Anne Michel:  

I would hope old friends would remember me as a friendly person with a smile for everyone. I used to be rather shy, but no one who knows me now would ever believe that! I know I tend to talk alot, but I am also a good listener. Honesty and loyalty are qualities I have always valued in my friends, and I believe I have lived by those values as well. Growing up, I always thought I wanted to be a nurse. My family and friends thought that was something I'd be good at! As it turns out, they were sorta right and sorta wrong! After being a secretary in the Administration Building of the Butler School District for six years then serving in the military until I retired in 2003, I moved in with and became a companion and somewhat of a caregiver for my 89-year-old aunt. So I'm sorta fulfilling my childhood career aspirations! To blow off steam, I used to run! But nowadays I may take a walk, read something interesting, watch a good old movie, go to a show, or just call a friend on the phone. I think I get inspiration from my father, who is now deceased, and my mother, whom I am fortunate is still very much alive and well and lives only about a mile away, so we see and talk to each other often, almost daily! I was born in Butler, grew up in Herman, then lived in Butler until I was transferred in the Army to Tonawanda, NY, in 1985. In 1992 I moved back to Pennslvania and lived in Oakdale (near Carnegie) until I retired in 2003 and moved back to Herman. What can I say? I guess I've come full circle! The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Anita Webster, because she was my best friend in the Army when I was stationed in New York. When I was younger I was very active in sports, particularly softball and volleyball. Now I am more likely to be enjoying watching younger people play these sports and watch football on TV. I am active in my church and have been the choir director for over five years. I recently "resigned" from being our church youth director. I loved the kids but was getting a little burned out! Too many other more pressing priorities made it crucial to have more time than this activity allowed. But during the past five years I have accompanied the youth on pilgrimages to Cologne, Germany (2005) and Sydney, Australia this past summer (2008). These were amazing experiences! I suppose the biggest surprise about how my life turned out is, first of all, that I am retired from the military! The second biggest surprise is that I am not married and never had children. I guess the first one contributed to the second. But it is also amazing to me how many ways I have been able to help people because of the freedom I have to do this. I truly believe it was God's plan for me to be exactly where I am, and I must admit I feel quite fulfilled! It would be cool to see some of my former teachers (if they're still alive!) One of my favorites was Miss Jilda DeAugustino. Wow, she was a tough one, but she sure did teach me alot. To be truly happy, hell, I already am truly happy! I must admit, I would like to have married and had children; but as I h...Expand for more