Greetings from north Texas !
My family and I live about 15 minutes north of Fort Worth, Texas in a small town called North Richland Hills (population 60,000). It's been a long time since I have talked to most of you and not so long for some others.
My husband, Michael and I have been here in Texas since November 1991. We transferred down from Tulsa, Oklahoma with his job at American Airlines. He started out as an aircraft mechanic in 1985, but is now an aircraft inspector. So, whenever any of you are flying on American Airlines and you're on a Boeing 757, 767 or a 777, somewhere on that plane's documentation will be my husbands stamp of approval. Michael got his aviation career started wiht the military. He was in the U.S. Navy for four years, but he said that after going out on 3 cruises in 4 years, that was plenty. He still gets a "kick" though out of watching the movie "TOP GUN", because that was one fo the aircraft carriers he was stationed on, the USS Enterprise.
As for me, I have no career that I have a degree in or a six figure income to go along with it. For the most part, I've just been a domestic engineer, or a domestic goddess as I prefer to be called. I have taken on the ocassional job, but nothing that I wanted to make a career out of. Let me tell you, processing bankruptcy payments for Bank One was not the most enjoyable of jobs. I did enjoy working for the City of North Richland Hills in the animal control department. The hours, however, took their toll, I worked from 10am to 7 pm Tuesday through Saturday. That was my first attempt at working full time, but it wasn't for me. The job just took too much time away from my family. So, back to being a domestic goddess I went.
But, soon the nest will be empty, as many of you are learning. I was just reading some of the previous postings on our class homepage, and it seems quite a few of us are in similar situations...our children graduating from high school.
Our son, Christopher (17 years old, 5/87), will be graduating this upcoming May from Richland High School. It seems like just yesterday I was holding his hand and walking him to his first day kindergarten. He plans on attending the University of Texas in Arlington, Texas, studying engineering of some sort. Right now, he's busy going to school, working about nine hours a week, playing his guitar, and spending time with his girlfriend, Miranda. Our days used to be much different when he was younger...karate, football, but most of all, his passion, BASEBALL! He played ball from the age of six until the age of 14 when he incurred a season ending and future ending shoulder injury. That was not good news when you're a pitcher and 1st baseman. I don't know where that recessive gene call "SOUTH PAW" came in at, but being a lefty made him a much sought after player and being 6/3 didn't hurt him either! We just finished ordering his graduation announcements last week and everything else that goes along with that. Time really does go by so fast...it doesn't seem like it's been over 22 years since we've graduated.
My parents, Stan and Barbara Yuchnovicz left Taiwan and retired in 1994. They bought a house here in North Richland Hills, about two miles away. It's really nice having them close by, especially after then being half way around the world for so long. My mom had breast cancer in 1992 and had to have one of her breasts removed. She is doing fine now and with no problems since then. My dad on the other hand has been in the hospital a lot more often. At last count, 1 knee, 1 hip replacement, 1 hip repair, and 1 pace maker installed. The last two items on the list occurred this past September. Instead of leaving on a two week cruise from Anchorage, Alaska to Vancouver, Canada, my dad spent two weeks at Anchorage Memorial Hospital. He's on the mend now and I'm even more thankful that they're only two miles away. My husband calls my dad, "The Bionic Baptist".
Sherry and Susan should appreciate this and that is Michael studies Tai Chi and Pa Gua. He's been studying now for over ten years and absolutely loves it. He's hoping to start up a class of his own. As for me, my passion is bowling. I used to bowl three leagues a week, but now I only bowl once, and that's on a traveling league. I have not shot a perfect game (300), but I got close once, a 279, silly 8 pin in the 10th frame. I also spend my time taking care of our critters - Lucy (red heeler/terrier mix), adopted from a shelter, Mimi (chihuahua), owner died, given to us, Curtis (17lb. crossed-eyed grey tabby), stray, and Smitty (16lb. Maine Coon), nephew broke up with his girlfriend and gave him to us. Then there's also the fresh water fish tank and all the wild birds we feed in the backyard. There are some pesky rats with fluffy tails AKA squirrels that love it when I fill up the bird feeders. They are always dumping the food on the ground looking for the sunflower seeds. I can't blame it all on the squirrels though, because I have seen the opossum up on the fence too.
If anyone is ever in our neck of woods please give us a call...
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