Kay Petrie:
CLASS OF 1973
Hazen High SchoolClass of 1973
Renton, WA
Kay's Story
What do I want to say here? This part is hard for me because the last 38 years has been nothing like I planned it to be. My plans were to go to college out of high school, get a degree and become an architect/industrial designer, find a good person to settle down with and have the American Dream... 2 dogs (cats) in the yard, cool car, and white picket fence. (NO children, thank you very much.)
What really happened? Life. And life is what happens when you are making other plans. So I guess my history breaks down into chapters, if you will.
Chapter One - Go to College out of high school:
Didn't plan on parental units not supporting this plan. No money and no job skills to speak of. But... I learned that I like women, had enough street smarts to keep myself sheltered, fed, and on wheels. I also learned that I'm a very bad judge of character.
Chapter Two - Kay versus the Army:
Because of Chapter One, was required to join the military. Went to Texas to play with the weapons. Got there and played in a parts warehouse instead. Thus began a long battle for my soul. In the end, I would call it a draw... I got my benefits but lost my sanity. So I get a lifetime disability from Uncle Sam, but have to take meds the rest of my life to live with it.
Chapter Three - The boring years (1975-2008):
I move around a lot. I've lived in WA, AK, FL, AK, IN, AK, CA, and now TX. I haven't learned that wherever I go, I take me with me. I keep thinking all my problems are related to where I live, not with whom I live or how I live. In my heart of hearts, I would spend the rest of my life in "Paradise" which is West Sonoma County, CA (Northern San Francisco Bay)
I learned that I have PTSD and other lovely diagnoses so have to take meds to function. I had breast cancer and learned who really gives a s**t and that I'm a lot stronger person than I ever imagined.
I never forgot to love. I'm not the best judge of what makes a good life-partner, but I don't give up easily. I've had exactly three true relationship in my life:...Expand for more
7 years, 19 years, and I'm in one currently. Relationships take work and they are very complicated. And I don't think I'd like it any other way.
I never quite get done learning. I have vocational certificates in things like Tax Preparation, PC Repair, Web Design; I got got my Computer Science BS at 37 and MAT at 40. I am a lifelong learner but I don't feel a need for more degrees and certificates. Thanks to the Internet, I can learn on my own just those subjects/skills I want for very little money and on my time schedule.
I don't do the whole 9-5 work for someone for ever thing very well. I have a great work ethic (workaholic) but get very bored very easily. As an adult I have flipped burgers and fried fish filets, rented out videos and DVDs, and delivered daily and weekly newspapers on the low end of things. I have managed printshops, managed technology for the largest non-profit in Alaska, and been a college professor on the high end of things.
And then there's working for myself. I've kept a side business going for probably 30 years... The specific service mix evolves with time, but always centers on assisting small women-owned businesses achieve their goals through proper organization, best practices, and appropriate use of technology.
Chapter Four - I almost died. Now what?
I've spent most of the last two years in and out of hospitals and nursing homes. Near-fatal blood clots and a whole host of complications have kept me busy. I'm starting to come to grips with the fact that I probably will never work again, but, hey... I really love fishing, and the Medicos say its' a great stress release for me. In the meantime, I spend many many hours a day on facebook, and my iPhone playing with virtual farms. It keeps my mind, what's left of it, somewhat active.
Life is good because I'm alive. But now is the time to decide what to do with this reprieve from death... Learn how to not waste the time I have... Learn that people are more important then education, career, and money.
And that's my life
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