Cynthia Way:  

This is an interesting process--what's my story since high school? I got married to Mark Schroyer that November, moved to the DC area to work for the CIA as a secretary, and within 6 months got into a telecommunications training program and lived in West Africa for 2 years. I loved it, Mark didn't. Worked my way up the ladder at the CIA, despite having no college degree. Mark and I divorced after 11 years, no children. A sad and tragic postscript: Mark was killed by a drunk driver while changing a flat tire on the side of the road. Fortunately, that was the catalyst for reinitiating contact with his parents, whom I adore and continued to have a close relationship with until they too passed. After 13 years of working at the CIA, I took a downsizing bonus and left. I didn't know what I was going to do, I just knew I wouldn't find it while I was still there. I had been through a transformation of sorts--did a lot of "human potential" workshops and therapy. Realized there was a whole other way of living than I realized. I actually started to believe I could follow my heart, be happy, and not be homeless! A spiritual awakening of sorts. My girlfriend (yes, I discovered I prefer women) and I decided to travel cross country a...Expand for more