Lisa

I was born in MN where I lived a pretty much Norman Rockwell type of life. Then after High School I joined the Navy, to become a computer operator or in Navy speak "DP - Data Processor", (Bye, Bye Norman Rockwell! (LOL). I got to see the California Jam II while attending "A" school, and a bunch more concerts in Virginia during "C" school. Then it was off to Sicily Italy for 1 1/2 years. That is where I got to see Mt Etna erupt twice (Awesome!, no video can truly capture the sound and feel of being their in person). I learned a little Italian (which since the languages sound similar, to me) I promptly got mixed up with my little bit of Spanish, some how I managed to get bye though, and I met many interesting people, both on and off base. I also learned something about my self...that I love meeting, and learning about people from different, countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I met my future husband, Ken (Dubby), who was also in the Navy stationed in Sigonella Sicily. We both returned to the US we got married in MN at my family's cabin on lake Carnelian, MN. My last official "duty" in the Navy was to have my first daughter Rhiannon. Dubby was also out of the service and decided to be a truck driver for ten years, during which time we moved to Ocean Pine MD and I had my second daughter Brandy. After ten years of "on the road again" Dubby decided to stop driving trucks (he decided he was missing too much at home when he realized that Brandy's 6th B-day party was the first one he got to see.) Dubby got a job as a "honey dipper" (nice term for a sewage truck huh?). I worked as a receptionist, in computer sales and then started working at my favorite job ever...as seamstress/clerk at a costume, uniform, formal ware shop called Costume Zoo & Uniforms too. Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays so from Oct 1st - 31st I'd wear a different costume every day, and I had over 2000 to choose from...is that a woman's dream or what! These were some of the funniest days of my life. Like the time I was on my way to work in mid Oct. and I noticed a police officer standing by the side of the road, the closer I got to him bigger the grin on his face until finally, he was laughing out loud! As I stopped to see what he wanted, he told me "lady you’re the first duck I've had To stop today"...I was so used to wearing costumes every day that I completely forgot that I was dressed as "Daisy Duck" complete with Bill, Bow, Wings and tail! There were only three of us at the "Zoo”, Charley (the owner), Jane his assistant, and I, we were like family and we all had lots of fun pulling endless tricks and pranks on each other and a few customers too!. Then in '95 we moved back to my home town St. Cloud, MN. We did this for our kids as the school system was better in MN. I was then pregnant with my third and last daughter Joelle. I loved moving back to be among family again but Dubby and the girls had a hard time dealing with the climate change (MN had record cold spells the first winter we moved here (38 deg. BELOW ZERO for several days) Burr...I don't blame them it was quite a shock from MD were the "Blizzard of 89" was two feet of snow that melted two weeks later. Dubby got a job as a mechanic and I started working as a Dr's mail/Medical records clerk at the St Cloud hospital, I met many cool people their but quit to work for Nash Finch co 9 month latter for better pay and to work once again in my chosen career as a computer operator. During my first years home I spent as much time with my grandma (Eileen, AKA Granny Goat) as I could. She was 100% Irish, witty and smart with a heart a big as the world. We made a pack to meet once a week for lunch at a different restaurant each time...we made it almost every one in the area before she passed away in '02. I spent every night with grandma during her last few months. I'd go to work, come home, feed the kids, and then stay with her at the hospital or nursing home till she fell asleep at night. As long as I live I know I'll never feel better about myself than the night she said to me "Lisa, I've suffered a lot during the last few months, but I would have suffered at lot more if hadn't been for you". I think that's when I first began to think about switching careers and becoming a nurse. (But I was already 43 and I'm very emotional(I've been know to cry at a sad commercial)I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle that part of the job),so the idea just kind of sat their in the back of my mind. Then, my best friend, confidant and source of total love and support, my mother, died of ovarian cancer just two years later. I know nothing in this world could be worse than the pain of her loss, she was only 65 and since her mother (Granny Goat) lived until one month before her 90th B-day, we still should have had many years left together. I'm gratefully that we moved home when we did so that I could at least have those last years with her, but God, I miss her so much! Mom was very active in the area her whole life, but it wasn't until she became so ill that I found just how many peoples lives she affected and how much she would be missed by the entire community. From the two nuns' whom she helped find the perfect little retirement home, in St. Joe, to the church who's charity events she helped plan every year, so many people came to express their feeling of loss and sympathy. Time is supposed to heal all wounds but I don’t think their will ever be a day that I don't think about and ache from the hole her passing has left in my heart. But being with my grandma and mother while they were passing also taught me something new about myself...That yes, being there was painful, but it was also the only thing that made my feel better, 'cause I knew as long as I was there that they would get the best care it was possible for me to give. That's what finally made me decide at 45 to change careers and go into the nursing field. So in March of '05 I entered St Cloud tech to take a CNA/HHA class which after a years delay (explained in my "school" section of my profile) I was finally able to complete. I am currently looking for work in my new chosen career path. I also hope, in time continue on in school and become a LPN or RN. Meanwhile my oldest daughter Rhiannon got married, moved to Mass. (where Dubby's folks live) and has made us the proud grandparents of two beautiful grandchildren, Alyssa 1 1/2 yrs and Chase 5 mo. Brandy is graduating High School in June, and just moved out into her own appt. with a friend this week. Joelle at 9 still's got a ways to go before I have to worry about an "empty nest". Well, this thing has gotten to be quite long but it's hard to pack 46 Years (almost 47) into this small space, and believe me I left out a lot! Whoever said "truth is stranger than fiction" could have been talking about my life. And I now know why, "May you have an interesting life", is an old Irish curse. ‘Cause sometimes I feel like I could sure use a nice boring one. Peace out, Lisa