Cyndi Whaley:  

Life is a force to be appreciated. When it comes to the end of life, all we truly have of value is the relaqtionhips we have built with our family and friends. If we have spent our life in the pursuit of the almighty dollar, we have probably taken for granted relationships with many people who have crossed our path. At 18 years of age, I saw graduation from High School as the beginning of my own personal journey. My journey began with the tragedy of losing my youngest sister, Rhonda. The fall of 1977, I began modeling school. It was very difficult to focus on career after losing my sister. Modeling was an experience that developed confidence which I definitly needed. After a few adventures, I married my first husband Ken Whaley. Life was grand until the honeymoon stage ended. After my oldest daughter Carly was born, Ken began to use dugs causing numerous problems for all involved. We divorced only to get back together a year later. My youngest, Elyssa was born. She was the light of her dads eye. Drugs were no longer necessary to sustain him. I began working helping candidates get elected to state and local offices. I most enjoyed my work with J.C. Watts and Carol Martin. I entered the public service team by being elected to the school board. It was a great experience. I must mention that I became good friends with my opponent for that seat. Mary Brown understood better than anyone the difficulties of that position. We even worked together on a campaign to save ROTC. We lost but it was a great experience. In 1997, I lost my mother whom I had taken care of for several years. Four months later, I became deathly ill. I had my gall bladder removed. but did not get better. I ended up hospitalized for 8 months. It was very hard on my family. The girls stayed with their grandmother, and Ken revisited the drugs. Once released from the hospital, I required rehab to learn to wak, talk, eat, and write again. I went right into working a campaign for Carol. I could not continue to work fulltime so I went to school. I obtained the degree I had walked away from earlier in life. Ken and I divorced in my second year of college. ...Expand for more