In the 10 years since our 40th reunion, my life has changed in several drastic and predictable ways:
1. I know what color my gray hair would be IF I ever let it show through, so the blonde may be more shocking at this 50th reunion than it was at the 40th.
2. I retired as a full-time classroom teacher in May 2012, leaving Central High School as the lead English IV teacher and loving every minute of my job (OK, so maybe grading essays wasn’t always fun!). Actually, I never dreamed that I would retire, but WOW! I was a dinosaur; my standards and expectations were soooooo out of the norm that continuing would have meant sacrificing the lessons I learned from those icons whom we were so blessed to have at CHS back-in-the-day. Just couldn’t do it. Certainly, not willing to give up on my career, however, I have been a Title I tutor at Bradford Elementary since retirement. I work daily on language arts skills with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, hoping that they won’t be the kinds of students who struggled in my secondary classrooms. Education has been a blessing to me.

Chase and I celebrate 47 years of marriage on this 50th reunion year, incredibly thankful for the luck and blessings that these years have brought us. In the last 18 years, Chase and I have enjoyed the births and adventures of seven grandchildren – bookend girls with 5 boys in the middle, who thankfully all live in North Austin, where our sons are committed to the corporate world. Sons, daughters-in-laws, and grandchildren enjoy our property in Irion County were Chase and I love to spend much of our time and energy.

Traveling with Chase, family, and friends to satisfy my ever-changing “Bucket list;” reading; serving on various boards and committees; working at Dos Rios in Irion County; enjoying a new home; playing Mah Jongg and poker; enjoying my myriad groups of friends; serving in my church; walking; hiking – I fall into bed exhausted every evening and wake-up energized every morning, thankful for another day of adventure. Life has been good!

For the last two years, a core group of classmates has been brainstorming about this 50th reunion. Nearly 18 months ago, we began meeting in earnest. The group has expanded and grown as people have joined the effort to provide a weekend of fun and excitement. When you see a member of the planning committee, give him/her a much-deserved “Thank you.” Actually, the fun and excitement have been ours in providing for this reunion. 50th years – who would have believed!!!!

From the welcome address at the 40th, I reiterate, “So after 40 (50) years of birth, death, happiness, sadness, change, and status quo, 7-8 (9-10) wars, and 11 (12) presidents, we’ve survived whatever life has chosen to throw at us, and we’re survivors. From the whole reunion committee, welcome! It’s been such fun to re-experience the best years of our lives “together again.”