Friday, November 28, 2008

LB says hi....


Hi to all, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I think this is a terrific idea, and am really looking forward to reading updates and seeing pix of the Lopez gang.

My life is not quite as exciting as Mark's. My days of sleep overs and chauffeuring are a thing of the past as my girls are grown and living in Washington.

Cassie, now 30 - and yes, that does make me feel old , is the very happy mom to Raelyn, 3, and is expecting another child in May. She received her AA- she was on the 10 year, diverting to the Navy for 6 year plan- in September, and is currently working towards her bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering and Electronic Communications- or something like that. All I know is that when she tries to explain it to me, I think I understand what she is saying, but when I am asked to regurgitate the information, I realize I really didn't understand afterall. She is working her way through school at Applebee's Restaurant, but is interviewing for a job in her career field next month. She, her fiance Casey, and Raelyn live in Bremerton, Wa., which is directly across the Sound from Seattle.

Carmen, 28, was the assistant manager of Safeway, also in Bremerton,for 3 or 4 years, but decided that was really not what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. So, she applied for a 911 dispatch job with Kitsap County. After a really, really long interview process, she was selected for one of the 9 positions available. She is now in her glory. She loves her new job. Loves it! She has completed her training, and is now working as a Emergency Telecommunicator, taking all those wacky 911 calls. She bought her first house - all 580sf of it- last summer, and lives there with her partner, Britt.

As for me, I stay busy helping as a caregiver to Mom and Dad- Mark already gave an overview of how Mom and Dad are doing, so I won't go into that- I will let Olivia give the bigger picture, as she is the main caregiver. I am in the throws of getting a non-profit off the ground, and spend quite a bit of time working on that. - More about that later - I also volunteer at a ranch that provides therapeutic horseback riding lessons to disabled children- great fun!! - and am involved with a women's investment club, along with Mom. Gaston is quite supportive of all of my activities even though it seems as though we hardly see each other.(could it be that is why he is supportive?!) He is doing well and leads a much quieter life than I. He spends lots of time on the phone and computer with his family and friends all over Africa and Europe. He is going to go visit his family in Africa in 2010, and I am hoping to be able to go with him.

I am really looking forward to hearing from everyone. I'd like to start a birthday list of everyone to post as well as one of email and snail mail addresses. As you post your information, I will compile it and keep it current. I think it will be fun to see how big this clan has grown..Let's get this off the ground and reconnect!

Be well, and Happy Holidays to all..
Laura.

2 comments:

Yolanda & Keith said...

This is the first time that I have posted to a BLOG (well, maybe 2nd) and I want to thank Mark for starting it. Just wanted to let you know that we are here and I will soon post update of what we are doing down here in SoCal mountains.

Donda

Unknown said...

Laura,

This is Elizabeth! Remember....friends back when...Elizabeth Garrett, well now, Elizabeth Johnson. Long story. I took a chance that I might find you by "googling" you, and was AMAZED that I found your family here. I'm so sorry to hear about your parents. I'm losing my dad to the last stages of alzeheimers as we speak. I would love to talk when you have a few...my email: lizadumbass@yahoo.com. It's soooo good to find you after these past 29 years. Sooo much to catch up on. Later friend, Liz.