| 03/18/09 08:19 PM |
#199
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Nancy Leavitt (Leavitt)
You all have had such exciting and fulfilling lives! I am slow putting up my “25 Things” because it is a bit intimidating after reading about all the exciting places you all have been. Feel free to skip through the boring parts – which would basically be the whole thing judging by the standard that has already been set. As I was reading everyone’s entries, I found myself wondering if Mrs. Huff would like our diction. I am very impressed myself. I think we come off as a well educated bunch, but then I’m not an English major.
Past 40 Years:
1.After graduating from high school, I attended Stephen F. Austin U. for 1 year with Brenda Craig, Martha Haish and Elaine Garrison. Judy Teague was in another dorm. Then I transferred to UT Austin with Catherine (a.k.a. Caye) Faltisek and Mariyln Schuhmann. Martha and Becky Rush lived with us for a year, but ended up going back to Houston. I graduated in 1973 with a degree in Biology, thanks in part to Mrs. Jones, who made HS Biology so interesting.
2. I immediately moved to Aspen, CO to ski. Karla Sanders was already there. I stayed about a year, and then moved to Denver. Nixon was being impeached during the time I was in Aspen, but I had to learn about it later, I was so far removed from reality. I remember having such a good time skiing Independence Pass in July.
3. I got a Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology and began work at the Denver Water Department as an Environmental Planner. My first real job was monitoring Big Horn Sheep in Waterton Canyon where Denver Water was building Strontia Springs dam. There were 42 bighorn sheep in the canyon when the project started, then it went up to 78 when they closed the canyon to vehicles. Unfortunately, they got pneumonia due to overcrowding and dust; many died. At the end of the project the population was back to 42.
4. I got married in 1978 and had my daughter Leigh in 1983. I was divorced in 1984 and married my husband Bill in 1985, who also worked at Denver Water. We had our son Steven in 1986.
5. My husband has a natural child and a step-child, but he gets confused as to which one is which, so I guess it all worked out.
6. I got an MBA and transferred to the Finance Department. I had Steven during spring break my last quarter – timing couldn’t have been better. I didn't miss a day of class. I stayed at Denver Water for 14 years, eventually becoming Manager of Water Rates.
7. We bought an old farm house within the city limits of Denver sitting on 5 acres of land. It was a mess, with weeds taller than us and debris all over the place. Bill, the maintainer, methodically started mowing and watering (it came with free water). By the time we left, the place was beautiful green pastures right out of a picture book. The story has a sad ending however, since the land is now developed with 30 patio homes crammed onto the 5 acres.
8. In 1993, we moved to Virginia Beach, VA. Bill took a job as a professor of Public Administration at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Though it is far away from Texas, it turned out to be a good place to raise kids.
9. We bought a sailboat and explored the Chesapeake Bay with the kids and friends. It wasn’t the same as sailing on Colorado lakes (calm and safe), but it was more reassuring than sailing on the ocean. Bill took a crew, including Steven, on one ocean trip around the Delmarva Peninsula – I refused to go (very smart). The ocean was very rough and everyone got seasick except Bill, who ended up steering the boat for more than 24 hours straight since there was no one who could take over for him. If I had gone, I would have been one of the seasick ones.
10. My first job in Virginia was with the City of Virginia Beach as a Budget Analyst. Then, I worked for the City of Norfolk as the Debt Administrator for 4 years. In 1999, I went back to the City of Virginia Beach, this time as a Financial Planner. I get involved with the City’s economic development projects. I like my job and probably won’t retire until I am 65. Besides, I’m not sure what else I would do if I didn’t get up and go to work everyday. This assumes I won’t get layed off. I think FY-2011 is going to be a pretty tough budget year.
Things I am Grateful For:
11. Bill’s cancers are in remission. He has had melanoma and prostate cancer. We’ve passed the five year mark on the melanoma.
12. Leigh was accepted into the Physical Therapy program as Old Dominion University starting summer 2009. She is so happy and we are proud of her. As parents, we are relieved that she will have actual job skills when she graduates.
13. Steven joined the Coast Guard in 2006. He graduated from Boot Camp at Cape May, New Jersey on Sept 8 – which just happened to be Leigh’s wedding day. It would be so sad to me if Steven missed the wedding and missed being in all the pictures. Bill ended up chartering a plane so that he could attend Steven’s boot camp graduation and bring him back in time for the wedding. He took along Steven’s grandfather, uncle, and one of Steven’s friends. It was a bit nerve wracking, but it all worked out. What a day!
14. I remember Mr. Mac would accept nothing less than a Division I rating for UIL marching band and concert contests. Thanks to him and a lot of practice, we never once got a lower rating. I learned the value of hard work and doing your best, which still serves me well today. Thanks Mr. Mac!
15. I never dropped my baton at Pep Rallies.
16. I keep in touch with Karla Sanders, Marilynn Schuhmann and Martha Haish and a little bit with Catherine Faltisek and Becky Rush. That’s not many for such a big class. Mike Strickland is nice enough to keep me informed of what some classmates are up to.
17. Lake Jackson (including the whole Brazosport area) was a wonderful place to grow up.
Claim to Fame:
18. I made up a word that is now included in the dictionary. I coined the name “Xeriscape” which refers to water conservation landscaping. While at Denver Water, I was on a landscape committee charged with coming up with ways to save water in landscaping. Much to the consternation of senior management, it caught on big-time. This was our first exposure to social marketing – when you encourage a population to use less of your product.
New Things:
19. When the kids were in high school, a friend and I began working out 2/week with a personal trainer. We have been doing that now for 8.5 years, and are afraid to quit. I also do some kind of aerobic exercise (running, machines, jumping rope etc.) for 200 minutes/week. I am doing what I can to stay out of the healthcare system.
20. Once we were empty-nesters, I had time for other things besides kids. At my husband’s insistence, I learned to play golf. It has been a long slog, but I am getting better and I actually kinda like it. It would never have happened except for my “professor” husband giving me constant lessons. I could have slapped him at times.
21. I finally learned to slalom (water) ski last summer. After trying all summer and receiving several involuntary enemas, I managed to stay up. I was never able to master it as a kid. If I had, it would have been so much easier!
22. I am trying to learn to play chess so I can play with my son. This is not going well. I need to develop a new way of thinking.
Regrets:
23. After reading all the profiles, I realize what great people were in my class. I wish I had gotten to know more of you.
24. I wish I could think of more anecdotes involving members of my class, but it has been too long, I’m afraid. The strongest memories I have are from elementary school and junior high school for some reason.
25. When I moved to Colorado, I was planning on staying for only 2 years. Somehow the two years turned into a lifetime. While I have loved the places I have lived, I wish they weren’t so far away from Texas.
I tag Brenda Craig. (Marc and Kathy, do you still keep in touch with her? Tell her she's been tagged.)
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