Cathryn Cross:
CLASS OF 1973
Roosevelt High SchoolClass of 1973
Hyde park, NY
Dutchess Community CollegeClass of 1975
Pleasant valley, NY
Benjamin Bosse High SchoolClass of 1946
Evansville, IN
Cathryn's Story
For those of you who haven't checked in for a while, here is an update as of August 2008. I have lived on the Mexican border for the past 30 years in southeatern Arizona. I found this place with my first husband in 1977 after almost 3 years of hitchiking around the country in the mid-70's. It seemed the thing to do at the time. It was magic.
Having been raised by a scientist father and declared atheist/agnostic, I intuitively sought for something more, though I didn't know what in my journeys on the road. In 1975, after a third aimless semester at Dutchess Community College, I was invited to go on a road trip. There was talk of a "Gathering of the Tribes" that had just happened in Arkansas. The next "Gathering" would be in Montana 1976.
Well, it was the "Rainbow Family" gathering that began happening in Colorado in 1969 or 1970 of people who were from just about every walk (thus "Rainbow" ) to come together in a spirit of peace, brotherhood and good will - very much the idealism of the so - called "hippie" movement. These gatherings are still happening today during the first week of July in some remote spot at which the group has procured a use permit from the U.S. Forest Service to meet. When I was participating in the mid-70's and into 1980, we were as many as 10,000 people meeting to practice those ideals of the times. It amounted to a great big party in the wilderness. There was a sub-culture of sex, drugs of various types; there was alcohol, yes but many folks, more serious about the human experience, were there to relate about life, music, crafts, politics and the way the world was heading. Many were disienfranchised alternative thinkers with lifestyles more "earthy" than that of the average American. Many were like me - a middle class kid out there more to conform than rebel to the winds of change.
People brought food to share and first aid supplies and set up a collective kitchen and a medical station. There was music and danc...Expand for more
ing and a varitable celebration of life going on and I wanted to be a part of it. There were tents for as far as the eye could see.
I went to 2 more such gatherings and in 1980, I took off my "hippie uniform" as I call it and went uderground or stealth. I had found faith Jesus in all of this looming at me. Now the real adventures were to begin. I finally got a career direction and went to nursing scholl in 1983, became an RN in 1985.
You know, life is so funny with its twists and turns and one can't help but have to question beliefs and values and remold old thinking in order to find true happiness. I had the 3 most beautiful, wonderful, genius, children in the world, I have been married twice and divorced twice and am fairly content to be single though Iwouldn't mind finding a partner. I have, with a little bit of faith, colorfully and creatively weathered, as those I am sure, who read this have, many of the storms of life.
The kids have flown the nest and it is as predicted at last entry "My Turn" I am still a working stiff but I am able now, to travel as a nurse. For instance, I was on the Navajo reservation in northern Arizona in 2006 while my youngest son stayed with friends for 6 months. I came home for 18 months to work and support the "baby" until graduated from high school this May. Now, I am in Montana til end of Sept. 2008 and then I will probably head south again for the winter. I am looking forward to working in Australia, then from there go to Thailand and India.
I have a pretty good grasp of Spanish thanks to 3 years of Mr. Asenza's and Mr. Targia's Spanish classes, (Remember those guys?)and living on the Mexican border for over 30 years. I am planning to go to Honduras for a week in February 2009 on as a gospel spreader. That is now what I want to do. It truly is the only thing I know that makes the world a better place.
Feel free to write me Guys. I welcome any correspondence. Hope to hear from many of you soon.
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