I WAS BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN ASHLAND, OHIO, THE BUCKEYE STATE. MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS A CHILD, LIVED IN RURAL ASHLAND COUNTY. MY DAD, WHO PASSED AWAY JUST 2 SHORT YEARS AGO, WORKED AT WESTINGHOUSE AND IT WAS THERE HE RETIRED. MOM WORKED AT FAULTLESS RUBBER CO., NOW KNOWN AS ABBOTT LABS, THE WHOLE TIME I WAS A KID. I HAVE TWO SISTERS, JOYCE WHO IS 4 YEARS OLDER AND KATHERINE JUST 11 MONTHS YOUNGER THAN ME. I GRADUATED FROM UNION HIGH SCHOOL IN 1963. BOY THAT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME AGO. I WENT TO WORK RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL FOR AN INSURANCE AGENT IN ASHLAND. HE HAD CANCER OF THE LARNYX AND COULDN'T TALK. THE ADJUSTERS WOULD COME IN AND TRAIN ME AND I BASICALLY TOOK CARE OF THE WHOLE OFFICE BY MYSELF. I WAS THE ONLY SECRETARY HE HAD. WOULD YOU BELIEVE I WAS ONLY 18 YEARS OLD? I STAYED THERE UNTIL I MARRIED AND HAD MY FIRST SON, MICHAEL. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER, WOOPS, I GAVE BIRTH TO MY SECOND SON DEAN. FINALLY, AFTER THREE YEARS I HAD A DAUGHTER. HER NAME IS LESLIE. THEY ARE ALL GROWN NOW AND HAVE FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN. I DIVORCED AFTER 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND LATER MET MY BEST FRIEND, DICK. WHAT A WONDERFUL MAN. SO KIND AND GENTLE WITH A WONDERFUL SPIRIT. WHILE MY CHILDREN WERE GROWING UP I WORKED FOR MANSFIELD PLUMBING PRODUCTS FOR 15 YEARS. IT WAS HARD WORK, BUT IT PAYED VERY WELL AND CERTAINLY HELPED IN PAYING FOR ALL THOSE "SO CALLED NECESSITIES" KIDS HAVE TO HAVE GROWING UP. WHILE RAISING THE KIDS WE LIVED IN PERRYSVILLE, OHIO WHICH IS 16 MILES SOUTH OF ASHLAND. THAT'S WHERE MANS. PLBG. PROD. IS LOCATED. ONCE LESLIE, MY BABY, GRADUATED IN 1987 WE MOVED BACK TO ASHLAND. I RETIRED FROM THE POTTERY IN 1991 DUE TO AN INJURY AND WENT TO WORK DURING RADIOLOGY BILLING FOR A MAJOR HOSPITAL. I LOVED GOING TO WORK EVERYDAY, BUT ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL HAVING TO HAVE MAJOR SURGERY AND WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK. AFTER TWO YEARS OF RE-COUPING I WENT TO WORK AT OUR AREA HOSPITAL. I WORKED IN OUTPT/ADMISSIONS. PLUS I RELEAVED ON THE SWITCHBOARD. AGAIN, BECAUSE OF HEALTH REASONS AND A DOCTOR THAT SAID IF I DIDN'T GET OUT OF THAT RAT RACE I WOULD HAVE A HEART ATTACK, I ONCE AGAIN RETIRED. MY HUSBAND DICK WORKS FOR MANS. PLBG. PROD. AND HAS FOR 35 1/2 YEARS. HE WAS A BABY WHEN HE WENT TO WORK THERE! HA! I DON'T WORK ANYMORE, BUT IN TIME I WOULD LOVE TO FIND SOMETHING PART-TIME. I ENJOY WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC WHICH SOMETIMES ISN'T AN EASY TASK. BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEENABLE TO STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION WITH A TOTAL STRANGER. MY HUSBAND SAYS I DON'T MEET "STRANGERS" JUST MAKE FRIENDS. I USE TO GO INTO ZELGO UNDER THE NAME "HOCH", BUT REALLY GOT BURNT OUT ON THAT AFTER SEVERAL UNDESIRABLES DECIDED TO TAKE IT OVER. MY FRIEND, FRITZY, WHOM I HOPE TO MEET SOMEDAY, INVITED ME INTO THIS NEW PRIVATE CHATROOM AND I LOVE MEETING ALL OF YOU. PERHAPS SOMEDAY DICK AND I CAN JOIN YOUR GROUP ON YOUR VACATIONS. SOUNDS WONDERFUL, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE YET ANOTHER SURGERY FACING ME IN THE SUMMER, SO WE WON'T BE TRAVELING THIS YEAR. :-(
I GUESS THAT'S ABOUT IT EXCEPT I NEED TO TELL YOU I HAVE 5 WONDERFUL GRANDCHILDREN THAT I DEARLY LOVE. DON'T WE ALL LOVE THOSE GRANDKIDS??? I HOPE TO MEET ALL OF YOU SOON. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU.


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