Cynthia Lyall:  

After graduation, my best friend and comrade in crime, Tammy Stanfill-Purnell saw a lot of movies, went to a lot of concerts, cruised the streets in my "65" white Pontiac Bonneville and enjoyed each other's company and friendship. We decided to go into the wonderful world of fast food management. We both worked for Long John Silver's and after a couple of years I moved on to work at McDonald's. After going McCrazy, I returned to Long John Silver's and worked until I was burned with hot oil. Needless to say that was the end of my restaurant career. I met my first Husband and his five year old Son while working at McDonald's in Fairborn. I loved watching them walk hand in hand from their apartment behind the restaurant. They always looked so happy together, just the two of them having fun in their own private world. His Son (who is Korean-American) had long black hair, big brown eyes and an infectious smile. He was just absolutely adorable. His Dad would tie a red bandana (which anyone who knew me in high school knew I wore a different bandana everyday, and I am positive that I had all the colors that was ever manufactured. I actually wore them because I liked experimenting with my hair color!!) around his head, I actually befriended him before officially meeting his Father! I couldn't help but fall in love with the little guy. I supplied him with an endless supply of McCookies and anything else that McDonald's had. One day, to his Dad's amazement and probably horror (his Dad and I had only exchanged hello's and made small talk, but my attention was always on his son) he asked me to go roller skating with them. I was put on the spot and awkwardly said I would meet them there, and the rest is history. We married and had a Daughter (Tammy was with me when they were supposed to be inducing labor, and nothing they did worked. I never went into labor, not even one little labor pain. She snuck cheese crackers into my room because they wouldn't let me eat!!). My Daughter is now 30 and is the greatest love of my life. Although her Dad and I had divorced, we remained very close until his death in 1988. She was six when he died, and telling her was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Tammy was always there for my Daughter and I, and her love and friendship helped us through this terrible time. I was attending Wright State University majoring in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. After almost three years of trying to do it all, I really got burnt out ( I was working full time, going to school full time, and taking care of my Daughter alone), I took a quarter off and decided to take an EMT-Basic class (I also wanted to keep my study skills up) and to try another aspect of the medical field. I enjoyed it so much I decided to attend school to become a Paramedic. I graduated at the top of my class and received my certificati...Expand for more