Gina Griffin:  

my age now would be uncool and old. "I was so completely" WRONG!. Age is a state of mind. I always thought of how old I would be in 2000, 38 old years, thinking that would be a very bad year. I thought my parents were old when I came along as my mom was 34 and my dad was 37 when I was born. My brother's 11 1/2 years older than I am and has lived in California ever since he graduated from UT in 1973 when I was 11. Others my age had young parents. Some people thought my parents were my grandparents--they had premature gray hair. The year 2000 did end up being a very bad year because my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer just days before my 38th birthday (while I happened to be vacationing in Maui) and passed on within 4 months. Mom joined him just 3 years later after 13 years battling breast cancer. Both were ONLY 75 years young. Yes, I miss them dearly. "Working hard?" No. Early retired from an unmentionable federal government agency. Complicated. Not the career I wanted, not the life, etc. They 'did me in.' "If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have" lots of money, free rein, and no supervision "to be able to deal with the day-to-day." "My best friend would tell you I'm" a good friend with a big heart, loyal, very funny and goofy, yet very sensitive, "but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as" quiet, very intelligent, multi-talented, giving and caring. "Still dress like you did 10 (or 20) years ago? Talk style." Yes, sometimes, if I believe I can pull it off. Style, I never cared about or followed style trends. I make my own style. "I share my home with" me, myself, and I. "In 10 years, I hope to be" not in the same situation I'm in now. "I'm going to get there by "not getting stagnant and complacent." "My first job (besides babysitting and working with my dad) was at "Swensen's Ice Cream on Anderson Lane, "where I got paid" less than then current minimum wage, around $1.85/hr "to" serve ice cream cones. "What I remember most about it is" kids don't tip (so I could forget the low wage was due to 'plus tips' to make it more) constant standing was awful, but my friends came in and I got free ice cream. "Share a childhood memory you'll never forget." I'll never forget almost drownng in Barton Creek when I was 11. "If I won $100 million, I'd give" a lot of it to really worthwhile charities, "then spend the rest on" travel "and" leisure. Not. I would not spend the rest. I'd save a lot of it so I'd ensure I'd be set for life. So far, I've traveled to 44 states, 4 continents and 18 countries. Ah, but there's still so much of the world to see. "Do you have a hero? Talk about where your inspiration comes from." My parents were my heroes, hardworking, humble, good and well respected pillars of the community until the end. Both died from cancer three years apart, leaving me devastated, but with good teachings and memories. --------------------------------------- I actually had a whole other story typed in but my computer wonked out on me before I saved it. Thanks, Mr. Dell. So, for once I copied off the 'Story Wizard.' More to follow later… maybe.