I'm divorced, but very much involved with Mike, and there's a story about us on the next page. He's the reason my pages are here. If he hadn't introduced me to the computer in August of '95 (at the time, I said, "Yeah, right! I can learn to use that thing?!?") I'd not be here ... so you can put the blame -- that you're reading this -- on HIM.
We're 'baby boomers'. We both were around when hippies, and peace symbols and love-in's were 'the thing', but neither one of us were brave enough at the time to join in any of that. Mike was raised in Pennsylvania, I in Michigan.
He joined the Navy shortly after graduating from High School, and retired a few years ago. While stationed in Maine, he met someone, married, and had two children, Michael & Tina. He was stationed in various parts of the country, and when he was in the Mississippi/New Orleans area and about to get transferred to Michigan, his wife told him she wanted a divorce. So he transferred to MI alone, but he was able to have his kids come and live with him here, at times. They're both grown now, and young adults with lives of their own.
In the mean time ...
Starting in my senior year of High School, and for a while after, I worked in a very small office -- in ancient times, ie. if we wanted a copy of a letter being typed, I used carbon paper. I was careful not to make typing mistakes, because I'd have to erase on several copies -- it was also pre White-Out days! Met and married my husband, was divorced 5 years later, and proceded to raise 2 kids on my own. I was involved in a long term relationship after that, but didn't remarry. When that ended, I was determined I wasn't going to get into a permanent relationship ever again.
I thought I had already 'been through the worst there was' by being divorced and being a single parent. I was wrong. My son, Patrick, died of drowning in June '92. If it weren't for the support groups being available, I would have been truly lost. My involvement with a local chapter of The Compassionate Friends has been a large part of my healing! No, I will never 'be over it' - the loss of my son, my friend. But I have learned to live with my loss. Something that takes a long time.
My daughter, Dawn, and son in law, Eric have a son, Robert Patrick. He's a cutie, and was a handful when he was entrenched in 'terrible-two's'. He really isn't a problem over here. He listens to us well, and rarely throws a temper tantrum. At home, it's another matter. I told the kids that his 'terrible two's' will last for the next 20 years - ;^D - Eric's band, Powertrip, has a website too. The site has pages with bio's on the guys, and you can listen to their music, too! It looks pretty good, if I do say so ...
I enjoy working for myself in the web development and graphic business (Autumn Web), being involved with the TCF on line chat room, and originated our TCF Troy Chapter's website. Working on free graphics, babysitting my grandson ... and more, ha ha! I'm not sure how long I can stay in this pleasant life-mode, but I'll stretch it out as long as I can ... In the mean time, I am having a ball ... and hope to continue! |
What? Pictures? You really want pictures?!?! Well, I do have a couple that are 'ready' to go up on a web page -- hey this Paint Shop Pro is great -- lets me 'retouch' some photos and make them look pretty good! ( hehehe ... you don't know if I really did or not ... *grin*! )
Ok, I'll show you a few now, and I plan to add a few more when I can. So if you're REALLY curious, take the short ~ Photo Tour ~ follow 'The Tour' arrows ... it starts right after the next page, or you can go right to the first photo ~ Patrick ~ and then follow the arrows.
There is an "order" of the story ... follow the links left to right, row by row. But, if you'd like to jump around, that's okay too :-) |
~ Next Page is the 'Love Story'...
All photographs © 1997-2008 Roxanne M. Flanagan
Most graphics by Roxanne {Roxy's Renditions} "Black Lightening" from Art In Motion
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