mbgphoto's lensography

How I got to this Point

My first 57 years

• I was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1949. I was the oldest of four children. My parents owned a small business and were wonderful examples of a strong work ethic,
• I grew up in a religious family. Church and family were important. I attended Lutheran grade school and high school.
• My parents loved to travel and I have many wonderful memories from our summer road trips.
• I married at 19 to Ray and we have been blessed with two wonderful children, Linda and John.
• Ray and I worked together in our own business in the early years. We often struggled with finances, but our faith in God, and our love of family and each other pulled us through.
• After we sold our business, I started doing taxes for H&R Block. I worked for 9 years as a preparer, an office supervisor and an instructor before I went into management.
• When my children started high school I went into management, progressing from district manager, to assistant regional manager to regional director. When I retired I was director over 14 districts in Missouri and Illinois.
  
  My career saw us move five times as I was promoted. We moved between St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City, Missouri. My wonderful husband was my biggest supporter and helped tremendously in each of the moves.
  He was also able to follow his dream and return to the radio field. He worked at different stations as an on-air personality and as a producer.
• Both of our children graduated from college and then went on to graduate school. Linda is now a Sr. VP in a marketing research firm and John is an attorney. Ray and I are very proud of both of our children.
• At age 56, I fulfilled a longtime goal and finally graduated from college. I received a BS in Business Management!!
• At age 57, I decided that I had enough of the corporate world, and corporate stress. All of the business travel, which at first was exciting, had become a drag. I was ready for the next phase of my life. Ray had retired five years earlier and I was ready to join him.