Joy Bollen:
CLASS OF 1974
Coconut Creek High SchoolClass of 1974
Coconut creek, FL
Joy's Story
Life
My Bio is pretty boring. I worked at the Margate Pool till I stupidly married my 1st husband when I was way too young. Moved to Palm Beach County on a chicken farm and my husband built swimming pools. We had 2 kids and they are Zach 39 and Elizabeth 34. I finally got my divorce and went home where I met up with Chris Wallace after 18 years of being away. I got my job at Margate Middle, Chris and I got married and had Christian 2 years later. We raised him in St Lucie County till he was 4. We made a very BIG decision to move to Tennessee before he started school and raised him in a much safer environment. He is 23 already!! Jimmy went to high school and was on the Cross Country and Track Hurdles, and Long Jump. We Loved going to his meets. They grow up fast! He now works at Wal Mart and goes to College..
The only thing that would be better is if I could live closer to My Grandson Antonio who is now 14, almost 15., Elizabeth's son. Zach moved here to Tennessee and I still don't see or talk to him as much as I'd like to.He lives in Nashville with his husband Jeff,
Chris, Jimmy and I spent a lot of time going to concerts! Yes, Nickelback, Kid Rock, Bret Michaels, Rick Springfield, Pensive, KISS, Puddle of Mudd, ZZ Top, Ted Nugent, Pink and many more to come hopefully!
Wish we had the money to go to everyone we want to. Charlie Daniels, Alice Cooper, Ozzy, Bonnaroo, Motley Crue, Jackyl again, Kid Rock again, Daughtry,Katy Perry, Pink, Lady Gaga
Bon Jovi, and many more I can't think of right now.
Sadness destroyed our world on May 5th, 2014. The day before Jimmy's 18th Birthday he lost his Father. My Soulmate died in a motorcycle accident. I miss Christian (Chris) Wallace, also Coconut Creek Alumni from class of 79, EVERYDAY. I am LOST, SAD, but moving on like Chris always said we should if we lost the other. Live like there is NO tomorrow he always said so I am hoping one of my former boyfriends is SINGLE now too or knows somebody :) LOL Just kidding tried that already last year gotta find a new one or just enjoy being alone more. Got lots of male and female friends so I'm pretty good right now!
I spend a lot of time doing things with friends in a group. I also have a PT time job I like except when it's cold. I deliver Flowers! Learning to live being alone and doing what I want when I want. It's not that bad most of the time. I'll always miss Chris but would love to have someone again someday.
School
The teacher that inspired me most was Judy Hodge. Those who really knew me , knew I had a very hard life. My craziest memories were Donkey Basketball, Margate Dances, Wiles Road(need I say more), and the Margate Pool. Happiest moments were getting my job at Margate Pool, and the Day I graduated and never had to go back to school! Well till I went back for College, but that was another story! I had many funny moments and some of the most horrible in my life while in school, but I did survive them all. I wish that I had not had to work so much and could have attended football games and other school activities.
My 1st Love was Bruce Rebando and we are still friends today. My biggest crush was Bob Springer who eventually broke my heart like a couple guys before him ...Expand for more
and married someone else twice.
Would I do it over? You bet your ___ I would! I might change a few things, but it wouldn't be that many cause I had a blast for the most part.
The best part is that I was married to another alumni, Chris Wallace. Who would have ever imagined that! It still seems like yesterday we were at the pool and I was kicking him out for not listening, ( by the way, he still didn't listen to me),or obeying the rules, (Rules, he had no rules), What was I thinking? LOL We were together 21 years and aImost married 20. He died 1 month before our 20th anniversary. He gave me the Happiest 21 years of my life so far.
College
I was never PRO College. Not everyone is good at book learning and for me that is all college was. I wasted a lot of time and MONEY I did not have to go and am still paying for it. I believe people learn best by doing and need more Internships and apprentice programs available. Especially ADHD kids like we were. College is NOT for everyone! I am a good example of that. School should be about teaching the students how to survive in Real Life and you can't teach that from a book. I never got to finish college cause life got in the way and school didnt pay the bills. now just too late so why bother.
Workplace
I used to work with behavior problem students and LOVED helping them learn how to cope with things better. My greatest Joy is when I see a former student who comes up to me and tells me thank you for being there. In fact two of my former students were my son's basketball coaches 5 yrs ago in BB camp. It was great to hear them say, "See, we turned out all right!" I knew they would. They took my position away without warning and I don't know what to do with my life. They changed what I do and I have lost my purpose. I am learning new things but it can never replace the way I LOVED my students. I took a summer job delivering pizza and finding out I enjoyed that but not the preparing of food in any way! Maybe someday I will find my purpose but for now I just do what i am told and hope things get better in this mixed up world we are living in now. I worked as a Temp making the worst salary I have ever made and working like a dog at a manufacturing plant. No benefits, No recognition, No real chance for advancement, but it helped pay the bills. NOT what I expected to do at this age.Thought I'd be retiring with the school board and enjoying my life! Boy did REALITY Slap ME in the face! All my dreams are pretty much unachieveable without a lot of money so I surrender and give up sadly. I Love doing things for others but it does NOT pay the bills. I'd Love to open a school for ADHD students where the teachers are all ADHD themselves. But truth is most of them don't finish college cause they are bored to death with the way things are done.
I am still looking for a real job and maybe someday a work life that I can LOVE again.
I really miss LOVING what I do! Thanks for Chris who always made life after work UNPREDICTABLE and FUN! I am trying to Live doing things I can afford and watch a lot of TV in the winter.
I miss the fun Chris Jimmy and I had going to concerts and taking trips. I am tired of doing everything alone :( Oh well life goes on.
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