Comments:
Married Walter Conlon, a New Jersey/New York native, in 1973; he's an attorney here in Muscatine. He's the oldest of 12 and I have tons of family, so we spend a lot of time celebrating, mourning, enjoying our many relatives. I taught English and German for Muscatine Schools for 33 years-- a great gig; as German teacher, I got to go to Europe almost every summer, and as Model UN coach, I took kids to New York and Chicago conferences every year, and then to conferences in Turkey, Ecuador, and Holland. Went back to grad school whenever I needed therapy; am ABCD in German, all but comps and dissertation, but a Ph.D. would have made my life more complicated, not better-- yeah, I know, sour grapes. Walter and I still travel all the time-- Ukraine, Germany, Budapest, Cancun, Peru together, a family reunion in the Catskills, Ireland, Egypt, planning on India.
I lost my parents since I retired, and my sister and I have spent lots of time dealing with their stuff. I'm continuing Dad's genealogical work (found centuries' worth of Dad's ancestors in Germany, can get back to the 4th century on Mom's side). Walter's a band geek, so we are both involved in the symphony, and of course we work with Sister Cities welcoming international visitors to Muscatine. My book clubs are therapy for me; reading has become social, and not my secret escape.
Retirement is a learning curve-- cooking, growing things, catching up on movies and television, cherishing friends and family. Thanks to all of you (especially Rick) who keep our class in touch and informed.
