I’m not sure now why I was in such a hurry back in the 50s, but I went to summer school the summer after our junior year and graduated in August ’55. However, I consider myself part of the class of ’56 since I started elementary school with many of you and continued to make new friends through junior high and at Paschal.
Still in a hurry, I graduated early from North Texas and taught elementary school music in the Fort Worth School District for 3 1/2 years. In l962, Bob Aaron and I were married. He was an engineer who came to Fort Worth to work at General Dynamics after graduating from the University of Tennessee. I taught music in the Dallas School District for one semester while he finished his master’s degree at SMU.
We moved to the Los Angeles area in l963 and have lived in the same house in Torrance ever since. Even though we have lived in California longer than I lived in Texas, I am definitely still a Texan and am delighted when anyone compliments my fading, but still noticeable, Texas accent. I have continued to visit in Texas at least once or twice a year and have kept up with Fort Worth through my parents and other relatives and friends who were still there.
I did the usual mom things when our two children were growing up—PTA, Sunday school and children’s choir work at our church, and other volunteer work. After our children were grown, I taught over 20 years in our school district’s adult school, having classes for senior adults in nursing homes and teaching Adult Basic Education classes (all basic subjects) for adults who did not have 8th grade level reading skills. In addition, I organized and led occasional Saturday sightseeing day-trips around Southern California, also sponsored by our adult school. I loved it all.
My husband retired about 6 years ago, and I retired from the classroom 2 years ago. I still do my Saturday day-trips (8 or 10 a year) and occasionally substitute in my former classes. In retirement, I now have time to take some of our adult school’s free exercise classes. Since I have an adult school credential, I can also sub in any of the exercise classes when needed. You should have seen me leading two seniors yoga classes one week last year!
Our daughter Catherine has a master’s degree and was a newspaper reporter and part-time community college instructor for many years. She now works for the Chico CA Chamber of Commerce. She is married and has two step-children, Madison (10) and Cory (12). Her husband Bill works for a company that installs swimming pools and builds decks, gazebos, pool houses, and children’s play equipment.
Our son David is a lawyer and is responsible for all legal aspects of a high-tech firm in Morgan Hill CA. He and his wife Debby and their 4-year-old daughter live in Aptos CA. Debby was Assistant Provost at Santa Clara University until they adopted Audrey from Russia about 3 years ago.
I am so thankful for the terrific family and contented life that I have had and am continuing to have. I am blessed to have had humble, generous, and loving parents, the great city of Fort Worth and its school district to grow up in, and many close relatives and friends, for which I am truly grateful. It IS a wonderful life!
Sue Corder Aaron
sueaaron@earthlink.net