https://padlet.com/lpalpallatoc/k7nhu4notehk A personal story en-us 2018-11-05 01:47:11 UTC 2025-11-23 14:24:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Planets.png lpalpallatoc https://padlet.com/lpalpallatoc/k7nhu4notehk/wish/300314411 I was just an innocent Island Girl  from Hawaii moving to the Mainland and starting on my life journey.  How exciting and large everything was to me.  Getting married to a marine in Hawaii and moving to California was also new and exciting! 
Although California was warm and had a lot of beaches.  It definitely was not Hawaii!  It was very warm that first summer, in the temperature range of 110 - 130 F, with no trade winds like we get off the ocean in Hawaii. I of course, decided to cool off at the beach, I dove in the water, boy was I shocked! It was freezing compared to the warm beaches in Hawaii.  
As time went on,  we were blessed with a beautiful little girl. I was so happy, I loved my little bundle of joy and that is exactly what she was! I loved being a new mother oh how I pampered her, she kept me so occupied I did not notice my husband was gone quite a bit, he was travelling back and forth to Hawaii for work. Then BOOM! I found out he was having an affair, we tried working through it but once you lose trust in a relationship it is very difficult. So, sadly we divorced and he moved back to New York where he was from.  
It was a struggle with a baby less than a year old, so my brother who was living in WA State was doing okay, and had been recently divorced offered me to come and stay with him to help ease the burden.
So, there I was on another airplane flying over Mt. St. Helen's the day after it erupted. How fascinating it was, but how scared I was holding little baby girl daughter in my arms and not knowing what was in store for me in this strange place. 

Then, I acquired a position with a real estate development company and my employer after a year of working as an office assistant  helped me to attain my real sales license, I had to return to school and take a test and when I passed he gifted me a trip to Hawaii when I passed the state exam as an incentive.  I was so happy and greatful to be able to return to Hawaii.
I enjoyed my trip and returned back to Washington State and got busy with my new career in real estate. 
I did very well for a few years, then the market took a dive and it was not too good for quite awhile.  My daughter was getting older and I realized I was going to have to do something else.
A very good friend of mine was working in food production and doing very well, so she encouraged me to pursue Quality work in food production.  She was very knowledgable and helped me in understanding and learning my new position.  
After a few years in the food industry the market for that also went haywire,  but I was able to jump around and keep myself afloat for a few years, then I remarried and had another precious little girl. 
 so, after having my daughter I decided to stay home and just be a Mom for a few years, it was very rewarding to finally be able to spend time with my girls and do all the fun things Mom's do.
Then, once again, disaster hit!  My significant other of 10 years died suddenly, and after a few years I was back in the job market.  I did not have a difficult time acquiring a position as a QA Technician because I did have quite a bit of knowledge and experience so I continued in the business.
As time went on I got a little older and became a grandmother so I decided to slow down and enjoy my family and help my daughters in raising my granddaughters.  I was happy with my decision but eventually the grand children grew up and started school and I got lonely so I oce again got another position in QA work but I unfortunately was not as physically able to do the work and I suffered from congestive heart failure and ended up in the hospital, i chose to move in with my daughter in Bellingham and was a little weak from the illness and came to the realization I was unable to carry out the physical requirements in food production so I retired early took it easy for awhile, but as time went on my health did improve but I still had to admit I was not up to the vigorous scheduling i was running into when I was in food production and the market was changing also.  
So, I decided I would go back to school and get my  degree in Food Science and learn more about Food Science and safety and then maybe do auditing which I feel is less physical.
I truly believe, as long as I am physically able to work I would much rather stay busy then just do nothing.  It is a little scary again, kind of like when I was flying over Mt St Helen's, but it is exciting and challenging.  For one thing, I have been challenged with learning to study all over again and the technology alone is also challenging.  
I am confident, I have made the wisest choice, although I am 65 years old it is an honor to go back to move forward and I would recommend it to all my senior friends, its better to try then not try at all! 
I am passionate  about food safety and want to learn more about the food we consume  and how it affects everyone and their health, because after getting ill for awhile I have learned  to be more selective and understand what I am putting in my body. I know the change in my eating habits has been the reason for my health improving.]]> 2018-11-05 05:00:57 UTC https://padlet.com/lpalpallatoc/k7nhu4notehk/wish/300314411