Sandra Cayetano:  

I am probably the most out of touch but the most eager to be in touch of the class of 62. I moved to the Philippines in l968 after I married a Filipino who I met at the University of Michigan while studying there. We had a good life together here in Manila. I put up my own pre-school with a partner and enjoyed my teaching years. We had four children, one girl and three boys. My husband passed away in 2003,at the time he was about to become the Senate President here. My daughter ran and won a seat in the Senate in 2004, and my eldest son ran in 2007 and won also so I have two children in the Senate (our Senate has 24 seats). One of my other son, is in the toy business and it's lots of fun. My youngest son is a movie and tv director...but back to me. I write children's books which I give away to the poor.... Since my husband passed away I am pretty much on my own, enjoying doing whatever I like to do but then...my mom had an accident and I brought her here to the Philippines. That's a long story though, so for now..this is my story. I would love to get my hands on our yearbook and post all the then pictures and I would also l ike to get more of our classmates here. I hardly recognize the few names on our list. Hope to see more pictures, the then ones so I can place all of you. I think I am a much different person than I was in High School. I have become more confident and relaxed. I enjoy life and savor friendships. I do recall the few classmates I sat next to in classes and really like to find out what they have been up to. Living in a third world country makes one see life differently and simply put...to count ones blessings. STORY WIZARD 23 I share my home with my two sons, my mom, my two cooks, my gardener, my two drivers, my guard, my washer lady my two cleaning girls and my mom's caregiver, which I find a lot work, a lot of fun and countless challenges. STORY WIZARD 17 My current age is 64. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be really, really, really old. I was so completely mistaken. STORY WIZARD 30 From the story wizard to the right...it says share a childhhood memory you will never forget... Oh, for me I have 104 childhood memories in my SANDY BOOKS that I write, plus 7 BIG BOOKS. To recap one, FRANKIE, THE BULLY, It all started in Kindergarten. I was always a "good" girl. When the teacher said stop playing, I stopped playing. In our Kindergarten classroom we had a huge slide. The rule was that you never go down the slide until the one before you has gotten off the slide at the bottom. Well, Frankie, the "bad" boy in the class was ahead of me and when the teacher said it was time to STOP playing, he wouldn't get off the bottom of the slide so I couldn't go down. I was mortified because the teacher kept saying STOP playing and I couldn't. I think he sat there during the whole story telling that day so that means I also stayed at the top of the slide..... EVERY WOMAN'S NIGHTMARE Since my husband passed away very unexpectedly in 2003, I have made a point of having a yearly check-up so I would not be surprised one day with a sudden illness (though of course, there are many that could surprise us). Wow! A long sentence! Each simple test as we get older leads to a follow up test so each year the annual check-up takes longer and longer. Every time something suspicious turns up there are tests to prove the finding is nothing after all. This year, my breast sonogram showed a small mass. The doctor in charge of the results said oh, it's very small, let's just observe. I was happy to just observe but then I said to myself, better to see what it is so I asked her to refer me to a specialist. The specialist said it needs to be operated and after it's removed they will do a biopsy. THUS, started to unfold what every woman fears, what if it's cancer. So, then I was referred to another specialist who does a new procedure called a mammotome. THis is only done here at one hospital but it is the least invasive procedure. So, I scheduled it right away. I was surprised my son who has been in New York for a year arrived the eve of the operation. So, to make a long story short. I had the operation under general anesthesia and it was benign SO no problem!!!! But if I had not gone to the specialist it would still be growing and the operation would have been more serious. The lesson I learned is ALWAYS take care of whatever needs to be checked out. I felt very sorry for myself when I first heard I have a breast mass but then I REALIZED many women have them and don't know it because they don't have check ups. They may not be able to afford the check up or the expensive operation. So, I remind myself that I must work hard to share whatever it is I have to share with the less fortunate because I have more in life financially. Sharing doesn't cost anything most of the time. . . STORY WIZARD 29 My first job was babysitting, where I got paid 50 cents an hour. What I remember the most about it is that it was so scary to be in the house of other people late at night waiting for the parents to come home. I would keep checking if I had locked all the doors and would do everything I could think of to try to stay awake. STORY 28 What about me would surprise everyone at our high school reunion? Maybe that I have two children who are senators in the Senate of the PHILIPPINES, because it still surprises me and them too!!!! STORY WIZARD 27 My oldest friend is Marlene Coe. She lived out in the country like me. We rode the same school bus, both had older sisters and lived close enough that we could bike to each other's houses. We met in 2nd grade. I don't know why we clicked....I guess there is always something inside people that draw them together which is hard to understand. Later in life it is common beliefs or interests but early in life I don't know what it is. STORY WIZARD 26 In ten years I hope to be STILL ALIVE and ENJOYING LIFE and DEEPLY PASSIONATELY IN LOVE!!!! STORY WIZARD 25 If I get one do-over, what do I do differently? Hmmmm, that's a good question. Sometimes I have said that I would have taken library science instead of teaching because I love books but I also enjoyed and made good use of my educational background in teaching so maybe....not that. Well, this is it. . . . I would have been a better marriage partner. I didn't expect my husband to die so young and I would have spend less time complaining and more time doing things better. Story 24 No trophies on my mantel.... A big ...Expand for more