Ellinore Tronsgard:  

Life Seems the most of my life I remember as a single mother. I worked at so many different things trying to edge out "man's workaday world", worked 2 and three jobs, put myself through college at night. Cocktail waitress, gopher, secretary, window decorator, dancer, real estate agent, stock broker, legal secretary, paralegal, office manager, daycare nursery, medical assistant, freelance artist, writer, art teacher, equal opportunity specialist for the government, civil rights violation investigator for the government, White House appointee in a cabinet committee.a few less memorable jobs (not necessarily in the above order) and now an English teacher. Rearing 5 children alone, you work where and when you can, and so I did. I retired early figured I could get 3 extra years out of SS that would pay for the few bucks less, and went to Spain. From Spain to China, where I taught English for 7 years. It was a real adventure and I would suggest it to anyone bored with retirement, or just not finding your knick, or need a break. I have my frustrations and my blogs let off steam, but overall, I was content, and lived quite well considering I couldn't live half so well on ss in the states. So if you want information relating to a free trip to China, free room and board, and some really interesting adventure..everyday was an adventure. I have lived as far off as Xinjiang, which is the largest and farthest province in China. It is an autononymous region primarily of Uyghur minority people..they are not Chinese, more like Turkish. I have learned so much about this place, so different than what we in the west ever learned. Shanghai for three years and then Beijing as it readied itself for the Olympics.. WINDING IT UP IN CHINA: After 7 years, I decided to go back to the states and see if I can make it. The older I get the harder it is to live here in China. I really have enjoyed the adventure as you could tell from above, but when it gets right down to it, although they rejoined the world, their culture, superstitions and traditions clog their logic. They believe and do things that defy physics, logic and modern medicine. My tolerance level for stupidity, which I grant you is the result of the above, is getting lower each day. One on one these are great friends but in mass, they are nearly intolerable. Everything is chaotic. They make the simplest thing difficult by added unnecessary complexities. A cold sends them to the hospital where they take a 2 hour IV of antibiotics and sugar water and when you laugh, 8 days later tell you it works..I have had a lot of great laughs, usually a couple weeks after an angry or frustrating experience. Now I wait two weeks to see if it gets funny before I get angry..Anyway, I miss it and the truly wonderful friends I made, but homeward bound I am. Hope to see you all at the next reunion. 05/05/08 UPDATE: July 2008 - everything comes 'round so they say. I bought an apartment here in Florida but the job offers in China keep pouring in. I am wanted back, and in the desperation that only sheer boredom brings, I am actually considering it. Will keep you posted. Oct.08, It looks like I am ending my colorful if not questionable career working at Walmart. What a hoot. It is the most cultural shock I have experienced in my life. Not sure it will last as it is exhausting. Just trying to figure out a simpler way to earn a living. May 2009 This month has brought me great anguish. My beautiful son has passed away. One of those deaths that did not have to happen. He was the oldest and missed by all of us tremendously. I can't even imagine life without him. He was one of those larger than life human beings. Plus he was one of the most handsome men you could find. His tribute is on youtube, keywords, peggyaldinger. You can also view his memory card on my photos. Now I am determined to live a little more fuller and quit that damn Walmart...it did give him a laugh. July, 2009, to add to the anquish, the coroner could not get a resulting reason for Michael's death, but meantime we have been informed that the two medicines he was taking for his heart have been recalled. I have to admit it does somewhat redirect my anger, but does not quiet it. I am preparing to go to California in September for the reunion, and if absolutely forced, the cruise at which time I will deal with the legal ramifications that the news has instigated. Meantime I am plugging a way at the career ahem, ahem, at Walmart. I have been there long enough to get medical, so that alone might be enough to keep me. who knows, I might just climb the ladder of success. ahem, ahem, ahem...I can take my tongue out of my cheek now. As life "turns", my husband of long standing, and even longer separation, is suffering from 3rd stage cancer. While we have been separated we have remained friends, so as legally still married, I feel...Expand for more