I was born in Seattle, Washington, mid-August nearly a half century ago. I have three siblings; two older and one younger. My brother is the eldest and lives in Kentucky. Next is a sister in Everett, Washington. My younger sister lives on Vashon Island in Washington. I have four nieces aged 11, 9, 9, and 5 (the middle girls are identical twins). My father and his wife, as well as my two sisters and their families, still live in the Seattle area and my mother lives in Oregon. I moved to California right out of high school, following my mom who had just remarried and her (then) husband to San Jose. My mother later moved to Oregon, and although I have lived in several Bay Area cities over the years, I am once again in San Jose, with my husband, Ted; my stepson, Brandon; our two domestic-short-hair cats, Casey and Coal, and our Labrador Retriever puppy, Lucky.
Although we have been together for nearly ten years, and have known each other for more than 15, my husband and I married as recently as 2005. Both of us had been married before, and between the two of us have five children; Priscilla, Eddie, Tiffany, Trinity, and Brandon. Priscilla is married with a daughter of her own. Our granddaughter, Julie-Anne is nearly 5 years old, and started pre-school on the same day her “Gamma” started college! Priscilla and her husband are both in the United States Air Force and stationed at Hickam AFB in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu. Eddie attends San Jose State University, majoring in Radio, Television and Film. Tiffany is nearing her 17th birthday and Trinity is 12 and in the 7th grade. Brandon, the only one who still lives with us, is in the 6th grade. He is very much into sports and a more rambunctious adolescent I have never known.
I work full-time at a laser manufacturing company in Santa Clara, California, where I have been employed since 1982. I am currently an Executive Assistant, although I have held numerous positions, from Secretary to Administrative Services Manager, over the years. Such tenure is not very common in Silicon Valley, and I believe my employer recognizes and values my loyalty and work ethic. I support several high-level vice presidents, and one corporate officer.
For fun, I like to relax and hang out with my family and friends; however, there was a time when I spent most of my spare time involved somehow with singing. I love to sing. I sang in two different high school groups, auditioned for and accepted into the Washington All-State High School Concert Choir—quite an accomplishment since only 400 students from the entire state of Washington were accepted. I was one of only two from the city of Seattle; both from my high school. I sang in a community musical theatre group when I was a young girl and teenager, and I sang in a community chorale later as an adult. And, and I sang in the car. I never sing in the shower though, strange as it may seem. From 1991-1997, I sang backup vocals for a local singer-songwriter in a bar and grill once or twice a week.
I have wanted to get my college degree for some time now, but there always seemed to be something more important or demanding of my time and energy. Whether it was the chaos of all or most of the children living with us at the same time, or the demand of extracurricular school activities for them, or the stress of making ends meet in an economy slump, the dream of higher education always seemed to remain on the back burner.
Then last year just as my son was starting his freshman year of college, I realized the time had come to jump in with both feet. My goal is a bachelor degree by the time I reach my 50th birthday. So far, I am on track.