Debra Kagel:
CLASS OF 1974
San Gorgonio High SchoolClass of 1974
San bernardino, CA
Pacific High SchoolClass of 1974
San bernardino, CA
Debra's Story
Life after my Daughter Christa & I moved up to the Sacramento area in 1990, I met my current husband Walt, who is also my best friend.
My 48 yr old Daughter Christa, is married & has given me a handsome 22 yr old Grandson named Walker who is in the Marines, and has decided to reup and will be a Drill Sargent in San Diego. I also have a beautiful 19 yr old grand daughter named Emily, who is just like her Grandma!! She plays the piano beautifully and instructs 40 students. She is truly gifted and now also plays multiple instruments.
Since retiring, I have started Crocheting again & my list for Blankets, Hats & Scarves is a long one.
About twelve years ago, I took up Oil Painting, it is turning out great & so far I haven't been able to keep a painting for myself. Everyone wants one, and the list for Paintings is a long one, although why I'm not exactly sure, they are ok, but....not professional quality in any way!
(Update) I had to go back to work about five years ago, but have had to retire again as my body just can't handle the stress.
I have a Step-Daughter named Kat who's 40 and I have a Step-Son named Russ who is 36, and has his Masters in Mathematics from UC Santa Barbara. Recently he went back to school in Washington State and just graduated with a degree in Computer Science. We are very proud of him.
Our favorite thing to do was Flying in our small Airplane (although due to the economic times, we had to sell our airplane) & traveling. So far we have traveled to Hawaii 7 times, went on 3 cruises together, & traveled to England, France, Ireland, Mazatlan, Cancun and Puerto Valliarta on top of the island country's visited while on the cruises. I'm hoping to be able to go to Scotland sometime before I die. (Update) I still would like to see Scotland, but now I doubt that I could do the walking required to truly see it properly.
After moving to the Sacramento area in 1990, I worked for the State of California with the Franchise Tax Board (yes,I was one of the people who had to talk with anyone who owed taxes and hadn't paid until the State attached wages or income. And it wasn't fun, just a constant stressful experience) so I retired on Dec 21st, 2006 due to health problems. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, and the pain was so great, that I just couldn't continue to work, so I retired.
On a high note, after losing touch for nearly 21 years, I finally re-connected with my best friend Kelly, who had moved out of California around the same time I moved to the Sacramento area, (Update, we went to New England to visit Kelly & her fantastic family & loved it)! Seeing Kelly was like a day never passed, we picked up right where we left off!
Kelly's husband is a fantastic Artist, so I got to watch him paint. He wanted me to paint beside him, but I was just too insecure & timid to actually paint with him. However, just watching his technique was fantastic.
Also, because I couldn't exercise due to my health problems, not to mention my love of food, I had gained a ton of weight. So I had Gastric By...Expand for more
pass Surgery in December 2012. People think that having Bariatric Surgery is the easy way out to losing weight (I know I did). I have since lost 100 lbs & I'm down to my goal weight. (Update) after losing the weight, my husband said that I was too skinny so I gained back about 30 lbs. He likes it better, but I preferred the full weight loss.
Walt and I moved from Sacramento to the Reno area in December 2010. It was a big change, but we have adjusted to it, and now love it here!
Update, although I have Fibromyalgia, which is incurable, I've had four Back Surgery's, which has helped (update: my fourth surgery was a fusion of my lower back (xlif) as well as another laminotomy so even more plates and screws. Two Spinal Surgery's on the Neck (I have a Titanium Plate and 10 Screws), Hip Surgery on both Hips (which has helped, but the Orthopedic Surgeon still suggests that I not dance, because he says that I will definitely need a total Hip Replacement in the future (Update: I have since also had total Hip replacements on both Hips), and unfortunately, my right Hip still hurts to stand very long or walk any distances. So dancing is totally out of the question. Even a slow dance just about kills me! I had Shoulder Surgery for a Torn Rotator Cuff. I have had a total of 26 surgeries through the years.
But the most important Operation that I had on Sept 19, 2013 was a Mastectomy for Breast Cancer. They are positive that they got it all though!! So life is looking good right now. What's funny is that I was not surprised at all at the diagnosis, as I sort of had a feeling that I would eventually be diagnosed with Breast Cancer ever since I had my Lumpectomy back in 1974 (which was benign)....
Update, I found another very small lump in my remaining Breast & I've undergone another Mammogram, Ultrasound & an MRI. We are pretty sure that it will be benign, but since I've already had Breast Cancer once, we are just playing it safe & making sure. (Update, no additional Cancer as yet).
Update, my husband and I have divorced, but we remain friends. So even though I have multiple health problems, I have had to return to work to support myself. I am fighting major depression and seriously considered suicide, mostly because of a new medication I was taking. I told Walt how I was feeling and he convinced me to tell the Doctor, who told me to discontinue the medication immediately. And I feel just normal depression now.
After working for another five years, I have made the decision to stop working since I have turned full retirement age and can get full benefits from Social Security.
I am getting ready to move back to California in another week. My beautiful daughter has asked me to move in with her and my grand daughter. (Update) My daughter was finally able to get out of a horribly abusive marriage. So it will be us three females...
(Update) My daughter is finally happy and thriving since getting out of her abusive marriage. And...my grand daughter Em married her best friend Saura in July! They are perfect together.
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