Christi Ryan:
CLASS OF 1974
Crystal Lake Central High SchoolClass of 1974
Crystal lake, IL
Linton-Stockton High SchoolClass of 1970
Linton, IN
Christi's Story
Life
Where to begin? There's just so many years, and so many events. I'm a Grandmother now, for cripes sake. Yikes. How did that happen? Well, I know technically how it happened...I left Crystal Lake in 73 for Terre Haute, Indiana with my Mother and younger sister, Holly. Kathy stayed behind for awhile and followed in about a year. Mother was from Terre Haute. In 1974 I met who would become the father of my three children, the same day I met him, I met two Tibetan Lamas. Three men who changed my life...the Dharma lasted, the marriage didn't. Moved to Indianapolis with Jeff, lived there for about 15 years with short stays in Bloomington and Lakewood, New Jersey. Near Asbury Park...home to Bruce Springsteen and the Sopranos...you know those boardwalk scenes where Tony dreams about offing Big Pussy, puts him to sleep with the fishes? Same place, that boardwalk was just a few miles from where we lived in Jersey. Well, the interim produced three gorgeous children. Two blue-eyed blondes and one brown-eyed brunette. They are now Jarrad 28, Tara 26 and Justin 21. Justin is the daddy with Eli who just turned 2. They have all become lovely adults, fairly self-sufficient and loving, caring people. Of course during the adolescent years, I had some grave doubts.
In 1988 I divorced Jeff...quite honestly, as I walked down the aisle I knew it wasn't going to last...but it lasted 12 years and we are better friends than partners. Our minds were bent way different...and our communication styles polar opposites. But he had good sperm and the kids couldn't have been engineered better. 1989 moved from Indy to Bloomington to go back to college at Indiana University...yes, home to Kinsey and Bobby Knight. I attended Inidana State from 73 - 75, partied very much, drank a lot of beer, smoked a lot of weed and was thoroughly bored with academia...got the urge to procreate and did. So...Bloomington has been very good to me. Finished my undergrad in 93 with a Liberal Arts degree focusing on An...Expand for more
thropology and Native American Studies. Worked for a Home Health Agency as a Social Work Assistant. Began my Graduate Work in 94 and finished in 96...my goal was to have my Graduate degree before I turned 40 and I made it by 4 days. Have worked as a therapist in various settings and have a private practice also. My sister Holly still lives in the Chicago area, in Homewood actually and works for a large studio downtown next door to Harpo Productions as a visual stylist, lay out artist. She is mega-cool and has done darn well for herself, I'm proud of her. My sister Kathy took the road less traveled by, big surprise! for those of you who knew her. She lived in a nature sanctuary near Bloomington called Lothlorien and is a Pagan haven. Love that place! I was there just this past Sunday and it has evolved into what they wanted. She moved there in 1992 and lived there 4 years. She died in a fall in 1996. Did a quick disappearing act, what a trauma. There went my best friend and closest spiritual advisor. Bummer of bummers. Miss her bad, but damn, she would be impressed with Lothlorien and how all of her family turned out. She has a son, Ian, my one and only nephew. He and Tara were born on the same day 23 hours apart in different cities. We have always had really fun birthday parties. He got married in August to a wonderful girl who has always reminded me of Kathy...lil' nature mama. He works for the University installing Wireless stuff and has his own business also. Talk about proud :)))) . Jarrad is a computer whiz, Tara is an RN and Justin works for his Dad in the family business(no, not like the Sopranos) and does an excellent job of being a young daddy. He had a very diverse education...spent 3 years in Switzerland from 14 to 17 at a Tibetan Buddhist College in the Alps on Lake Geneva. What a precious guy, my travel buddy. I am single and dating (men). Love to read, love to be out in the woods, by the lake...am aging well.
Always open to new adventures and travels.
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