One Woman's Story--the First 65 Years

In 1996 when I wrote this as a classroom writing exercise along with my students these goals were distant and unattainable.  My world consisted of stretching each paycheck to fulfill bills, getting my weary bones to my high school teaching committment daily, mothering three teenagers, and dealing with a consistent stream of car repairs.   I am sure writing this list lifted me up away from my life and breathed some life into my dusty existence.  I include it as the first installment in my story because so much of my story is wrapped around this list.  And furthermore the philosophy behind making such a list is integral to who I am.  I believe in lifelists.  Over the last 25 years I have overseen the writing of perhaps a thousand of these.  They have been the seeds I sowed in my students' futures.  Perhaps someday I will see the fruits of my investments. SET FOOT ON ALL 7 CONTINENTS VISIT THE FOLLOWING CAPITAL CITIES: BEIJING...

A note to the reader:   This has been written as a gift to my three children.   I wrote it with the intention that it would present a comprehensive picture of the first 65 years of my life, and as such I have included the good, the bad, the ugly, the sublime—all to be sorted and read for entertainment and hopefully enlightenment.   Oh, that I had such a book from my own mother. Some parts may be raw and difficult to read.   Others may contain surprises.   Perhaps some will provide insight.   I, the author, can only write it as I lived it—in retrospect.   I hope the years will have smoothed some of the sharp edges, added keener understanding, and most of all I hope I can do it all justice.  This book is arranged chronologically by geographic location, for the most part, with a few separate subject headings   Pictures are placed throughout with a note about each contained under each.  I have included as many pictures as ...