Email Address: cappie@iglide.net

Upon viewing our website, I was very saddened by the classmates we've lost along the way. We just never know what will happen.

Well, how did I get where I am today? (the short version) Upon graduation, I attended the University of Wyoming and did something I vowed I'd never do- I got married on semester break! No regrets, either! While my husband, Mick, finished his schooling, he worked in a service station during the evenings. While changing a tire one evening, it blew up in his face, nearly killing him. So much for our first anniversary. He had reconstructive surgery 6 months later and we are just thankful he is alive. I worked as a night nurse in the newborn nursery at the hospital in Laramie. When he had finished school, we moved to Ft Collins where he worked for the university for a while until he realized he'd better join the Air Force or get drafted. Two days following his signing up, a draft notice arrived. He was so glad he'd voluntarily joined the AF. While Mick was at boot camp and schooling in Denver, I worked for Singer Sewing Co, and was with them for several years. We spent the military years in Sacramento where our beautiful little daughter, Andrea, was born. When my husband left the AF, we relocated back to the Denver area. I returned to college and became a respiratory therapist. One day a P.I.E. truck pulling two trailers crossed over all the lanes of traffic on I-25 near the turnpike. It hit our little Fiat, knocked us sideways in front of him, and snowplowed us down the freeway. Some mighty hard praying took place that day. So terrifying! Truly by the grace of God were we spared, but due to my injuries, I wasn't able at the time to continue as a therapist, so I cross-trained and became a certified clinical medical assistant. I worked for a while for the chief of staff at Mercy Hospital, then my husband was transferred to Casper. I was able to work in RT again until I decided I'd had enough of hospital "stuff" and took a job with an internist. A much better situation. We decided to enter seminary in 1984 and sold almost everything and headed off to school (again) to seminary in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. We were both ordained and received commissions as officers in The Salvation Army in 1986. (We both now hold the rank of Major.) We've been super busy ever since, but it has been tremendously rewarding. We've had very interesting experiences from living in a native village in Saxman, Alaska to touring the Holy Land. While in Alaska, our daughter decided it was time to leave home and went to visit a friend in Tasmania. They got married, now live in Brisbane Australia, and have 3 beautiful kids, two boysDavid, 11, and Matt (the Imp), 10, and a girl, Katie, who will be 2 in June. She's also the first girl in her father's family in several generations. A very special baby indeed!
The boys are very intelligent and have been put ahead in school a couple of times. They are also super characters, and keep us all in stitches. Andrea's husband, Bob, is a systems designer with a computer network company and is in charge of the international branch. And he is a great guy. Our daughter is a doll designer and has a little international business there.

In about 1992, I received a back injury and was informed that it was extremely serious and there was a good chance I would not walk again. I did not find that an acceptable diagnosis and was determined to beat the odds. I didn't tell my husband this at the time, but I was in physical therapy with some of the Denver Broncos (I felt very insignificant, I must say). I just kept it my little secret;-). When he did find out, boy was he jealous and still gives me a bad time about it (and I get a real perverse pleasure from it all). I just laugh. I did overcome the odds, again only by the grace of God. Today, I am a little stiff and walk kind of funny sometimes, but that's okay. Around that same time, my husband,Mick, suffered a stroke but recovered with minimal side effects. For a while though, our world came to a skreeching hault. We're still getting around okay, so life is good.

As our retirement approaches (Oct. 1), we face it with mixed emotions. As you all are reuniting, we will be moving into our little retirement home near the Umpqua River here with our two cats, a black Maine Coon with peridot green eyes (who snores) and a little black Bombay with big gold eyes and a surprised expression. She steals black socks and hides them.
I keep trying to figure out what to do with myself when retirement hits. After being a boss for 22 years, going back to work for someone else, doesn't sound very exciting to me. I have lots of interests: photography; arts & crafts; I love to make jewelry-I've sold some of my designs; sewing - I also design children's clothing and enjoy that very much, I like to create window treatments, read, cook (I am unfortunately very good), go antiquing, and lots of other stuff. I also love to visit Australia, of course-our family is there! I shall miss preaching and teaching, but that's in the Lord's hands and I'll just see what happens (I don't relax well, so am not sure how I'll handle all this but think I am going to adapt a little too well.)

Probably the most exciting thing to happen during our career, was our trip to the Holy Land. I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Petra, Jordan. Israel was exciting, too, and very special. One day when we came down off the Golan Heights, they started shooting over us. SCARY, SCARY, but we were kept safe. We crawled over muddy ruins, felt the passion of the people, and ate fabulous food. I even went camel riding with a Bedouin.

I shall have you all in my thoughts during the reunion. Family and friends are precious. So is life. Enjoy renewing your friendships-they are to cherish-I'm wishing I could be there. If anyone feels like dropping me a line, I would love to hear from you. Have fun, be well, laugh a lot-it's good for you, and stay safe. Great Blessings to you all, be thankful for all you have.

In Jordan right above Petra

Just Us

Our sweethearts, Christmas 2007