Jan Hughes:
CLASS OF 1968
Canon City High SchoolClass of 1968
Canon city, CO
Jan's Story
The day before I graduated, I got married to Spec 4 Michael Westling. We had 6weeks together and he was shipped to Viet Nam. It was a long year. He came back a year later unharmed. He had 4 weeks at home and then we went to New Jersey, where we spent 8 months at Ft. Monmouth. He attended advanced Electronics and graduated in December. I was pregnant with our first child. She was breach and backwards. It was 6 weeks from delivery, but
the doctors allowed me to travel to Germany and 6 weeks she was born in a German Hospital by a non-speaking German Doctor, but had a English Widwife to interpret. He said even though she was breach and backwards, she
would be born before 10.00 p.m. Husbands weren't allowed in the labor or delivery rooms, so was wheeled out to
tell Michael the news and the Doctor told him to come back at 10.00 and he would be a parent. She was born at 8:21
p.m. 6" 3' and 19 1/2 inches. Spent 4 1/2 years in Germany, got to see a lot of places ad enjoyed being there!
In May of 1974, we left Germany, came home for 30 days, and then left for Okinawa, where we lived 2 years.
He got out of the Service in 1976 and turned to Electronics.
In 1978, we moved to Broomfield and he started working at Storage Tech. I started working there as an assembler
and really enjoyed the job then was given the opportunity to take the Electronics Test and passed.
On regular work schedule, I started Basic Electronics and got through the whole courses and became an Electronics Tech. That was in 1981 and we were divored in 1982.
I had had another girl in Canon on October 4, 1976.
I got a Condo for the girls and I.
In 1984, was inntroduced to a very nice gentleman, named Warren. We dated a year and then married on April 19,1985. He had a daughter from his first marriage. Her name was April. After 2 years, decided to cross-adopt the girls, so if something happened to both of us they wouldn't go back to their previous parent..
We were together for 61/2 years. I believe God meant this to be a reason. We divorced in 1992.
In 1970, after moving innto housing, Michael woud bring home new guys who were lonely and I would feed them and usually there was a party. The night I first met my Husband, Michael invited him to come over and incendently it was his Birthday. Bob and I got off like long lost friends. He loved my baby girl, Cindy, and would get down and play people with her. She grew very attached to him. She was very sad when he left Germany to go home and got out of the service. Later, we got a marriage greeting and later, sent us a picture of his new son.
Throught the years, we kept in touch.
In the last year of Warren's and I marriage, I had touched bases with Bob, and he invited me to come up and visit over Thanksgiving. I had been working 18-20 hours, so really tired! I arrived on Sunday and slept almost 20 hrs. a day on his couch. On Thanksgiving, his son went to his Mom's place and bob took me on a tour of Washington.!
Was so shocked to see so much Green. There were so many Evergreens and everywhere one looked it was breath-taking. Went on a Ferry ride to Whidbey Island and traveled the course of the Island.
We saw an Indian restaurant, so decided to have Thanksgiving on an Indian Reservation. It was Great!!
After a week, went back home that was filled with anger, hurt, and a lot more emotions. Before leaving, Bob had told me, if things didn't turn any better, I had a place to escape to. They went from worse to more worse.
It seemed all my doors were being closed, leaving only 1 way to get out. So after filing papers, Gave 2 weeks notice at my job, which had decided to move 43 mor miles North and not get a promotion .
On January 17, 1992, left Denver for Seattle. Had a 4 hour delay at Las Vegas, so got my gambling fever out of my veins, after winning quite a sum.
Arrived at Seattle, with Seattle totally Fogged in. We circled and circled for 2 hours and knew we were getting close to not have enogh fuel. So the pilot decided to just fly through the fog and we landed safely.
Moved inn with Bob and his Son. And that's how I got my step-son. He is now 34 years old, married for 14 years,with 2 boys and in-between a set of identical mirror twin girls..They are all growing up fast. They used to live close to us, but was transfered to Omaha, Nebraska last year. So there is just the 2 of us.
When I first arrived herem Seattle and the srrounding areas were having a very slow market on jobs.
