rekindle some of them.
25. "Life is not measured by the number of breathes we take but by the moments that take our breath away". My life has been filled with countless moments such as these. I pray yours has, as well.
Well, for better or for worse, that's my list. I'm tagging Jane Reeves Wied, Dorothy Harris Rarick , Louise Parker Tankersley, Marc Davis, Kathy Kramig Davis and Becky Williams.
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