Debra O'Toole:
CLASS OF 1972
Fruitport High SchoolClass of 1972
Fruitport, MI
Debra's Story
Colorado Springs has been my home since 1977 and it has been a good place to call home. The beauty of the mountains is breathtaking. The mountain passes can be real white knuckle drives though, I'll admit. Kebler Pass is jaw dropping gorgeous when the Aspen leaves turn to yellows in the fall. The drive through Glenwood Canyon is so beautiful, driving along the River.
The hot springs in Glenwood Springs are a block long; to be enjoyed all year round. The drive to Cripple Creek in the fall is just beautiful. Cripple Creek used to be a gold mining town but now has casinos. I stay away because I'll spend too much money on those slot machines. Groan. A claim to fame that I have is that I've climbed Pikes Peak, albeit many years ago. The drive up to the Peak is hair raising at times with the hairpin turns and no railings and a loooong way down over the edge. It's hard to believe they race cars up the Peak. Skyline Drive, west of Canon City needs to be driven at least once for the pure thrill of it but I've now said, after multiple drives, never again. It's just too scary. The road will get to the top of a little incline in the road and you literally can't see the road you're going to be on as you go over. Scary . If you visit the Springs, you should ťry to do the Manitou Incline. It's a real challenge. I've made it to the bailout several times and managed to walk it all the way to the top once. When I got to the false summit and saw how far I still had to go, I would have cried if I would have had the energy. But you're so proud when you get to the top. Many people walk it hundreds of times. Apollo Ohno, the Olympic speed skating champion, used it as part of his training. The lakes are a treasure for fishing. Garden of the God's, a rocky park in the Springs, is a must to see. It is one of the most popular, free parks in the USA. So, that's a little about where I live. I enjoy wearing my red cowboy boots to the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. Sometimes I wear my white cowboy hat and sometimes my dress black hat. Everyone's a cowboy or cowgirl at the rodeo. I enjoy keeping track of the scores of all seven of the events. On another topic, I retired in 2004 and have not looked back. I went to school for a while because I enjoyed the classes and the young people. I have volunteered at Crossfire Ministries for 16 years. It's very satisfying and rewarding to help the needy in our community. We have served a little over 100,000 people in a year and given out over 2 million pounds of food in a year. I was the president of the Board of Down ...Expand for more
Directors for 7 years but was term limited so I stepped down. We are 100% debt free in our 25,000 square foot, new to us, building. Our lender on our $2 million dollar loan forgave the entire loan!!! Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!!! I've been blessed to be able to travel quite a bit since retiring. I've made many a cross country drive. I have to visit Idaho and Oregon and then I'll have been to all fifty states.
I've been on multiple cruises; mainly to the Caribbean but once to Alaska. I've visited Alaska many times because several in my family lived there. My parents lived in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico for 25 years before they passed so I made at least a couple dozen trips down there to visit them. Floating in the pool with the waterfall was wonderful and the Thursday evening Market with the vendors and food and music was always something to look forward to. The market stops for the hot summer months. Meals on the Marina are a treat with a view of the yachts, the birds walking around and the greenery in a few of the restaurants. The silver jewelry are a pretty decent price but you do need to negotiate. The Malecon downtown has numerous small shops and restaurants to enjoy. The busses are easy to use and cost only ten pesos. Right now the exchange rate is pretty good. On another topic, I went to Italy with my uncle. We stayed in Rome and toured the sights. We went to Venice and had a singing gondola ride through the city. Then a brief trip to Florence where it was very hot. We went to a mountain restaurant to enjoy lunch and cool down. We went in September but it was still hot in Italy. I've completed many 5K's, a couple of 10K's and half marathons. My next claim to fame is I completed a 26.2 mile marathon while training in Muskegon, Michigan. One and done. I crossed the finish line fourth from the end, crying and limping but I finished and they put a medal around my neck. Now I do virtual walks of various lengths.
The longest one I walked over a thousand miles in a year. I was really motivated last year. I'm a beginner Spanish speaker. I've taken quite a few classes but you really have to stick with it or you forget your vocabulary and your tenses are a challenge. I can generally remember enough to get by but not always. I have come to thoroughly enjoy listening to, and watching YouTube music videos. I used to play chess; it's been a while since I have played. My son, Michael, was born in Colorado Springs and still lives here. That's about it. Enjoy everyday of your life. Blessings in Jesus' name!!!
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