Diann Parnell:  

Life I have had a great life. I have had tragedies, but the happy memories far outweigh the sad ones. I have been blessed throughout my life. I had strict, but good parents whom I miss dearly. I have had 6 healthy children who never drank or did drugs. I have had just about any material thing I wanted, but found I was looking for more the brief happiness things bring. I have gone from rich to poor monetarily and poor to rich in contentment. My first love was Barry Brayer and we had a beautiful baby girl. It did not take long to see he was more of a toy than a keeper. He lives about 3 hrs from me and we still keep in touch. Then I met Bill and I was happy for such a long time. Life played tricks on us and we just could not make it any longer than 28 years. We were divorced May 9th, 1995. Our youngest child, Casey was killed on May 9th, 1998. Joe in 1989 but did not date him until 1994. We married and he was killed Jan 8, 2000. Bill had his motorcycle wreck in Sept 2000 and died Feb 11, 2003. I took care of him until his death. My parents then got sick in the fall of 2003 and I went to Rock Falls, Ill and moved them back to live with me. Mom died in 2004 and Dad in 2006. I was lucky to be a stay at home mom. I did all the office work for our company in Illinois. However, I did this during the time the children were in school. I thought it very important that I be home when they got home. I started college in the late 90's when all the kids were grown except Casey; there was ten years between my fifth child and her. I enjoyed college and did very well. Life again cut short my dreams and I withdrew with only needing a three hour physics class and 11 more hours practicum to graduate with a degree in special education.Needing to support myself I worked with the mentally challenged. I have worked at HorseShoe Casino in Tunica MS and various cashier jobs. My hubby Joe wanted me to work with him, so I did. I have done carpentry work, drywall and many things that have been very useful since becoming a widow. I write poetry as a hobby, enjoy fishing, camping and yard sales.Iused to sell on Ebay before the fees got so outrageous. Now I mow grass all summer as there are six acres here. We moved to Tennesse in 1981. It took me a long time to like it, but now I would not want to live anywhere else. Joe traveled for out of state jobs and we have lived in Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky and Arkansas. There is no place like home. Just give me a yellow brick road to TN.Here is one of my poems written after my daughters death. She had planted a t...Expand for more