Shirley Devine:
CLASS OF 1959
Colorado Springs High SchoolClass of 1959
Colorado springs, CO
Shirley's Story
After graduation from HS, trained for a year as a histo-technician, them completed 2 years college in Nebraska.
Met and married 'prince charming' in 1962-continued at hospital as histo-tech until summer of 1979.
First husband died in 1973-i moved to NYC in 1979 and married John Devine-a typesetter who i had met when he was in CS retraining on computer typesetting.
Was able to return to school in NY-got my degree from City University of NY-Lehman College in hospital management. In the meantime i had spent 1 year in school at NY Hospital in Manhattan getting my certificate as a Cytotechnologist. (microscopically diagnosing things like cancer) Worked several different positions at different labs/hospitals for the next 27 years in my chosen field. All of my jobs were in the suburbs of NYC/NJ/Connecticut-so had a commute of various distances all that time.
My daughter was 10 and my son was 6 when we moved and they got the bulk of their education in NYC public schools-much maligned, but they managed to get a great bulk of knowledge. They both graduated from Cooper Union-a college in Greenwich Village in Manhattan- They both loved the city , having worked in Broadway Theaters, etc-but my daughter married and moved back to family in Colorado.
My son is a New Yorker completely and swears he will never live anywhere west of the Hudson River-works in Manhattan-always seems to have a girl friend but has avoided the altar so far.
John and i married on St Patrick's Day in 1980 and i had a really great life there. I managed to get to see so many things and go to so many different venues while there. We did theater, museums, galleries, philharmonic, etc--as well as jazz clubs. Had many friends to go to all of these things with.
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What i miss now are all of those 'cultural' things, as well as the people, the diversity and multi-cultural multi-racial climate is very stimulating and always busy with all aspects of life.--and there is no better place for great dining!
Our apartment was on the 31st floor (in the Bronx) overlooking a huge natural park, which included a beach, lots of wildlife, as well as a spectacular view of Long Island Sound and Long Island itself. Fantastic view and changing scenery. We joked that on a clear day we could see Europe!
I loved my profession, but am glad to be retired and out of the rat race. It is time for a simpler life.
When i moved back to Colorado-i purged myself of over 40 years worth of junk, and brought only a few personal items. (cleaning out a three bedroom apartment after 30 years was truly an adventure which pushed me to the point of not desiring to acquire things)
Starting completely over now-and designing my life as a real mimimalist. Have lots of family, siblings, grandkids, cousins, relatives of my first husband. I am remodelling a very tiny house, slowly --and learning to garden-my tomatoes are great!! And attempting to only buy what is necessary for life--no more books-our library is great! Only the kitchen things as needed-4 plates at a time is plenty. I am looking forward to cooking and enjoying my idle time.-making some new friends and entertaining.
I have taken up weaving, and spinning my own yarn-still a real amateur, but love the learning aspect of the hobby. Will fill up some of those dark and long winter nights.
My biggest extravagance was an expensive mattress-and boy do i sleep soundly!!!
So that is it, simple, just plain folks. and finding joy in pretty much all of my life right now.
S
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