Rita Stevens:
CLASS OF 1952
Traverse City High SchoolClass of 1952
Traverse city, MI
Alma High SchoolClass of 1952
Alma, MI
Stillwell Junior High SchoolClass of 1949
Alma, MI
Republic Elementary SchoolClass of 1946
Alma, MI
Rita's Story
Hi. The nicest people I knew when I was a kid were teachers. Maybe that inspired me to become one, too. I'm retired from Kalamazoo Public Schools, where I taught first or second grade.
... My two kids are expats in Europe. Shane lives in France, where he works as a steel company rep. His daughter Josephine is 9. Roberta lives in The Netherlands, where her husband works for a university. Their son Alex is 7. We all visit back and forth frequently.
... My former husband and I are good friends and see each other at least once a week. (We're so civilized.)
... I live the suburban life in my 1956 house in the Kalamazoo area, blessed with friends, good health, and a garden I love.
... Life has certainly improved from June 1949, when my poor mother suddenly fled my abusive father in Alma, with my little sister Adrienne and me in tow. Our poverty-stricken new life in Traverse City nearly sunk m...Expand for more
e, but both Adrienne and I paddled like mad and came out fine. My mom lived to see both of us graduate from college but not to see the college graduations of all four of our children.
... The photo is from February 2008, a vacation in Florida.
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Three years later:
Today is the day before Thanksgiving. The new photo shows a couple of things I'm thankful for, Also the parents of the above grandchildren. Also my grown-up granddaughter Letty from London, who visited earlier in the summer. Also the garden this photo was taken in, Aug. 2011. Also the house that always welcomes my wonderful international family. Also the good health of the 77-year-old grandmother pictured between Alex from Holland, age 10, and Josephine from France, age 12. I'm thankful for how things turned out. Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!
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