The Road Not Taken

_{The street I lived on in Isla Mujeres, Mexico}
Someone tagged me to reveal eight random things about me. Ladies, my whole life is random. I am, by nature, a fatalist. What happens happens for a reason and I just brush off my hands and go on. I'm sure this attitude stems from reading "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" at an early age . That and the fact that I am just an absolute lazy slug.
Be that as it may, I have had a little different thrust to my life than lots of girls
_{Table decorations for patio dining}
Okay - here goes. I grew up in an upscale whitebread suburb of San Francisco. I went to school with the kids of doctors, lawyers and insurance executives. I was the daughter of a teacher and a blue collar worker who made a good real estate choice. When I was in kindergarten my folks got divorced. No big deal except where I ived there was only one other girl who had divorced parents. We were not snubbed but clearly set apart by others as being one of the things that doesn't belong here. Her mom didn't have to work, they lived on alimony. Hewlett Packard, while a wonderful emploer in those days, still didn't pay enough for my dad to support us so my mom continued teaching. A mother who worked. It was almost unheard of in our town. She made every effort to be room mother and participate when she could but my gosh, she was a teacher after all. Busy and stressed and tired at the end of the day. It was, despite these stumbling blocks a fairly fun childhood. We played in the streets all us neighbor kids, we ate ice cream, went swimming at the middle school and shot off fireworks and went trick-or-treating en masse. We rode bikes up and down the block, found frogs in the creek, colored in coloring books, read comic books and made doll clothes. Once in 1961 it snowed. We all got up early and tried to make snowballs from the sparse white stuff on the ground. We played in it until it was all used up around noon then went to the movies. Pretty normal stuff for California kids.
_{My new penbrushes}
Between 7th and 8th grade two life-altering things occured. The first was my being sent to Mexico for the summer on an exchange. I lived for 8 weeks with a VERY wealthy family in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. I learned Spanish and I learned to love Mexico. The second occurence was my mom getting re-married. That was not so good. She married a certifiably crazy, substance and child abuser with a temper. Yeah, not so much fun. Imagine, in our town. Big secret to keep for us little kids. We got a stepbrother and sister, too. They, poor things, took the brunt of their father's insanity.
When I was a junior in high school I got pregnant. This was 1968. Abortions were illegal in the U.S.A. and though my parents offered to take me to Mexico, I knew I wanted to keep the baby. I got married two weeks after turning 17. It wasn't that unheard of - it was the dawning of the Age of Aquarius after all. A year later I got pregnant again and Jim got his draft notice to report for combat. Give me an F. Give me a U...He signed up with the Air Force and never had to see combat. He also got schooling in early-days computer stuff. My second daughter was born at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, then the destination hospital for soldiers who lost limbs in Viet Nam. Ed Sullivan did a show from there the week after Erica was born.
_{Loteria gift boxes}

After ten years of marriage I became a single parent. In those ten years I had moved from California to live in Omaha, Denver, and Seattle to name just a few of the places. At 27, I had to find a place to light, get a job (first one ever) and figure out what to do with the next few decades of our lives. Good times.
I moved back to California to be near my family who helped me in so many ways with my girls.
I went back to school - studied graphic arts and journalism. Megan graduated from high school, Erica took the GED. Both of them went on to college, working their way through. Megan started in interior design then switched to teaching. Erica began in early childhood education, changed to paralegal studies and ended up being a vet. When I was 36 I became a grandma. Mikey, the light of my life, was born. I was living in Southern California at the time. I came back up north for a while then moved to Isla Mujeres Mexico for seven years.
I've had so many different kinds of jobs; I've worked in a fabric store, coffee store, a bank. I've done newspaper editing and advertising design. A lot of restaurant work (I love it). I've been a teacher, a teacher's aid, done window display, catering and I can't remeber what all. I'm the front office lady now. I'm settled down. I know right where my kids are most days and get my excitement from watching a new episode of Law and Order. I have a retirement plan and a 403b. I bought a new car a few years back, paid it off and will probably drive it for a good while longer. I am a little cranky most days, but only on the outside. I really am exactly where I should be.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Comments

[Mary Ann]

You always seemed like the kind of gal who would take a road that was grassy and wanted wear. Viva Vallen!

[Lisa Oceandreamer]

You, my friend, have lived many life times. All of which have converged to make you the person we've come to adore today. You have a phenomenal sense of humor, a gift for creativity, a definite way with words, and no doubt the adoration of your girls and your grandson. I would say the road less traveled was a course you were destined to take. Everything certainly does happen for a reason. I am ever so glad blogging was along your course.
XOXO

[Carrie]

Excellent.

[Roxanne]

Wow, what a great story! The places you've been and the things you've done never cease to amaze me! Thanks for sharing this with us!!

[laeroport]

Wow! That's all I can say! Wow! You have earned your queenly title the hard way. Have a great weekend.

[Erin Earls]

Wow! You may not have done it all, but you sure have done a lot of it!!
I have been down that road, isn't it wonderful....
hugs
Erin~

[Thimbleanna]

Oh! The places you've been! I definitely had you pegged for the kind of girl who would take the road less traveled. What an interesting life! And to be happy where you've ended up. I'd love your job too. Seeing the kids all day -- I'd love that. The kids at our school loved the front office girls the best -- but not the up tight administrators. I'd want your job just to be there to give them a little encouragement when they're having a bad day -- and they're in the office 'cause they're not supposed to be! And I'll bet you're that supportive front office girl -- and the reason you get all the hugs on graduation day!

[Barb]

That was fascinating. You're older than I thought (that's not a bad thing--it's refreshing, actually). How interesting. A life full of character, charm, and grace.

[Libby]

What a full life you have led so far, all that travel, so many positive experiences mixed in with a few bad! Well it can't all be good.
Look at you now though, a totally 'of her head woman' just my type of friend LOL!!!

[thepinkkitchen]

I love hearing people's stories. Thank you for sharing yours.

LA xo

[Jenny]

Yea!!! Me too, me too -- I took the road less traveled!!!! I have passed you on the way -- and thought, "Soul Sister!! Hello!!"

Big Hugs,
Jenny

[Randi]

Bravo! I loved reading this post!

[Jenny]

Hey, that sounds like a lady whom I'm proud to know! So I missed seeing you in the last few weeks of Paly. We'll have to get together this summer. I have a new tattoo to show you...a bird of paradise on my right arm. It's a keeper :) Hope you're settled in with an umbrella in your drink. See you soon!

[Joy]

Wow Vallen - what a story, a marvellous rich tapestry of life with bright golden threads running through it. Thank you for sharing it.
By the way, what is a 403B?

[Malady]

I would love to hear how you ended up in Isla Mujeres. What a life you have had so far!!!

[Amy Elise Designs]

Thank you for sharing your life! It is so wonderful to learn more about you! You rock and stay Queenly!

[janet]

It's wonderful to learn more about you....and you seem to have had a very interesting life so far. I could relate to the moving around part as my hubby and I did that for about 10 years. I think you have a good attitude about life. I'm happy to know you.

[Dinah]

This post is one of the most enjoyable I've ever read. Not only is your story so very interesting, but I just love the way you write. You are so talented Vallen. And I'm sure that those kids at school care about you the same way you care about them.

[Rebecca]

Sigh . . . you're like one of those fabulous novels, all trials and tribulations but with a laughing, sigh out loud, happy ending.

[Mystele]

Gorgeous. I'm inspired once again to see life as an instrument for becoming. Thank you.