Joan Newton

My God, I'm glad Nan sent a wrap up of the class reunion. I had every intention of going to this reunion but the guy who I was working for made some terrible decisions and went bust. So at the tender age of 62 I was back out on the street looking for work. I’ve had some pretty lean times but have finally found a great job and am working full time again. I have firmly told myself that I will be at the 50th, regardless of my situation. I may have to stand on the corner selling prickly pear preserves but I’ll make it.

Were you able to make it to the reunion? Did any of our old teachers show up? I looked through the year book of course and most of our teachers were pretty old at the time we were going to school but who knows, so they say. J Sorry to see so many fellow classmates gone already, I’ve been looking to hook up with Mary Cole, no wonder I couldn’t get hold of her. I’m good but not that good. guess my aches and pains are nothing compared to some folks.

A couple of things about me. I am divorced twice now, never to be strangled again, I mean married. I live alone in a nice two-bedroom apartment and just lost my cat of 24 years in January. My son is 35 now and until a couple of months ago lived in the apartment right next door to me. He and his girlfriend (he never married; she just got a divorce) got a sweetheart of a deal though and moved up the mountain to a really nice house that they are renting from some friends. They are so in love and I am very happy for them both. He got a good job with the University and she is working for the Sheriff's Department. Both computer geeks but it has paid off for them. YEAH!

My jobs have been 16 years with Delta Air Lines, a few years with the Marriott hotels, odd jobs, and then when I moved here I got a job with the University of Arizona and was with them 16 years. I was able to put Joe through school cheaply and was able to take my state retirement a couple of years ago so I did. I thought I had this great job with a guy who was going to build a prototype telescope and study the moon. His whole concept was brilliant but unfortunately he has ADD and ADHD and refuses to take his medications. He made some terrible decisions and lost a lot of money so he had to shut the project down until he can get more funding. I won't go back to work for him though because he was just too difficult to deal with on a day-to-day basis. I'm too damn old to deal with that. So I finally settled down to the job I have now and hope it stays with me.

I love living in Tucson, it is a great town. It is absolutely beautiful and except for the two months of ungodly heat we have in July and August we have no adverse weather. It only takes about an hour to drive up the mountain to have cold and snow if I want to play in it but back down to the warm desert for me. I wouldn't move back to the snow and cold for anything. I have some health problems that do not keep me down thankfully and I am perfectly happy to be here in the heat. It is a beautiful town surrounded by mountains and the sunsets here are breathtaking.
Over the last ten years or so I've been friends with a little lady who was 96 on October 1^st last year. For quite a number of years I took care of Alzheimer's patients as a second job and I met Ann through one of those ladies. Hers and mine is a long story but suffice it to say that we have road tripped to PA, IL, CO, CA, OH and other places I can't recall. She has been very generous and I have met it with taking her where she wants to go.

My brother and I had a horrible out when Dad died and I've tried to make peace but he won't have anything to do with it so I have no ties to Allegan family wise. I do use Allegan for a lot of my passwords though, who the hell would think of that. Hahahahaha

Please drop me a line and let me in on your lives. My email is bertha61cat@msn.com.

Lots of warm hugs and fond memories.

P.S. I am a GREAT tourist guide so if any of you are coming through Tucson do let me know and I’ll be glad to show you around. I know all of the best spots in town to dine also. Don’t hesitate to hire me, I love to reminisce.