It took me 14 months to get a job,and stayed there as a Electronics Tech. Bob had a job at Sea-Tac as representative
to Alaska Airplanes by Allied Signal. He often ...Expand for more
had to go to Kingman, AZ. for training.
We were married onn Feb.14, 1996 and went to Las Vegas for our honeymoon. Bob had a meeting inn Kingman,so stayed in Hotel. I managed to break my left side of my foot. After his meeting, got some ice packs, and continued to drive back to Las Vegas. Then took a plane to Seattle. What a Honeymoon!!
Bob managed to get a job at Allied Signal, working with Instruments. He had talked to some of the bosses in the
Tech area ad I got an interview to be a Tech building cockpit warning systems. They always call them black boxes, but the cockpit boxes are blue and the others are orange.
I got the job at twice the pay as before and it was like Heaven. The Techs worked well together and the assemblers
were very experienced. Allied Signal became HoneyWell Aerospace in 2000 and it was a far better Company!!
I remember one black rear unit being burnt so bad that I had a friend that got the priveldge to rebuild the circuitry
to get all the information off of the box. It was quite a feat.
It was a great place to work until 9/11/2001.. There were so many layoffs. And I was one of them.
I spent 16 months trying to find a job, and there was nothing. Then found out I had herniated disks, L4-5.
My surgeon helped me to get on SSI Disability. That was the end of trying to find a job. Instead, I had to have 2 spinal surgeries inn 2003. In 1999, Had my left hip replaced.
Had 3 feet operations on both feet. Had to have a hernia repaired. Then had to have my right hip replaced and then
my right knee. I feel good most of the time, except when weather is changing.
Bob stood by me the whole time. He is a wonderful Husband. After 2 discouraging marriages, its a great comfort
to find a man like Bob, to share my Life with.
I feel very lucky to be his wife.
When I revew my life, I think about the good things I got out of each marriage. With my first, I got to see the world and had 2 beautiful daughters.
With my second, Igot to experience Family vacations,and spending quality time with family.
And now with Bob, I love my son and his family and miss them greatly!!
So I've had my ups and downs, but I know that whereever I was, God was also there, too!!
And that's my story!
Having my Grandpa pick us kids up at School in his Model T. And when we got home, there were fire trucks, ambulances,and other fire equipment sitting in our yard. The chord on the clock above the sewing machine and the clock fell down and caught all the clothes on fire. Will never forget the smell of the fire for months later.
I always wanted to be a Housewife when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a dumb idea. As it turns out, they were wrong.
The bst way to blow off steam is to light some candles in the bathroom, have a nice hot cup of tea, and pour some lavendar in my water and just soak until I analize what happened and see both sides and I feel calmed down to discuss it rationally!
My Inspirations come from God and my Lord Jesus Christ. They are always with me.
The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Jeri, Marilyn Jaet and Sybil, because they made in impact in my life!.
If I could improve my home, I'd remodel the kitchen and add on a better bathroom. My dream home would be out among the forests..
I learned at first, that they are just small imitations of us. And they deserved to be treated fairly! I'm very proud of my girls. They all have jobs and are productive members of Society!!
If I won $100 million, I'd give 1/3 of it to Church, then spend the rest on family, vacations and flying lessons for my Husband.!!
My current age is 61. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be old and ready to die. I was so completely wrong!!.
My best friend would tell you I'm extroverted, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as introverted!!.
I had no style until I move to the Northwest. I've lost weight and kept it off, so I can wear jeans, nice tops and dresses and love Birkenstocks.
I share my home with Bob, which I find Very satisying.!!
My biggest victory was being named a Deacon of our Church!! I was card Person and loved going out to visit shut-ins!!
In 10 years, I hope to be living in a one floor house. I'm going to get there by working on our goals we have for getting a new home!!.
My oldest friend is Linda. We were in Kindergarten together and then we graduated together. She didn't live that far from me so we could visit each other!!
My first job was at a Stationary Store, where I got paid $4.50 to 5:50. What I remember most about it is being able to meet new people!!.
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