Donna Cooper:  

LIFE MY HISTORY: I married and moved to New Orleans following my Junior year at TU. It was a life altering move for me--I fell in love with New Orleans, its people, its culture, its history, its diversity--not to mention its world class food and music. I embraced my new hometown and it embraced me--I felt so at home it was almost like I had been born there, calling myself a Born-Again New Orleanian. Over the course of 34+ years I raised three children- 2 boys and 1 girl, was actively involved with my church, several civic organizations, Girl Scouting, and a close circle of friends until that fateful day- August 29, 2005. I used to say nothing could ever get me to leave New Orleans---and then came Katrina. I had been thru a lot of devastation in my personal life in the 10 years previous to Katrina, and had barely survived a near-fatal car crash 5 months before. But none of us could have ever believed or prepared ourselves for what happened the week of August 29, 2005. Many people lost loved ones, family, friends, neighbors; I was fortunate in that I did not lose any people- at least not to death. However, all of us lost something--even the ones who didn't have flooding lost a part of their lives. I lost almost all my possessions; my home, my neighborhood, my church, my community and friends, who are now scattered all over the countryside, my beloved city and way of life. We lost a whole region of our country, America. Four months after the hurricane I found an apartment in Baton Rouge,transferred to my employer's office there and lived in exile for almost two years. I did everything I possibly could; fought with the Federal, State, and local governments, the insurance company, hoping to stay and establish a home again but there is just no winning that battle for so many of us. We have to find new homes and lives in new places. No matter where I go or what I do, New Orleans will always be a part of me and in my heart. I will return yearly to visit the few places that still remain that I love so well, and every year I will mark August 29th as the day a world came to an end and another world began. Uprooting and completely changing one's life at this point is not an easy transition. It is an amazing transition. Sad but amazing. We laugh, we cry and then-as must be-we move on. On June 29,2007 I took an indefinite leave of absence from my former life. I packed a small U-Haul and went for an extended visit to see my daughter, son-in-law, and grandbaby in Tulsa--my daughter moved here in 2003(how's that for irony). I re-acquainted myself with the city I left years ago, caught up on Hale Alum news--marveled at all the accomplishments by so many of our graduates. I collected my thoughts on the past and present and waited for the rest of my life to begin. **2008 ** The "REST OF MY LIFE" has begun!! In one of those "life is stranger than fiction" miracles, I recently reunited with the "First Love" of my life--who was the "boy next-door" and went to the same high school and college--Nathan Hale and the University of Tulsa!! We were married on the beach in Kauai on Dec. 20, 2007 and have settled into blissfully happy married life in Simi Valley, CA. I now believe in the song..."Fairy Tales can come true, it can happen to you..if you're young at heart." Keep Dreaming, Keep Believing....good things come to those who wait...and BELIEVE!! **April 25,2008- Abby Evelyn Hoffman was born in Tulsa,OK to my daughter Susan and son-in-law,Patrick.** **2009 ** Paul and I both lost our Dads this year-- mine in January, Paul's in March. But God always gives us blessings as well and in Feb.we welcomed Matteo Runge-my oldest son Don and daughter-in-law Isabella's firstborn son- to our growing family. On May 23 we joined our whole family to attend the wedding of my youngest son, Jonathan to our new "daughter" Arleita in St. Louis at the Botanical Gardens. The wedding was beautiful amd the reception reflected the diversity of our new family with both Louisiana and Korean foods for indulging. It was a wonderful day and a blessed beginning for their life together. Now back in Callie, Paul's house has been rented out and we are preparing to move to our new apartment a block from the beach in Port Hueneme near Oxnard. Can't wait to lay on the sand, listen to the waves and watch the beautiful sunsets!! Also looking forward to hiking the coastal trails nearby-they look awesome. **January 2010 ** After 6 months of living by the beach,I still miss my New Orleans but the beach is awesome. I can walk for hours down the coast, playing tag with the waves and not tire of it--or the beautiful sunsets over the Channel Islands. So far we've had visits from my daughter, her best friend and my adopted daughter-Jenny-my 1 yr old grandaughter & 4 yr old grandson, and one of my YAYA sisters from NHHS- Barb Neal Prasetyo and her hubbie Soeko--we had a ball touring Warner Bros and Santa Barbara with them. Hoping for lots more visitors. In November I registered with Central Casting and started doing some EXTRA/BACKGROUND work. If you don't blink you might see in 2 episodes of "Big Love" this season or an episode of a new FOX series-"Sons of Tucson" in March.It's more fun than work!! We spent Christmas in Louisiana with my son,daughter-in-law,11 month old grandson, and my daughter's family from Tulsa. It was wonderful seeing all our lifelong friends from the New Orleans area,spending days in the French Quarter and on the Lakefront, and eating ...Expand for more