Jolene Gagnon:  

Anxious to get on with "adult" life, I graduated a semester early from high school in December 1973, and immediately began working in an apprenticeship dental technician program in a local lab in Santa Rosa. The apprenticeship program was a a great opportunity, but I realized shortly after, that being a "grown-up" wasn't all it was cracked up to be. I determined I needed to take some time off and enjoy being a teenager for a bit longer! I changed directions temporarily, found a fun restaurant job, made some great friends, and played as much as possible. I married my high school sweetheart, Doug, in February, 1975, and then went to work for a company that specialized in manufacturing electronic scales, which was fairly new technology at the time. (That fact can make me feel old!). I took classes in math and electronics to further my career, but in December 1979, my career plans changed to "full-time-mom", with the birth of our son, Ryan. In July, 1983, our daughter, Lindsey, was born, and needless to say, the following 20+ years never had a dull moment! In 1992, Doug's career in the wholesale pharmaceutical industry, took our family of four to The Woodlands, TX, which is a community north of Houston, on the outskirts of the Sam Houston National Forest. Doug and I still live in The Woodlands. It has been a great place to live, and I suppose I think of myself as a Texan now. We feel fortunate that Ryan lives nearby in Houston with his family of three, but sadly we have lost Lindsey to Denver! Fortunately, Colorado is a great place to visit!!! Update: September 2012 On the 11th of this month, Doug and I celebrated the 40th anniversary of our first date. Amazing! I look back on so many great experi...Expand for more