I've been everywhere, man
crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
travel I've had my share, man
Seriously, I have a very fond memory of traveling by car from Illinois to Sanibel Island, FL with my grandmother and sister in 1971. It was stunningly beautiful on Sanibel Island then. I've considered going back, but I'm almost afraid to.
I love Chicago! Been to Los Angeles (many, many times) San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Sedona, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Galveston, Denver, Colorado Springs, Memphis, Nashville, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Des Moines, Detroit, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, and many points in between.
I grew up in a very small town (pop 2500) in central Illinois. My first job was as a receptionist at Illinois State University in Normal, IL. I think I made $3000/year. Which blows me away when I think about it! I have an Elementary Education degree, but work for the Department of Public Social Services in Riverside County. I had my first child when I was not quite 21, my second when I was 23, and I wasn't married (SHAMEFUL!). ;-) I raised them by myself for 10 years. I started going to a community college when I was 25 because I wanted to make a better life for myself and my sons. I met my future husband there. He was my Psychology teacher. We were married for 19 years...mostly good years...and were divorced this past April (2007). We didn't divorce for the "usual" reasons, but it's a long story...don't want to go there right now. We had a son together who is 19 now. So, I have three sons....29, 27, and 19; two step-daughters, and three grandchildren--two step-grandkids and one brand new grandson (who is in my profile picture). My sons are scattered all over the place--Portland, Chicago, and Colorado Springs. So, it's just me and my dogs now. It's been a big adjustment, and I'm still adjusting. But, I think I'm doing ok....most of the time. :-)
