Dee Dee Hale - 2000 Biography
Well, it's that time again! I wish I could be there, but I guess it isn't going to work out this time. My nephew is getting married in June and the family is flying up for that, and it is too costly to fly back in July for the reunion as much as I would like to do that. What's worse is I don't have the vacation time left. So you will have to send me pictures and let me know what fun it was, because I know everyone will have a great time.
My family is fine. James and I are shaping up for old age! He and I have both lost weight and are trying to be healthier! Other than that, we just work day in and day out, play golf whenever we can, and love to take the camper out on weekends. Most of my vacation time and weekends, however, have been consumed helping care for my Mom. Bless her heart, she has Alzheimer's and dementia and doesn't know any of us. It is so sad to see this person that taught school for 40 years to be reduced to a babbling baby. It has been very stressful for all 3 of us girls - we all had a time where she has lived with us for extended periods. She was in an assisted living facility, but is now at home with Melanie. She is pretty much confined to a wheelchair and bed.
Our son, Greg, got out of the Navy and has a wonderful job with Lucent Technologies in Orlando. They just built a beautiful home in St. Cloud, outside of Orlando. Greg is an avid fisherman, hunter, scuba diver and golfer. He spends every weekend he can spare in the woods, on the water, or on a golf course. He has a lovely wife, Donna, (who lets him do all that stuff) and two stepchildren. They are teenagers, so Greg is going through a lot of "fun" stuff. He says he is turning gray way before his time. He has a son, 11, who lives in another state, so unfortunately, we don't get to see him that often.
Dawn got married in November, 1998, and got pregnant on her honeymoon in Hawaii and then the baby was 5 weeks early! Likely story, right? But it's the truth, and she has a darling little boy, Zachary, born on July 3rd. One week later, Dawn and Greg's dad passed away, so it made the whole event somewhat bittersweet. It was rough on both of them. Zac is 10 months old now and he is just getting the hang of standing and will be walking very soon. She is lucky to be a stay at home mom right now. Needless to say, I am a proud Grandma. We have a great time with them. She and her husband, John, have a lovely home in Windermere (near Orlando) and they are in the process of building a summer home in North Carolina.
Rhonda, James' daughter, has a daughter, Lexie. She is 6 and thinks she is 15. She is a trip and keeps everybody on their toes! Rhonda is a Respiratory Therapist and lives in Tampa. She spends all her spare time with horses and bicycling. She would love to earn a living with the horses, but just can't seem to figure how to make the same kind of money as she is now.
As you can see, our lives pretty much revolve around kids and grandkids, and we are so fortunate that they all live within 60 miles. I guess that is the way it's supposed to be. We stay in touch with family web sites and e-mails as well as the traditional methods. They are all computer wizards and thank goodness, because I know just enough about computers to be dangerous.
I'll be thinking of all of you at the reunion and wish I could be there. Take care, and write to me! I want to know what everyone is doing.
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