Ida Shunk:  

Life I was born in Bremerton, WA, but my parents were both natives of Sacramento, CA and we moved back down here when I was four months old. My mom and dad had four children all told (of which I am the oldest), and I was raised in South Sacramento (where I attended St. Patrick's School) and West Sacramento - then Broderick - where I attended Holy Cross. My two best friends were Ananda, who is a professor of theatre in England now, and Tanya, who died at 12 from complications of leukemia. I still think about her all the time. My mom and dad divorced in 1982 and my mom remarried in 1983. We moved out to Herald, CA, outside of Galt, and lived on ten acres (later twenty) in the three mile zone of Rancho Seco nuclear power plant, where my stepfather was employed. Two more sisters were born here. I was homeschooled from 7th-10th grade and got my CHSPE certificate in 1986. In 1987, I went to Galt High for a year and met my future husband, James. That was my "junior" and last year of high school. After leaving Galt High, I attended Cosumnes River College with James, and got my AA in 1990. I had a newborn daughter at the time and by the end of of the year, James and I were married. Our 15th wedding anniversary was December 2005. I transferred to Sac State after CRC and graduated with a BA in English in 1992. At that time, I had a newborn son. I took four years off - working part time occasionally - and added another son to the f...Expand for more