Highlights since high school
Life - Version 2.0 is absolutely an upgrade
Forty years? I’m still not sure how that happened. After graduation I moved to LA and studied English Lit and PoliSci at Occidental College. I lived in LA for 10 years then in San Diego for 2, where I got married and worked remotely as a Senior Advertising Account Manager for a publishing company. I loved San Diego, but my husband’s career turned us into serial relocators: 3 years in Chicago (daughter Emma arrived) and 5 in Mission Viejo (son Grant arrived). When the magazine I represented was sold and folded, I intended to take a “short” career break to be with the kids…that stretched into 15 years. There was another relocation to rural Mountain Home, Arkansas for 3 years of culture shock in the Ozarks, then we finally landed in Grand Rapids, MI where I’ve stayed put for 17 years.
Emma’s now 27 and a Colorado College Psych/Spanish grad living in Boston and working in operations for a silicone parts manufacturer. Grant, 24, graduated from CalPoly SLO as an Aerospace Engineer and recently moved to Napa with his winemaking girlfriend and is working in Davis as a Test Engineer.
As for me? Life happened. After 20 years of marriage, we divorced and I had to find a new career and reboot my life as a single empty nester. I’m now a software Product Manager and employee-owner of Greatland Corp. Best of all, 8 years ago I met my partner Will, he’s proof that Life - Version 2.0 is absolutely an upgrade. These days PTO is spent visiting my kids, my mom (still in Fresno), and traveling the world with Will. I also took up pottery three years ago and can throw a pretty nice set of bowls. It’s excellent stress relief and cheaper than therapy. With retirement on the horizon, we plan to rack up many frequent-flier miles and Hilton Honors points and take time to enjoy Will’s adorable 2 yr old grandson, Denis, who lets me pretend I’m a grandparent without any of the actual responsibilities. On to life’s next adventures!
