Mary
Ann Dold
Hi All!
I love reading
about all of you, and I can't wait to see you at the reunion. With these bios we
will have something to talk about with each other. So thanks Jan!!!
Guilt is setting in
so I guess it’s time for me to get my bio out there (besides, I am having lunch
with Jan next week, and I don't want her to bug me!!) So here goes.
After graduation, I
went off to the University of Redlands where I was supposed to graduate in 1965
but a week before Christmas in my senior year, I suddenly found myself
paralyzed, and landed in Mercy Hospital (San Diego) and later Pioneer Hospital
(Brawley) for several months before learning to walk again.
A few months later,
I tried to return to Redlands, but had another attack, maybe I was allergic to
the U of R! I was misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and only learned a few
years ago that I have a tumor on my spine. Not wanting to risk surgery, (even
though they assure me that should they make a slight slip of the knife, I would
still have the use of my arms!!!) I just live with it and the possibility of
occasional attacks. My faith always sees me through (Praise the Lord), and I
just live one day at a time, as so many of you have mentioned you do also.
We finally wised
up! After living with my parents for a while, I moved up to L.A. to room with
Cheryl Turner, (she hopes to make this reunion!!) who had graduated from USC in
1965, and was teaching school there. A few months later, another attack sent me
back to El Centro and the hospital again! After I recovered, I was offered a
job as a features reporter/photographer by John Fitch (Darlene Fitch's brother)
who was editor of the Imperial Valley Post and Press. I worked there for about
a year and then took a job with the San Diego Union's Imperial Valley bureau.
On my breaks, I
would go next door to the Mayfair Market and buy a donut from Glena Baker's
mother who worked in the bakery. The manager of the store, Kenneth Cook, from
Brawley Union High, class of ‘59, asked her to introduce us. Ironically, he had
also attended the U of R but we had never met. In 1968, we were married and
moved to Los Angeles.
While there, I was
able to finally get my BA from UCLA (guess I wasn't allergic to it). In
November 1972, we adopted our son Derrick, and moved to Escondido where we
still reside. Our daughter Kelly was born in 1978. She now lives in Encinitas
and student-teaches a kindergarten class in Solana Beach while attending
graduate school at the Univ. of San Diego. Derrick is a computer graphic artist
(our reunion committee is one of his clients) and he and his wife made me a
grandmother five years ago on St. Patrick's Day. Their little Leprechaun,
Aaron, is my pride and joy.
I've been
freelancing for magazines and recently became certified as an inspirational
speaker. My "Hi Honey, I'm Home for Good!" seminars for women whose
husbands are retired or work from home, keep me busy and out of the house. It's
not easy for those of us living with a spouse in the house all the time. I am
working on a book on the subject. Any of you in the same position, I 'd love to
hear your stories! I also keep busy with a nursing home ministry and Bible
Study at our church.
That is about it.
My dad passed away in 1988, but my mom is still going strong at 89 (she has to
help ME up and down curbs) so I make frequent visits to El Centro and always
get my fill of Hacienda food (Special Quesadillas!) while there. (Diane usually
joins me for lunch) In case you don't know, the old Hacienda is gone, but they
did reopen on Main Street, and there is always Celia’s, which is staffed by
Hacienda chefs and waiters, and yes, Camacho's is still there too! So while in
town for the reunion, enjoy!
I look forward to
seeing you at our 40th!
Mary Ann Dold Cook