Marie Russo:
CLASS OF 1966
Santa Maria High SchoolClass of 1966
Santa maria, CA
Marie's Story
I am an independent business woman who is still trying to pursue other dreams. I love my family and I love socializing with friends and just people in general. I miss my dad, who passed away in 1997, and my mom, who just passed away February 17, 2008. I do have my son and granddaughter living with me and they keep me sane... most of the time. My daughter, who lives in Arizona, is my best friend and the core of my support group. She has a beautiful little girl named Jessica, born in May of 2009.
I would love to reconnect with some of my high school buddies. Where are you guys?!
The wildest thing I ever did in high school was when I was fourteen and went for a ride on the freeway with friends in their parent's car. The fifteen year old driver did not have a license (obviously) and was all over the road. We went to Pismo. He was doing 90 to 100 mph all the way there. I thought we were going to die. We went from Santa Maria to Pismo in less than ten minutes. On the way home, I prayed and when I got home, I kissed the front door and promised God that I would be good from then on. That didn't last!!!
My favorite way to relax is to read a good book, watch a good movie (no horror or thriller for relaxation) or play a board game.
If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have quiet, privacy, and a computer to be able to deal with the day-to-day.
My father was, is and always will be my hero. He was always there for me. He supported me, gave me direction and inspired me. There was and is no better father.
I always wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a bad idea. As it turns out, they were right. It was not a good career choice for me.
I was born in Massachusetts, left there when I was 13 and lived in Arizona for a summer (like living in hell) before moving to Santa Maria. In November 1972, I moved to San Jose for seven years. I then moved to Snohomish, Washington for two years and then back here to Santa Maria. I only moved around so much because I had a husband who was never happy with his job and changed jobs often.
The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is Mike McFadden, because we had some interesting conversations and I thought of him as a friend I wanted to keep. Funny, I haven't seen him since graduation...
I have two horses and two cats. I dearly love them all. If I had a Black Lab, my life would be complete (pet-wise). I love to watch Pro Hockey, in the arena. No other sport is as much fun, in my opinion. As for Reality TV... I think it sucks. I have enough reality in my life. I don't need to live someone else's.
My biggest surprise in life was when I decided to stick out my marriage only to discover that my husband had a girlfriend half his age. I married for the wrong reasons. It turned out that marriage was not what I thought it would be. The best surprise was how easy motherhood came to me. I loved raising my kids. I wish I would have had more!
If I could improve my home, I'd remodel the kitchen and add on a bathroom. Actually, I am in the middle of a kitchen remodel right now, as well as adding a bathroom. Imagine that! My dream home would be on twenty acres in the country or mountains.
My kids taught me that children are people and deserve the same respect as adults. They also taught me that you should never give up on someone you love. They are worth the work and effort involved in cultivating the relationship. Take the time to listen to what your kids have to say and...Expand for more
talk "with" them not "at" them. You can't spoil a child with love and indulgence isn't love.
One teacher that I would love to see again is no longer living... Mr. Springer. He taught me discipline and he was very interesting. Mr. McClure would be another choice, because he had a nice personality. I also wouldn't mind seeing Mrs. Colter... after all she put up with Barbara Victorino and me in the same P.E. Class three years running.
If I won $100 million, I'd give 15% of it to U.S. Charities, then spend 10% of the rest setting up scholarship trusts, 25 % on my kids and grandkids and I would travel, buy property and invest the rest.
I have never lived on a college campus and I am not a "joiner".
To be truly happy, I would be traveling through Italy with my family (and maybe a love interest) visiting my grandparents hometown (and then on to the rest of Europe), enjoying the scenery.
My current age is 59. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now wouldprobably be in a rest home or dead. I was so completely clueless.
I own my own business. I am a Legal Document Assistant. My job is to prepare documents for those who can't afford or are unwilling to pay an attorney. I aspire to be the best at my profession and to make tons of money.
My first crush dated me for a year, went off to college, found someone else and married her... He killed the crush. I survived and I'm better for it.
My best friend would tell you I'm goofy, but people who don't know me very well would probably describe me as weird in a funny way.
I dress in blue jeans and T-shirts whenever I can get away with it. I wear slightly nicer shirts and blouses to work, but still blue jeans or some comfy pants... and of course, tennies. I know... no class! I wore dresses and heels for almost fourteen years when I worked for Superior Court. It gets old fast!
The weirdest job I ever had was picking strawberries when I was fifteen years old. It sucked big time!
I share my home with my son and granddaughter, which I find wonderful.
If I had one do-over, I would divorce when my children were little instead of waiting until they were grown.
In 10 years, I hope to be wealthy. I'm going to get there by publishing my book.
My oldest friend is Barbara Victorino (now Snyder). We met in P.E. when we were Sophomores in high school and started making fun of the English language together... pronouncing all of the silent letters in words like knife, know, gnu... etc. It was just foolishness, but it gave us a common bond and we have been good friends ever since.
Probably the thing that would surprise people the most at a reunion is that I am easily recognizable. Don't get me wrong I have aged, like everyone else, but I still look a lot like I used to (according to friends that I haven't seen in a long time).
My first job was at Santa Maria Berry Farms, where I got paid $1.10 hr. to pick strawberries. What I remember most about it is that eating berries with dirt on them gave me intestinal distress, it was exhausting work and no matter how hard I worked, I couldn't come close to producing as much as the field workers from Mexico..
When I was eight years old, my parents took me with them to Germany. We went by cruise ship. It took almost ten days to get there, (if memory serves me). During my stay there, my German grandmother taught me to speak the language. While we were there, my parents had an argument and my dad stormed off. He returned an hour later with a stuffed tiger for me. I still have it.
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