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Where do I start? I am wiser and more thoughfult. I take life slower and less seriously. I am less reckless.
Let's see, since HS, I started working in retail mgmt. while going to college. I didn't see many folks from WSHS after HS. I ran into Joe Chatfield at Pentagon City and we met for dinner afterwards. I graduated from college with MS from Cornell. Moved up the ranks in HR management. Finally got the love of my life after 10 years of waiting. Carol White came to my wedding where I married my best friend. Charles, my husband, went to Hayfield HS and is 5 years older than me. I have known my hubby for 38 years. Yep, he was the one that caught my attention during HS but the age difference made it impossible to date him. Patience pays off.
Anyway, we have moved from VA to NJ to Boston then back to VA and started to pack for Dallas Texas but I finally said enough. Now mind you that my poor husband put up with all the move for my career growth. Luckily, Charles' career was flexible to follow me around. Today, we are living in Great Falls VA until my youngest, Richardson, graduates from Langley HS in 2020. At that time, we will make our last move to St. Pete FL where we will turn gray and retire. Not slow down...
Throughout the years, I have started and owned many companies after working at bunch of corporations like Lucent, Cisco, HARRIS, EDS..etc... I guess being true to yourself make you not the right fit and too reasonable for corporate politics. I have my own speed (fast) and pace so its not easy to keep up with me either. I currently own a HR/Recruiting management consulting firm and just started a non-profit to help returning Vets. I am determined to help our Vets find jobs and get on with their life after serving our country. Vets have a special place in my heart.
Although I am busy, I do set time aside for my son Richardson. I volunteer quite a bit with my son's school since grade school. Now that Richardson is in high school, while he is busy with sports like football ( he was recruited to play Defensive Linemen), crew, and lacrosse, I spend my afternoons chauffeuring Richardson home from practice. Fortunately, he has set competitive swimming aside for now. As you can guess, Richardson is very athletic. He is also very smart, more than I ever was and loves school more than I ever did. He just turned 14 years old and is 9th grade at Langley HS where he will enter AP Program this fall. He is also a big guy measuring in at 6 feet tall and 183lbs, which made him a big target for the defensive football coach. He started out in the 125th percentile being born 10lbs. My weekends are pretty much the same but I do get in a golf game or two as well. it is a challenge though because Spring coincides with Crew weekend Regattas therefore, playing hooky during the week is a must. It's for my sanity.
As for the older boys, my stepson, Chris got married and we became in-laws for the first time. Alex, my other step son is got married got divorced 6 months later so we got busy being his psychiatric help and divorce advisors. Now, we get a break and time to recover financially, for at least 15 years, before there is another wedding.
We always make time to travel all over the world. This past summer of 2016, we spent a month in Europe with 50 of our closet friends, family, and children. We traveled to France, Italy, Spain, England, and Monaco. Still the Caribbean islands (really every one of them) are my favorite place to go to.
I do feel blessed everyday I wake and am thankful for my life every night before I sleep. My heart is full of happiness.