Mulling over things ...
Posted by Carolan Gladden at 8/1/2010 1:51 PM 
Categories: Passions, Experiences, Life, thoughts, Ideas
Categories: Passions, Experiences, Life, thoughts, Ideas
It goes with age to reminisce, but today it seems more than nostalgia but actually looking back somewhat in awe at all that happened in my young life and how fast it happened ...
After being unceremoniously dumped just a week before my h.s. graduation by my beau of 2-1/2 years, a football center/ baseball catcher -- good looking, rugged -- and maybe a glutton for punishment (smile).
Well, I was destroyed! Still, I went off to colleger on a small journalism scholarship. And wouldn't you know it -- the only students on campus the first week were freshmen and the football team. Yes, HE was there and even asked to get back together.
But by then I knew it wasn't meant to be. Instead, I dated a few fun guys and then a good-looking rugged tackle, a serious senior, co-captain of the team, and an "exotic" -- from New Jersey.
Flash forward a few months:
Poisitively,
Carolan
After being unceremoniously dumped just a week before my h.s. graduation by my beau of 2-1/2 years, a football center/ baseball catcher -- good looking, rugged -- and maybe a glutton for punishment (smile).
Well, I was destroyed! Still, I went off to colleger on a small journalism scholarship. And wouldn't you know it -- the only students on campus the first week were freshmen and the football team. Yes, HE was there and even asked to get back together.
But by then I knew it wasn't meant to be. Instead, I dated a few fun guys and then a good-looking rugged tackle, a serious senior, co-captain of the team, and an "exotic" -- from New Jersey.
Flash forward a few months:
- I quit college (I got nothing new in journalism because wonderful h.s. journalism teacher Amarette Barnes had taught us so well. And, besides, the English professor wouldn't give an A to a freshman, not even accomplished writer moi !)
- I got engaged to Mister New Jersey.
- We got pregnant and we got married.
- Lived in France for 14 months (when Mister New Jersey got drafted) and it changed my life.
- Gave birth to 5 babies -- Dena, Tad, Guy, Dale and Alana.
- Worked as Head Secretary for a Jewish-owned furniture store and came close to converting.
- Lucked into getting "Buslach" -- sooo good with the kids during the day.
- Found an acre of land for $600 -- part of 50 acres that died in the prune blight of 1935.
- Designed an airy, contemporary 4-br house and sited it to view Mt. Hood.
- Negotiated a conventional loan at 6.6% interest.
- Mister New Jersey became helper to a brilliant old pro he hired at the Carpenters' Hall.
- I became the contractor and the decorator -- thanks to Vancouver Furniture.
- I finished cabinets and doors while Mister New Jersey did a masterful job on flooring, painting, roofing, etc.
- I planned landscaping for 95' x 95' front yard that included 2-ton boulders and railroad ties -- ah the '60s!
Played: 11 | Download | Duration: 00:05:12
Poisitively,
Carolan
Comments