Marcia Ann Chasteen Kynion

Since I left Southwest, I spent the time crafting the person I am today...I felt so out of place in HS. I started working when I was 10 babysitting. When I was 14 I worked at Hallmark sorting seconds. My junior year in HS, when I finally turned 16. I worked the COE program. Most of you did not need to work unless it was for luxuries. I worked to help put food on the table. I never felt I belonged to any click or group but I had some friends along the way. You will never know how much I envied those of you who never worked and got to travel all over. When I got to college (on scholarships and loans unlike many of you) I worked my way through there, too. I knew in the 8th grade that I would be a teacher and I worked towards that goal. I met and married my life-long best friend the summer after I graduated college and worked again until he finished school. Two years later, we had our first child and I was able to stay home for a little while. I went back to teaching again and after my second child I stayed home, had our third child and started a craft business which gave me time with my kids, until I returned to teaching in 1990.
After my kids left home, I started to travel and I went to Japan on the Japanese Fulbright and China on the Freeman Foundation. I have been to every continent except Antarctica and it is still on my bucket list.
My husband died suddenly in 2004, just 4 months after he retired. It was devastating to lose my best friend and spouse and I know some of you have too. I taught until 2011 and decided I could really quit working and give myself the time I had always given to others.
I retired from teaching (mostly art) after 25 years and still enjoy every day. I now get to work on my own art and enjoy the time with friends and family. I belong to the Visual Arts Alliance here and have some artwork online...http://visartalliance.org/portfolio/ann-kynion/
Not sure if I will make it to the reunion...not sure I would even be missed...LOL...Hope that all of you have peace and happiness...