Comments:
I have done a lot of things during my lifetime.
I am a Certified Professional Secretary and worked in that industry for several years, even founding my own business, (All American Secretary) which I sold and went into the hand tool industry.
I was vice president of Hardways, Inc. for several years and traveled in the U.S. and the middle east. I worked in this industry until the birth of my second son. He was born with cerebral palsy and I resigned to take care of him.
My husband and I began our own business, The professional Handyman because it allowed me the time required to care for Ben.
During the recession of the early 80's, Bill operated his own service station in Dallas and eventually accepted a position with Eastman-Kodak in Farmers Branch, Texas. When this location was closed, he was offered a position in Rochester, New York. He accepted and worked there until his retirement in 2004. Staying home didn't pay much, so he went to work for the Greece, NY, Central Schools as school bus attendant.
After Ben entered school, I began driving a school bus because it gave me the same days off that he had. When we moved to New York, I took a couple of years off (that was nice!) and then resumed driving a school bus.
My son Brian moved to New York a year later to attend school here and met and married a local girl, Sabrina Paul. They now have 2 girls.
Before we left Texas, I became a professional clown and loved every moment of it. I worked private birthday parties and corporate events. Brian joined me as a clown and later became Tricky Tom the magician. When we moved to New York, I continued as a clown, but worked the fair and festival circuit painting faces and making balloon animals. I have scaled back on my clowning activities in preparation for moving back to Texas.
I have competed in several school bus road-eo's and have done well. I now teach others that skill.
In 2005, a friend sent me an e-mail about a poetry contest urging me to enter. I did and subsequently have had some of my work published. A poet is a far cry from what I would ever have thought I would become, but I do enjoy writing it and write often for the special events in the lives of my family and friends.
We do plan to move back to Texas after I retire next year.
