What were some of the challenges you have had to deal with in your life?

I feel my life has been very good in regards to challenges.

My only challenges have been getting through brain surgery when I was 47.  The result of this surgery is that the right side of my throat is paralyzed for life.  I have trouble with coughing a lot because of the damage, but I have learned to deal with it.  I was glad that I had such a challenge and not one of  my children or husband.

My second challenge came at the age of 59.  Breast cancer.  I had a lumpectomy, radiation treatment and chemotherapy.  It was stage one cancer but my onco DX test showed my tumor was medium grade for recurrence so the oncologist suggested I take the chemo.  It was horrible.  I am through it now.

My sisters and I have all the gene test for breast cancer and unfortunately my four sisters tested positive for the Check 2 gene mutation which means that their chance of getting cancer is twice the general population.  Sue and Patty both got breast cancer with two years of me.  I was the only sister that did not have the mutation but I have had the cancer, however at a much older age than sisters.

What do you see as your greatest strengths?

My greatest strengths......I believe my greatest strengths are:

1.   My positive attitude.  My glass is always half full.

2.  My dedication to my family.  I always tried to show  a consistent value system to my kids and grandkids and guide them on a path that would lead them to be good people that other people would respect.  I also tried to show them the path to a happy successful life.  I also let them know that I was always here to support them if they needed.

3.  My dedication to my marriage.  I know that marriage is something that you have to work on.  When things would get tough I didn't take the easy way out.  Counseling a few times over the last 35 years has been priceless.  One of the biggest problems with our country is broken families.  The kids always pay the price.  Unfortunately, I learned this lesson after divorcing Jason's father.  However, Lindsey and Kyle are the result of that life change so I guess it was a good move!

4.  My ability to save money.  I always spent less than I made and saved for retirement so that I was never a burden on my family and would also have funds to help the kids if needed.

If you went to college or a vocational school, what school did you attend? Describe what memories you have of those years and what subjects you studied.

I attended "Modern Business School" located in the Angus Village (Vista Way) in Kennewick.  I looked at CBC but knew I wanted to be a secretary so I signed up.  The President was Velta Belba.  What a weird name but I have never forgotten it.  I attended for 7 months of an 8 month program to become an Executive Secretary and got an interview and job offer from Wadco (Westinghouse's first name when they set up a subsidiary at Hanford).  I was a temporary typist.  I quit Modern Business School and started my career! Remained with the same company for 40 years!
I remember that there were a lot of women on Welfare.  They were being paid a wage and had their babysitting paid for so that they could learn a trade and get off of welfare.  I thought that was a pretty good deal.  I also remember walking across Kennewick avenue to buy lunch at McDonalds once in a while.  19 cents for a hamburger!