Employment
From 1970-75, I taught grades K-5. My first year was by far the most fulfilling: In Sanford, Fla., I taught "compensatory education" (for economically and socially-deprived children) and remedial reading. It was a busy, yet awesome time! I did the remainder of my teaching in Lawrence and the Kansas City area, but then quit to have a family and stay home with our kids. From 1994-2002 during summer camp sessions, I taught coping skills to children, aged 8-12, of addicted/alcoholic families through DREAM, Inc., which is based in Hays, Kan. From 2000-04, I also took yearly continuing education and training for working through the Citizen Review Board on behalf of children "in the system" as well as their high-risk families, including domestic violence, sponsored and appointed by the 23rd Judicial District. And I was a teaching assistant on the middle school level for two or three years.

Hearth & Home
I've been happily married to Bob Albers, whom I met at Fort Hays State, since 1970. Bob is a physician and we have two grown children. Jennifer is 30 years old, and is very much in love with her husband, Dan Kysar. They live in Plainville, Kans. Wade, our 27-year-old son, isn't married yet, but really doesn't have time for that now because he's in the midst of aviation training for the U.S. Army, flying helicopters at Ft. Rucker, Ala. I often wish he would have continued with the successful executive position he had earlier in Olathe, Kan. But after a few years of it, he decided he wasn't happy doing the "marketing-thing." So...now I'm just praying, more than ever, for world peace! We have no grandchildren yet, but are hopeful that "someday" we'll get that blessed opportunity. Sadly, we recently had to put to sleep our almost 14-year-old fuzzy kid (black Lab), Norma Jean, and still are missing her a bunch. In July 2005, Bob and I moved to Albuquerque.

The Other Stuff
I have been fortunate to receive a number of awards over the years: In 1990, I was honored with a "Kansans Caring for Kansans" award from Kansas Governor Mike Hayden for outstanding volunteer work promoting environmental awareness and recycling through education. In 1996, I excitedly accepted the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce "Most Valuable Citizen" award for volunteer environmental education efforts (it was extra-sweet to learn that I was the first-ever woman to receive that award). In 1997, I received a national Conservation Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for volunteer service promoting environmental responsibility and work toward establishment of the city of Hays' Residential Blue Bag Recycling program. In 1998, I received a Literacy Award from the Western Kansas High Plains Reading Association in appreciation for service to children of Western Kansas. In 1999, I was a recipient of the "Women of Distinction Award" from Soroptimists International of Hays for helping children through DREAM, Inc. and for dedicated volunteer service to environmental/recycling education. Also that year, I received an "All-American Citizen Award" from the 1999 Leadership Hays Class, sponsored by the Hays Chamber of Commerce, for outstanding volunteer service for children of addicted/alcoholic families through DREAM, Inc. Other achievements: From 1991-94, I was an organizer and writer for environmentally-oriented articles for the weekly column, Our Earth, in our local newspaper. And in 1996, I was one of the five main presenters on behalf of the city of Hays for the "All America City" competition in Ft. Worth, Tex. It was a real thrill, especially since Hays was one of the 10 competition winners. That 9+ years of my life was exhausting, but my work toward educating the residents of Hays and establishing the Residential Blue Bag Recycling program for our city was one of my most fulfilling volunteer efforts. Lately I've made a conscious effort to leave most of the volunteering to younger folks, although I'm still working as a volunteer to help kids in a local elementary school who need some assistance with reading and writing skills. But otherwise, I am just enjoying my time with Bob and continuing to write. Most recently, a story I wrote called "Peace and Quiet" will be published in early October 2006 in a book titled, Raging Gracefully, published by Adams Media. And then there's traveling. In 2002, I was blessed to share in Bob's "midlife crisis" trip around the world. We also went to Tanzania in 2005, where Bob climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. Those were definitely trips of a lifetime and it's still hard to believe we actually went to those amazing places. These days, though, I'm just very grateful to visit Wade in Alabama...or wherever the Army sees fit to send him...and to make trips to Kansas now and then to visit our much-missed family and friends there. I want to continue to make a difference, through my writing as well as through my contacts with others. I've already had some very dear friends die "in their prime" and have learned the hard way that we can't take it for granted we'll have "tomorrow" to let them know how much we care and to do some good. So my goal is to make a difference in some way, every day.

My Memories of LHS
I remember wonderful friends, and also some fascinating people I was too shy to get to know back then. Some of my fondest memories are of the LHS football games. WOW, what a team...and great friends to share those times with. Our loss that homecoming game in our senior year, though, was heartbreaking. But hey, it had to happen eventually, and what a fantastic run we had! Unfortunately, I didn't learn to apply myself academically until college, and I know low self-esteem was much to blame. I'd give anything to have gotten to know more of our classmates better back then. But the good news is: I finally blossomed...better late than never, right? So I'm especially looking forward to our 40th reunion to get to know some more of you then!

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