Angela Johnson:  

Psychology degree. I graduated in May 2003. I am happy, I am seperated from my husband and I believe we will get a divorce. I never thought I deserved to be treated well - boy did that screw up some relationships. But, I am so much more confident than I was as a teen-ager - I don't beat myself up for what is in the past, I'm not the same person. If I had the money, I would want to be living on a beach - running a little tourist shop and drinking Amaretto Sours, all day. No worries. My current age is 43. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be crazy. I was so completely right. I have no idea what happened to my first crush - his name was Lynn, we were in the 3rd grade and I would chase him around the playground, knock him down and sit on him - the whole time kissing him all over his face. He probably hates women and still lives with his Mama. My best friend would tell you I'm a good listener, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as a motor mouth. I absolutely do not dress like I did 20 years ago. How I could breath in those skin tight jeans - I'll never know. It had the be the pencil thin - super straight leg Levi's with the white patch on the cheek or nothing! It's so funny, my 18 yr old son - now wears those pencil thin super straight jeans - he thinks he is a rock in roll singer! Shades of Mick Jagger - minus the lips! Well, I never really had a weird job but, I would say I had a job that most people who think they know me, would be surprised to know - is a caretaker for an elderly lady, that had alzheimers. I dressed her, fed her, held her when she cried and changed her diapers. That job taught me so much -I learned to treat people the way I want to be treated. In one of her lucid days, she told me she had not been a nice person - not even to her kids and I guess that's why they were not there to take care of her. I just hope when and if I am ever in the position - there will be someone who cares about me. I don't really have trophies but, I do have a few plaques from the US Army - I worked for them while I was living in Germany. They like to give up morale so, I got awards for Outstanding Service, Employee of the Year, etc. While in college - I got certificates -I was an Ambassador for the university. I was the President of the Student Governement Association - I received several scholarships while working on my Undergraduate degree, then I rec'd a Leadership scholarship for Graduate school. If I got one do-over - I would have told someone when I was six, that I was being sexually abused. My abuser would have went to jail and he would not have had the chance to do it to other children. In 10 years, I hope to be 53. I'm going to get there by enjoying the ride. My oldest friend is Anna - I met her when I was in the 5th grade and I was living in Blue Springs, Alabama. We went to the same church - where we were not allowed to wear pants, cut our hair or participate in any "worldly" activities - like skating, going to movies, wearing a bathing suit to go swimming, etc. We clicked immediatley - we were both so scared of everything - we were constantly told about the hellfire and brimstone that was going to rain down on the sinners and according to them - everything was a sin! We're still friends - I ususally see her a couple of times a year. We have chosen different lives - she does wear pants but, is very religious and raises her children that way. Me, I'm another story! I think the the thing that would surprise people at the 25th reunion is that I am a mother to a son - that has not been in jail, gotten a DUI or hit a woman. He is going to school to be a History teacher and a Tennis coach - he's way ahead of me - at his age I just wanted to live another year. My first job was at a road side fruit stand, where I got paid $150 a week to run the stand from 6 am until 6 pm - six days a week. What I remember most about it is I did a lot of reading and I bought most of my own school clothes for the 7th grade myself. A memory I will never forget is the day my Mom came home in the middle of the day to tell me Cody Costley was dead. I had just seen him the day before and talked to him on the phone the night before - he was learning to play the guitar and he must have played "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynard Skynard - 10 times. Cody was the best 'guy" friend I had ever had - he was a smartass, he was funny and maybe alot of people didn't know but he was loyal and caring. He took up for me - maybe he didn't understand me but, he loved me anyway. Th thing I will always remember is his beautiful smile and that strut he had when he walked!