Gina Owen:
CLASS OF 1966
Bishop Toolen High SchoolClass of 1966
Mobile, AL
20th Century CollegeClass of 1967
Mobile, AL
Little Flower SchoolClass of 1962
Mobile, AL
Gina's Story
Life
After high school I pursued a little more schooling and then settled into a "career" with the Social Security Administration in Mobile Al where I surrendered 27 1/2 years of my life to the service of the great citizens of Mobile and vicinity in various capacities within that organization (from 3/8/68-9/30/95...but who's counting...HA!)Anyway..in that process I married and gave birth to a wonderful child (a daughter) who is now in her 30's and lives in the Orlando Fl area. One hot day in late August, 1995 word came out that "early retirements" were being offered to those people who met certain criteria within the Social Security Administration. No one thought I would take them up on it because after all...."what would I do with myself???....47 years old and retired!!" I said: "I'm going to Disney World!!!"...and that I did! With my daughter in the area...married and expecting my first grandchild in 10/95...I packed up some "essentials", threw them in the car and drove to Orlando. After my grandson, Alex, was born on 10/25/95 I interviewed and was hired by Walt Disney World to work at the Disney Reservation Center. I liked my job, and my intention was only to work part-time and play with my grandson, but lo and behold, this really, really awesome job came along in May of 1998 as a Client Services Coordinator with a department of Walt Disney World called Florida Tourist Sales and here I am working full time again (with no intention of retiring) and loving every single minute of it. What a great place to work! It's truly magical for me! And I am close to my daughter and grandson and probably the happiest I've ever been. I didn't really realize you could go to a job every day and they paid you and you could just have fun! Wow! What a concept! I would love to hear from all the "gals" of the BTH class of '66 and any others who possibly remember me from Student Council, etc. I also would LOVE to hear from any of the fine people who worked with me at the Social Security Administation during the period 1968-1995. UPDATE: My days of traveling to the Mobile area are now few and far between. Although Mobile is only a boring 8-hour drive away...my mom (who is now 87 wonderful years YOUNG) now lives in Kissimmee Fl with me so the majority of my time continues to be spent in the Central Florida area....(now...if I could only get my brother and sister-in-law to move down from Pensacola!). Anyway...I continue to enjoy being close to my daughter and grandson, Alex, who is now almost 12 years of age (can't believe it!). I celebrated my 10th Anniversary with Walt Disney World on 11/18th of 2005 (that's Mickey Mouse's birthday too...how 'bout that?) My plan is to continue to work for Disney for a few more years and will possibly REALLY retire after I have my 15-year celebration-after that I have theme park admission for life for myself and my family so I'll be set! I'd love to hear from anyone who remembers me!
04/17/09-Well, here I am back on the Classmates site a...Expand for more
fter being away for some time thanks to a contact from a classmate from longer ago than I would really like to think about (Thanks!, Mike). Anyway...just a few changes but things are pretty much the same in my life. On August, 2006, unfortunately, I fell while at work (my silly clumsiness....call me "Grace"). I badly shattered the bones in my right wrist and long story short, I was no longer able to return to the job at Florida Tourist Sales. However, I am still with Walt Disney World (in a different location) and have opted to lower my work to 2 days per week. I also have a home-based EBay business which is slowly getting off its feet. I am enjoying life, but look forward to retirement and a possible return to the Mobile area. My mom is still living with me and celebrated her 89th birthday this year. My grandson is now a "teenager" having celebrated his 13th birthday this past October.
06/06/2010-Well, I'm back to update! The decision is pretty much final! I'm retiring in November, 2010 and have decided to move my mom and myself back to the Mobile area. Although my mom still has her house in Mobile, some work will need to be done on it before we can return there. In the meantime, we hope to rent somewhere in the Baldwin County area (preferably a small town) since my only sibling lives outside of Pensacola. I have had it with this area and all the traffic and tourists. The saying: "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there" has never rang so true of Kissimmee Florida. I am homesick in a big way...in spite of the BP oil mess. I still miss the dogwoods, azaleas, and the "smell" of Dauphin Island. I miss having a town that is "my" town, a familiar place. Can't wait! 2010 can't go by fast enough. Okay...that's it for now!
05/02/2011-Well, here I am back again. I am now totally retired and have left the Central Florida area (as planned). My last day to work for the Walt Disney Company was 11/18/2010 (my 15th anniversary). I have now moved myself and my mom (who is 91) to the small town of Lillian (right across the Florida/Alabama line). It is really close to my only living sibling who lives in Perdido Fl. I am enjoying life, but I am still trying to get myself and my mom settled into a very small two-bedroom home so I haven't yet gotten to really feel "retired". The area is lovely and I am very pleased with my decision. I do, however, miss my daughter and grandson (who remain in Central Florida) terribly. I also miss all the friends I was lucky enough to make down there. (Thank God for Facebook). If things go as planned, my daughter and grandson will join me in this area sometime over the summer and then my little family will be complete.
Again, I would love to hear from my "old" friends from Little Flower, Bishop Toolen, and Social Security. I would also like to hear from friends with the Walt Disney Company. I would love to reconnect and catch up with each and every one of you.
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