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After graduating high school I earned a BA at College of Notre Dame; a high school teaching credential for Biology and English at San Jose State; and MA's in Counseling Psychology and School Administration at Santa Clara University.
To earn money for tuition I worked summers at Lake Tahoe's Tahoe Tavern and Yosemite National Park's Camp Curry Resturant. Three months for two summers at Yosemite gave me: an increased appreciation for nature; a view of Yosemite Valley from top of Half Dome; an Ansel Adams photograph; and my husband, the father of my children.
My experience at O'Dowd got me used to taking on difficult situations and not being concerned about the results. Whenever I was presented with a challenge I took it on. Therefore I've had the opportunity to be an elementary and middle school math and science teacher; a middle school and high school counselor; a high school director of campus ministry; a high school administrator responsible for discipline and an administrator of academics and instruction; an elementary school assistant principal and a principal/ superintendent.
For me the most callenging task was starting, at age fourty-seven, a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from USF. I needed to update my background in that area for my administrative positions and teacher education instruction. It took me seven years. I just put one foot in front of the other and finally finished. At fifty-four I was done with school. This experience increased my effectiveness as an administrator and a student teacher supervisior and instructor at Santa Clara University, Bethany College, and St. Mary's College.
My most significant accomplishement has been raising my children: helping with homework, making Halloween costumes, coaching soccer teams. One of the kids I coached played pro soccer for Seattle and a team in Germany. All our kids became teachers.
I've been retired for eight years. I've enjoyed time to be a full time grandmother, travel, and work for my major concerns: Autism research and services, homeless teens, public education; and universal health care and political candidates that support my concerns.
I now have time to go to L.A. to visit Jason and catch up with my granddaughter's soccer and my grandson's farm animals. After attending many Little League Games Joseph has taught me that baseball is a game of serious strategy for smart guys. I truly enjoy having the time to babysit whenever needed. Yes, grandchildren grow up just as my own children did so I want to enjoy the here and now.
The most fun has been traveling during the off season. Vern and I have been tackeling our bucket list. We started with China, cruising the Yanghtze River before the Dam was completely filled; exploring the Mayan Ruins of Mexico and Central America, the temples of Thailand, and the beaches of Guadulupe; sampling beer in Munich, battling The Rolling Stones crowds in Prague, cruising Milford Fjords and camping in the Sahara Desert. These experiences have all been a drink from the fountain of youth. We have also been able to spend quality time with relatives in Italy, where we went to weddings, birthday parties, school band concerts, and soccer games. But most exciting was to fulfill my childhood dream of seeing the great animals of Africa in the wild. It was a new benchmark for my travel experiences. Sixteen of us traveled to four camps in Zimbabwa, Zambia, Botswana, Nambia, and South Africa by jet boat, and four passenger planes. It was so energizing. I still can't believe I stood on the tip of Africa. Like being twelve years old and at summer camp. I look forward to going back.
My life has been good. By an accident of birth I have been given many opportunities and gifts many still wish for. They still are coming.
