Well, I've been extremely frustrated because I've been unable to read all of these wonderful emails until now! (It's Friday night, 10/2 at 3AM!...obviously couldn't sleep anticipating all the excitement of tomorrow...even tried warm milk!...must be getting old!) Anyway, I've been at the Spa in Ojai with my mother for the past three days and came home to find the piano tuned by Jim Smith (Santa Monica College), thanks to Diane and my email up and running via Netscape, thanks to Mr. M. Just finished reading all 96 messages. What a trip!
I'm so thrilled we're having this reunion. (Although Suzanne and I thought we should have planned one in Catalina for old time sake...maybe the next one.) I think I've driven my business partners and family nuts talking about it! Well, here's my blast from the past.
I couldn't make the very last tour (late summer of '71). I was sad but was off to the Conservatory of Music at University of the Pacific in Stockton. Had a fabulous time. Earned a BM in Voice Performance (how practical!) including a year studying opera in Vienna (a real treat!) Spent my college summers in the Berkshires in Southwest Mass. as my Dad was producing summer stock at the Berkshire Playhouse.
After graduating from UOP I moved back to LA to have my tonsils out. I had chronic tonsillitis and knew I couldn't hold down a job otherwise I would have moved to San Francisco after school. Anyway, ended up getting a church job, joining some singing groups and getting a day job at Coldwell Banker in Brentwood doing administrative and marketing jobs. Then went to Philip Norton for more of the same, back to CB then to Corliss & Associates as Operations & Marketing Manager. (Didn't know much but I was good at faking it!)
Met my first husband, Mike Alley, (I was really desperate...at 28 all my friends were married, he was tall, dark and handsome, had two homes, seemed financially successful, much older and I simply didn't have a clue!) Moved to Santa Barbara, got a job as Marketing Manager at Sambo's (their corporate HQ was in Carpinteria), had a blast working there, got pregnant and quit to be a mom. His name is Nicholas and he's the apple of my eye. I love being a mom. Joined the Jr. League in SB, had a great life until the business my husband and I had bought (an office supply store) started losing money (he didn't know a thing about it!). We sold it for $1.00 and he got a job in San Diego so off we went. Lived in Tierrasanta and loved it. Hubby #1 again was downside and we moved back to LA (which I never wanted to do).
Could tell the marriage should have never happened to begin with, took a deep breath, left him in Westwood, took Nicholas and moved into my parents home in Pacific Palisades. Went back to work as Director of Marketing for Merrill Lynch Realty while I tried to figure out my next move. Bought a condo at Lakeside Village in Culver City and set up house with Nick. Threw myself into being a single mom, working, did allot of volunteer work, kept those church jobs going all those years, went back east allot to visit my brother and other family members and resigned myself to the single life.
Started a company with Tim Corliss, (Corliss Westside Properties) in July of '87, got spinal meningitis the week before our grand opening and stayed there until we sold to RE/MAX. Got my real estate license, partnered with Tim Corliss and developed a real estate discount program for senior citizens with Tim who is now marketing it nationally.
Met my current husband in August of 1991. He was a real estate trust officer for a bank at the time and a client of one of the brokers in the office. He was going through his second divorce (had just separated), I hadn't been out on a date in 2 solid years Wasn't much interested in a rebound relationship and started dating someone from my 25th Uni High reunion and a couple of other acquaintances but after 1/2 a year of having fun together deciding we really wanted to be together. After another year of fun, his 2nd divorce and really getting to know each other (after 3 combined divorces we were a little gun shy) we decided to give it a try. He moved in with me and we celebrated our 5th last March ( a first for me...and when we get to 10 (a first for David) we'll throw a big party! We've been through allot in the 6 1/2 years we've known each other...his father dying an extremely slow death from cancer, figuring out how to take care of his mother who had a major stroke 15 years ago and is paralyzed on one side, loss of jobs, deep (mid-life crisis) depression, finding a guy with cerebral palsy on the streets in downtown LA and bringing him into our family (he lives with my mother-in-law), but we're stronger than ever and this is what I always thought marriage should be like.
Moved my office from Brentwood to the Marina and joined The Bizzy Blondes at RE/MAX Westside Properties, (a real estate team...and yes I did go lighter but not blonde...no, it's not 'dizzy' - we brunette brains). Absolutely love it. Know the market really well so if you or anyone you know needs a good Realtor just let me know. I work from the beach to mid-Wilshire and from the Palisades to Westchester and can refer you to an excellent agent almost anywhere in the world.
Nick is now 6'2" and a freshman at Loyola High School (catholic boys...1100 of them!), a good student, a former member of the Paulist Boy Choristers of California (we toured Poland & the Czech Republic last summer), plays electric guitar (trying to form a band), loves to snowboard, swim, play volleyball, go paintballing and wants to go to Annapolis and become a Navy pilot.
Bought the house we're having our reunion at (a real fixer) just as David lost a job this past Spring but decided to move into it anyway and rent out the condo. Completed phase I of the restoration (scraped the cottage cheese off the ceilings, took down paneling and wallpaper on every wall, put down new floor coverings, patched the roof, started to re-landscape) and ran out of money to do more. So we have no furniture and the house has ugly brown trim, but we love it because we have space and a clean palette. A far cry from the NG parties at the Blair's in Brentwood but then David and I are very late bloomers and our ship simply hasn't come in yet...but I can see it on the horizon!
Well this is more than you ever wanted to know and it's know almost 4 AM so I'll try to go back to bed. Tomorrow morning we have to go Nick's freshman retreat at Loyola for a morning session that includes the parents but I'll be back around 1pm if you need to call, etc. Can't wait to see everyone.
Oh, my parents aren't coming but Emily and Buzz are healthy, happy and living the good life in Montecito (just below Santa Barbara). They retired there 10 years ago and live next to the Music Academy of the West. They're 73 and 83 and look 10 years younger. Still play tennis. Dad write a local newspaper column and is still producing shows at various venues around Santa Barbara. They're both on numerous boards, volunteering their time. They travel almost every year. This year we all went (17 family members) to Guadeloupe to see the solar eclipse and to celebrate Dad's 83rd birthday. Had a fabulous time and I highly recommend the Club Med there. They send their love to all but figure we young ones would rather reminisce amongst ourselves. But, if you're ever in Santa Barbara, they would love to see you. They're not computer literate (although we've tried). They're at 948 Channel Dr., Montecito, Ca. 93108, (805) 565-1216.
Love,
Stacy