Deborah Stunson:  

Thought I had a history in here already. I guess it was the lonngggg Q and A I did. Here goes: I graduated Hart in 69, did the first 3 years out at COC (piddled a year there) meeting the inspirational James Decatur Boykin, bio teacher, who shoved me out of the nest and on to Cal State Bakersfield where I graduated in 75 with a degree in nursing. I practiced for roughly 23 years before entering teaching. I now teach 3rd grade and spec ed. We do a model that allows the kids to be in one classroom so they don't get splintered teaching and socializing. It works. I love what I do for a living (loved nursing, too and keep the license active), but it doesn't define who I am. Divorced in the last two years, was married over 30 years, have two grown children (both college educated), have volunteered in a variety of endeavors inlcuding making costumes for our Civic Dance Theater's Nutcracker done each year, acting as RN at various ultra events when I cannot run myself or am giving back to the ultra community, to working with the County Medical REserve Corp. My main love, though, is endurance running (also called ultras). I didn't begin to put one foot in front of the other in anything but a walk until I hit 49. I experienced two really great years of running all sorts of events from small 5 and 10 Ks to half marathons, and straight into 50Ks and 50 milers. I did do a couple of full marathons (Nope. Not a "sub 4hr person. 4.5 is just fine with me), but really hate pavement running. At the end of those two years, I got sick, and had to rebuild. As of June 7, 08, I found that I am dealing with Valley Fever or coccidiomycosis, a nasty fungal pnuemonia that can be rough to treat. So far, so good. We manage the hand we are delt, so it is rebuild again. Happens. I love these people in my sport. Very open, accepting, kind, will go a mile for you even when you haven't asked, they pay that kind of attention to the concerns of others. A very spiritual set of circumstances there. It can't be anything other than that simply because of the hardhsips you encounter on these things, the stuff you share with your companions, the things you learn about yourself. it has been life changing for me - wonderfully so. I also, though nowhere near as adept at it, love to ride horses, fishing, and am training to do some serious backpacking soon. On the indoor side of life, I love to be an audience at any music happenings I can attend. Am new to pure form yoga (some gyms offer a "canned version" mixed with other disciplines, which is ok to get going, but ...), it is intense, tough, and am loving it. What a challenge Was recently accepted to a graduate program in special education ... Ed Spec...Expand for more