Valarie Love:
CLASS OF 1987
Loyola University - NursingClass of 1987
Chicago, IL
Valarie's Story
Life
I'm living back in my hometown of Jackson, Minnesota. I retired in 1995 (19 years when they were offering early retirements) and came back here to raise my two sons.
Chris (my oldest) is 18 and going to school at the University of Minnesota. He hopes to be a physician and is considering going into the Navy. (Kind of makes me proud, but it is worrisome to have a child in the military now isn't it? I'd rather go to war myself than have my son in danger.)
Kyle is 16, in 10th grade. He is a bit of a computer expert...loves them and often helps his classmates put them together, etc.
I was in Hospital Corps School in summer and fall 1977, class 77036. Keith Wehr and Joe Cappiello were our "class officers". We had a class reunion once after I got back to Great Lakes. I can't remember what year that was, but I think it is time for another reunion!!
I still remember most of my classmates, but have not been in touch with any of them for years...what a shame!
From HCS, I went to Oakland Naval Regional Medical Center...and worked on the Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery Ward for over a year. I loved it and didn't want to leave but had to take my guaranteed school. I went to OR Tech School in the fall of 78 and then back to Great Lakes...to be closer to my family and Steve Love who I met in Oakland and would eventually be my husband. (That took a while though)
I loved California, although when I first got there (rarely having been out of my hometown of Jackson, MN; population 3700)...I was almost afraid to leave the base. Eventually I became much more brave...and explored a lot of the Bay area. I didn't stay a small town girl for long.
So next...back to Great Lakes to work in the OR for 4 years. I also taught CPR and Rights and Responsibilities/EEO. I also worked in the Bowling Alley on and off for the next 4-6 years...a lot of fun.
Anyone remember the Bowling Alley? Oh I also went to College in the evening while in the OR, this came in handy in 1984 when I applied for the MEC Program.
I was going to get out in 1...Expand for more
983, but was offered an assignment of my choice. So I asked to teach Corps School and back I went. They had to make an exception to allow me to go there...as for some reason they didn't usually send OR techs to teach at HCS. I loved it there and my students. Wasn't there long though...I was lucky enough to get into the MEC Program and went to Loyola University of Chicago for my BSN. (4 year nursing degree)And was then commissioned as an Ensign in the Nurse Corps.
Guess where I went next? Great Lakes of course!! I worked on the Med Surg floor and volunteered for almost every duty I could. I had found I loved to teach and was the Ward Education Officer where ever I went. Next I went to work in OB/Labor and Delivery. Timely because Steve and I had our first son, Chris while I worked there. He was born by emergency C-section...it was handy that I knew the code for the emergency elevator...to help the Doc as he pushed my bed in to take me from 11 down to the OR on 2!
Well from there to ICU for 3 years and then I was due for transfer. Oh, volunteered for Desert Storm during that time...all packed and ready to go..supposedly within 2 days of going.then..no. So we had our second son, Kyle.
Can't explain what happened next as my husband Steve cheated and left us. I still don't understand it and still love him. By then I had orders to teach at HCS. So back I went again!! I loved it, (not all of my superiors...but I had been lucky until then) I was stationed there for 3 more years and we put through many classes! The school went through lots of changes too. I retired from there in 1995, get paid for a bit over 19 years. I'd love to tell you about my retirement ceremony. A wonderful friend helped plan it, my kids participated and believe it or not...Keith Wehr gave a speech!!! Well, I guess that brings me full circle. More if you as
College
Most of all, I remember my friends; but I haven't seen them in years!! I can't believe we don't still have reunions or keep in touch. I'm going to try to find them again!! Noreen and gang...here I come.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to start a reunion event!
Photos