Salutations and greetings!
You know the saying “Jack of all trades”? Well, I would call myself a Jill of many, many, many things.
I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania in a town that isn’t on many maps. My father passed away unexpectedly when I was 10 years old and I consider that one of my greatest blessings in life.
I can say I was a questioner and explorer before his passing, but that was a pivotal moment in my life that truly kicked open, ripped the hinges off and flung the doors across the building into my critical thinking and seeking. There is much more to that story.
I joined the Army in high school and shipped out soon after high-school graduation. I met my husband in Texas—a career soldier. I became a domestic engineer with our first child.
I quickly became a domestic educational engineer—that’s a fancy name for a stay-at-home home schooler. I home schooled our children all the way through their high school graduations and I am so glad I did.
Following a career soldier around the world is tough and tougher on the children. But it made us resilient and we know our blessings with having experienced so much. Homeschooling afforded our children a seamless education rather than being disjointed as they moved from place to place, sometimes twice in one year. More importantly, it afforded them time with their father when he was available. Priorities.
We are now retired—wait, can a domestic engineer retire? No, but that’s ok. We have much more time together to enjoy life, our grown children and beautiful grandchildren.
I’m not done exploring, growing, learning and teaching and he’s along for the ride this time!
Your wide open and and delightful explorer’s heart has clearly been a gift to your family in all your moves and all your experiences, Ramona. How great that we get to Master Mind with you as you find yourself rooted now and reflective and on this tremendous internal journey with our MKE MasterMind!
Thank you for sharing. I am the daughter of a career member of the Royal Canadian Navy. He became my Dad after my own died with I was 3 and my Mom married a Sailor and moved from Toronto, ON to the now Dartmouth, NS. I was very fortunate in that my Dad was an aircraft technician so was transferred from one hanger to another at HMCS Shearwater. When he wasn’t out at sea (only early in the marriage and then 4 years before retirement) we had a settled base in our own home in the city. That gave us roots for which I am very thankful. I commend you for your efforts in giving your children roots which gave them a huge sense of security.
~ Peggy from Porcupine
Ramona, the MKE is so very fortunate to have you onboard! 🙂