Sonya Johnston:  

I could get a one do-over I would try to have more children. I always wanted 5 children. I would have loved to have had another girl at least. I am happy that I had children and what it taught me. My favorite way to blow off steam is to go for a walk. It is relaxing and it usually takes my mind off of what is bothering me. Also if I have a good book to read also helps. I am at a point in my career that I am thinking about the end. Being a teacher you do not get the respect that you deserve for all the extras that you do. I did not go into this job for the pay, but it sure would help if once in awhile I was acknowledged for the effort I have done. I always wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a not such a good idea. As it turns out, they were wrong. One of my heroes is Abraham Lincoln. I am currently reading a book on his political genius. I am totally amazed at what he was able to do to hold the union together. my obsession right now is my grandson. He is at a fun age to watch. I love watching my son and daughter-in-law deal with parenthood. My current age is 55. When I was 12, I thought that people my age now would be old. I was so completely surprised that you are only old on the outside. I dress pretty conservative. I think I dress my age. I can wear younger styles but choose not to. In 10 years, I hope to be retired. I'm going to get there by hanging in there, and taking it a year at a time. A memory that I will never forget is when my oldest sister was suppose to be watching Debra and I. She ran off and we tried to find her. We walked down to the school at the end of the street. ( We lived on Yale Street in Ontario, Calif). There were a group of children playing at the school. Debra and I went up and asked them if they knew our sister Marsha.( At that age you think very ego centric). They didn't know her but one girl came up to me held on to my dress and shoved me to the ground. My dress almost completely ripped off of me. One boy told the girl how mean she was for doing that. I started crying and told Debra we needed to go home. As we were walking home Debra decides she is off to see the world. She was always trying to run away and this was one of the times. I grabbed her and begged her to go home with me. She broke free and mumbled she needed to see the world. I went home crying and holding what I could of my dress to my body. When I got home my mother was at the sink doing the dishes. I was crying and all I could say was, "Debra's gone." The look on my mothers face I will never forget. She ran to the phone and called my dad at work. He came home from work, and the police were called. A nice couple saw Debra walking and brought her home. Everyone had been out looking for her. I think my mother must of thought that someone had grabbed Debra and I was able to get away. That's probably because my dress hanging on me. Neither Debra or I got in trouble, but I do remember our older sister getting it. My first job was at The Mens store, where I got paid 1.25 an hour to ring up sales. What I remember most about it is a lot of dirty old men..