As I hope you remember, my first teaching assignment was at Rancho in 1961. I loved my students and teaching itself from the minute I started. As it turned out, I spent my entire career of 34 years in the same room. Although I loved teaching and had been selected department chair and a mentor teacher, I did tire of the endless grading of papers and took early retirement in 1995. I did continue to substitute in the district for 9 1/2 years after that. I enjoyed those years as I could arrive without a lesson plan and leave without papers. I thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the students, the reason I had enjoyed teaching so much.

Ever since I retired, I have enjoyed every aspect of my life. My son Kevin, who was 1 when I started teaching, married and provided me with two wonderful grandsons. Max was born just two months before I retired and is now almost 14. Lincoln will turn 12 on January 21st. I have played a consistent role in their lives and still enjoy having them visit on week-ends. Kevin, Lucy, and the boys live in Capistrano Beach, so we see each other regularly. It has been wonderful to be able to travel during the off-season, something I couldn't do while I was teaching. I have gone on 11 walking tours of different parts of England and 5 trips to France and Spain, as well as other trips to Germany and Austria. When I am not traveling, I enjoy various kinds of exercise, including bicycling, clog dancing, Pilates classes, and walking. So far my health has been excellent, and I have no plans to slow down. Of course, I still love to read, work really hard crossword puzzles and go to movies, plays, concerts, and out with friends.

Marlys (Pic'L) Nelson