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What a fantastic story--The redheaded preacher's daughter now lives in New Zealand with her grandchildren and is married to the love of her life. As always, she loves life and enjoys every moment of it. The first color photo below is Glenda on her 40th birthday.
I moved to Uvalde the summer before our sophmore year. Word spread quickly about the red headed preacher's kid and presumeably, I somewhat lived up to the stereotypical reputation of preachers' kids being "wild"! I was always, and still am, adventurous and live a bit on the edge. I recall doing crazy things like driving up and down Getty Street with the passenger steering while the driver was on the floor working the pedals: thus looking like no one was behind the wheel. Many of you will remember my old Chevy, "AHAB", as the decorated second ambulance at the football games and driving around spying on parkers (I was one of the less "popular" girls who were not involved often with the activities of "parkers"' so got my thrills by disturbing and interrupting the couples!). My favorite teacher by far was Mr. Daniels. He gave me the needed background to succeed in college, (Southwestern U., Georgetown) in writing and researching. I remember little about the other teachers in the way of knowledge digested: However, I do remembers slamming books in Miss Chinn's class to wake her up, escaping out the windows down the fire escape slide while she nodded off, taking handfulls of pennies to pay for workbooks when demanded by Mr. Posey that we bring "exact change", the X's that the algebra teacher, who was also a coach, wrote all over the blackboard that had nothing to do with Math but lots to do with football play and crying every day after Plane Geometry because I didn't understand any of the lectures. I also remember how my peers carried me through Biology, especially lab. Other teachers I remember, where I actually learned, taught Typing and Home Living. Mr Clap was also good.
While in Dallas, I met my first husband to be, who was getting his orthodontic degree. I married him in 1965 and moved to Albuquerque, NM. I thought I was doing the right thing following my Dad's advice to "marry a rich man who would take care of me and comes from a good Methodist family". Ironically, I met him at Lover's Lane Methodist Church in Dallas! We were married for 22 years. During that time I took on the role of Mom, wife of a politically active high profile orthodontist and pretty much lived what looked to be a typical life with 3 children as a Mom, wife, church member and community supporter. Thinking divorce wasn't an option, I continued to stay in a very dysfunctionsl marriage. After experiencing several years of therapy, I decided to return to school and obtain a master's Degree in Counceling. This is one of the best things I ever did for myself and learned that I should have been a counselor instead of teacher many years later. I did use the knowledge I acquired to work with behaviourally disordered kids for a few years. With insights gained from this pusuit I also worked up the courage to leave the marriage, which brought much heartache to my family and me. However, when they learned my reasons for doing so, which included unknown sexual abuse to my oldest daughter by her paternal grandfather, the support and validation became abundant. This was a very low passage but an action I never regretted. The next few years were spent single, though having a significant relationship, teaching, and staying involved with interests in tennis, choirs, children and friends. During these years, Carol McClintock, who was also single at the time, and I went on many adventurous trips. We could write a whole book about our episodes and experiences! We also kept up with Gloria Harms and saw other high school mates on occasion. In 1993 I was diagnosed with lymphoma stage III and had to quit teaching. I was one of the lucky ones and survived the chemo with more ease than most. I continued with my passion of self-introspection by attending a Cancer Clinic led by the renowned Dr. Carl Simonton, exploring ways in which I could better take charge of my health. I stayed on in Albuquerque until 2000 during which time I married and divorced again. By this time all three of my grown children had left the nest; one staying in Albuquerque teaching Special Ed, my only son moving to Seattle, and my youngest daughter marrying an Australian. Haley, my youngest, and her Aussie husband came over to NZ as ski bums in about 1998 and fell in love with it so they move from the hustle and bustle of huge Sydney. I started visiting them and it became apparent that Haley was the only child of mine who planned to have a family. The other two are openly gay and though having partners, decided against having children. This in itself is another learning journey I travel with added insights, tolerance and witnessing assets that have taught me to "LIVE LIFE".
My grandchildren are now eight and six and I have enjoyed being there close by (their "GG"-Grandma Glenda) and learning how to live in a new culture. Through these many years, I have traveled extensively. I have tried to keep my mind and body active with physical and mental activities and experiences. I have had to give up tennis and walking, so now go to swimming exercise. I play lots of bridge. I keep up with many friends in America while making new friends here. I read a lot and really appreciate knowing the little I know about computers. As the grandchildren grow older, I'm trying to become more involved in the community. I'm acquiring more an more internal metal: I presently have two artificial knees and a plate in one femur and looks like a bionic hip is in the immediate future (won't be long until "GG" will have her own "Stripping Room" in every airport!).
Over the years I have inherited many nicknames, "Clumsey Big Red" was one my older brother, Norman, tagged me with in High School. The shoe still fits! I've had so many broken bones, accidents, etc. it's no wonder every joint in my body is affected with arthritis. Other names that are self-explanatory: Gallavanting Glenda, Fruitcake (what my son-in-law calls me!), and GG (Grandma Glenda). Adjectives I often have heard describing me are: bold, loud,open,accepting, courageous, adventurous, loony, resourceful,fun,intrusive, curious, stubborn, uncautious(careless), generous, unpretentious, outgoing, eccentric and crazy. Life has been a great ride and I only hope to have many more years to continue experiencing all the surprises and challenges. I get a kick now of thinking about "firsts" at age 66. Just this week another "first"---LICE!!! I'd never seen or known about them and they showed up in my grandson's hair after a rugby game. YUK!!! They are a real annoyance! There's at least one "first" everyday! Most of the time the every day new experiences are shere pleasure and I try to be open to relishing anything new and different.
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