Ron Sasso:  

Okay, here's a newer update (I'm updating this in January 2021). I wanted to include my personal e-mail address but it won't let me. Quite simply it is my first name "ron.sasso" and the server is Yahoo. I put this in here because if someone really wants to contact me you'll e-mail me there as I don't have the gold, silver, or platinum classmates membership---I have the tin foil one. I don't usually spend too much time on social media because I have a website as well. As far as my "story" first, the checklists they provided really don't cut it for me. Too many things that I like and that I do won't fit into the boxes. I was married from 1992 to 2019. I am on relatively good terms with my ex-wife, but I decided to leave after 26 years of marriage. I got diagnosed with systemic scleroderma in 2016 (it's an autoimmune disease) and had no emotional support from my wife. Having a major health issue and feeling alone wasn't a good feeling. I moved out and we had an amicable divorce. My ex initially wanted to believe I left to have an affair but then she realized that wasn't the case. Fortunately, my kids figured it out sooner than she did (as she told everyone that was the case). She's not a bad person, but she has issues. As a result, I decided to take some time before dating. I figured I needed at least six months (I wouldn't date while separated). So...I waited...and then a pandemic hit. Great time to be single! I still haven't dated. Such is life. Having scleroderma was an adjustment but I am doing well with it. Most people aren't as fortunate as I've been. I have three wonderful children (boy 23, girl 20, boy 18). My two oldest kids own their own homes. My oldest is looking at joining me in real estate. I was the director of The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, an outpatient brain injury rehabilitation program in Rapid City, South Dakota (in the beautiful Black Hills). I enjoyed my job---but I'll get to that later. I write screenplays on the side but haven't sold any yet (though I have come close). I also wrote columns for the local newspaper. They were mostly about local politics. After one column I had the city council president try to get me fired from running the brain injury program. Six weeks later I was unexpectedly unemployed. The guy had even bragged about being able to get me fired. The elected official ended up getting unanimously reprimanded by the city council. There were several members who thought he should have been thrown off but politics played a role there. I also made a change of careers---going into real estate where I don't have to worry about politics. I still keep my counseling license active. I still run. I've run 9 marathons and switched to half marathons after my scleroderma diagnosis. My fastest so far was 1:40:51 (not too shabby in my opinion for a guy in his 50's with an autoimmune disease). I play racquetball from time to time (not as much as I'd like though). I don't think I've changed all that much since high school---I'm still an idealist and I still enjoy writing. I guess it was a good thing that most people were able to reco...Expand for more