In taking cues from her and him,, I present to you my past and future, as best I can make it. Settle in for a nice long read.


1986: 20 years ago
Living: St. Joseph, MI in my parents home where I lived since I was about 3. Roommates: Mom, Dad, brother, and 2 cats named Phoebe & Lizzy joined our family this year.
Attending: ending 6th grade at Lincoln Elementary, starting jr. high at Upton.
Working: Setting the table; emptying the dishwasher; dusting; general clutter control in my bedroom.
Dating: Thinking many boys were cute; fast approaching “boy crazy” mode. I believe my crushes included many teen idols and Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.”
Driving: Black 12-speed Schwinn.
Trips: With family. Around this time was South Carolina and Massachussetts. Perhaps Florida too?
Listening: Top 40 on the radio.
Hair: Eeeww. Best not to mention it! Feathered, split bangs in the middle of the forehead. It was horrible.
Wearing: Jeans and a variety of sweaters. Fast approaching fashion-conscious days of Guess? And Esprit.
Playing: Ending my piano days (4 years required); saxophone which I started in 5th grade.
Buying: Teen magazines like “Bop” and “YM.” Candy. Tapes of my favorite music.
Doing: Joined cheerleading in 7th grade. More overnights at Beth’s and Catherine’s house, became instant friends with Kara. Got contacts to replace glasses. Will get braces early in 1987.


1996: 10 years ago
Living: Started the year in The Landings apartments, moved to Oak Hill apartments in the autumn. Kalamazoo, MI.
Roommate: Karen.
Attending: Western Michigan University. Entering 5th year of college.
Working: Summers at two different outpatient rehab clinics for physical, occupational, and speech therapy in my hometown. Transcription of therapy notes mostly, also as a sub/extra hand for receptionists when necessary. Otherwise, just studying.
Dating: Various young gentlemen. Had ended relationship with Tom; would begin relationship with Earl.
Driving: 1994ish white Chevrolet Cavalier which had been my Dad’s business car. Bought it from the company when he got a new one.
Trips: This year I believe I visited an old friend in Texas.
Listening: This was my country and dance-club phase. For every-day life it was country music, but I did enjoy the club mixes at the bars.
Hair: All one length, straight, cut in bob just below ears. Began growing it out, was just past my shoulders in spring 1997. Began coloring it back toward reddish-brown regularly due to large amounts of gray hair which had begun appearing at the age of 16.
Wearing: Jeans and flannels. “Bar shirt” under the flannel when going out.
Playing: Instruments phased out when I entered WMU.
Buying: Lots of beer, lots of film for my camera. A few clothes, CDs. Mostly food for the apartment and meals out.
Doing: Lots of studying, lots of socializing, lots of driving to visit friends & family.


2001: 5 years ago
Living: Started out the year in Northville at Swan Harbour apartments; bought house in Livonia mid-year.
Roommates: Husband Doug, whom I married in 2000. Cat Sigma, whom we adopted in his retirement when my cousin moved.
Attending: Nothing. Nothing at all.
Working: as a middle school teacher in a neighboring school district. Hired in February after subbing for half a year.
Dating: Nope. Married now.
Driving: The above-mentioned Chevy Cavalier; we bought my “Grabber Green” Ford Focus in the autumn of this year. Doug drove a black truck.
Trips: Tagged along on Doug’s business trip to London for a week in August. Otherwise, just friends & family.
Listening: Random radio stations, trying to settle on one for the long-term. Liked “Alice 106.7” but they changed format within a few months of my discovering them. Disliked the new format. Realized I am still liking the old tunes of my 1980s youth, now called “retro.”
Hair: Couldn’t quite settle on a look. All one length still, cut off at the chin. Continuing to color various subtle shades of reddish-brown due to increasing amounts of gray. Cut it a few different ways this year.
Wearing: Mostly khakis, or various colored twills from Land’s End. Your basic pullovers and sweaters, t-shirts in summer.
Buying: Lots of stuff for my new classroom. Some new clothes to be a little more up to date & professional. A house. A car.
Doing: Lots of seminars, professional development stuff. Going out to eat, playing computer games. Figuring out a style for our new house.


2003: 3 years ago
Living: Same house in Livonia.
Roommates: Doug, two cats named Merry & Pippen.
Attending: Madonna University for Masters’ classes. By end of the year, an awesome Congregational church.
Working: Same school I was hired at. Teaching seventh graders.
Driving: Same Ford Focus.
Trips: Camping in Michigan.
Listening: Not much of anything; random radio stations. Oldies, country, “retro,” various CDs I own of show tunes and movie soundtracks.
Hair: Various styles, all pretty lame. Too matronly. Coloring a nice reddish-brown; gray at 40% according to stylist.
Wearing: Mostly khakis, or various colored twills from Land’s End. Your basic pullovers and sweaters, t-shirts in summer.
Buying: Stuff for a baby by the end of the year! Scrapbooking supplies.
Doing: Gathering all the papers, preparing for a Russian adoption! Began Weight Watchers’ point system and lost a little over 20 pounds in 3 months.


2005: one year ago
Living: Same house in Livonia.
Roommates: Doug, son Roman, cats Merry and Pippen.
Attending: same awesome Congregational church.
Working: Part time at same school. Teaching 7th graders.
Driving: Same Ford Focus. Doug traded in black truck for blue Jeep Cherokee in 2004.
Trips: Camping in Frankenmuth; Camping in Ludington.
Listening: Settled on two radio stations; 93.1 and 96.3. An adult variety. Not too “soft,” not too irritating. Wrapped myself in the world of the Wiggles and nursery rhymes. Investigating NPR.
Hair: Decided to start growing it longer again. Well, from the ears back down to the chin length. Also grow out the layers to make it one length again. By the end of the year, got layers back in. Still coloring, as gray is at 60% or more.
Wearing: Trying to follow “the rules” of dressing according to “What Not to Wear.” Looking better in general, although by end of the year desire to lose weight sets upon me again.
Buying: Clothes for Roman. Toys for Roman. Some clothes for me. Scrapbooking supplies.
Doing: Constantly working without enough sleep, getting used to a 2-year-old’s energy!

2006: now
Living: Same house in Livonia.
Roommates: Doug, son Roman, cats Merry and Pippen.
Attending: same awesome Congregational church.
Working: Part time at same school. Teaching 7th and 8th graders.
Driving: Same Ford Focus. Same Jeep Cherokee for Doug.
Trips: Planning a spring break trip.
Listening: VeggieTales. My own CDs. NPR.
Hair: About even with my chin. Some layering around the top. Coloring a reddish-brown to hide the gray.
Wearing: Dressier pants at work; shirts with v-necks; otherwise sweats and t-shirts.
Buying: A little bit of scrapbooking supplies. And that’ll be it for a few months!
Doing: Going back on a budget because I’ve cut out a class; but there will be lots more fun with Roman!


2016: 10 years from now
Living: Plan A: Around Kalamazoo in a 3-4 bedroom house, 2 bathrooms, and a garage. Plan B: Upgraded neighborhood in Livonia in 3-4 bedroom house, 2 bathrooms, and a garage. Plan C: Nice house in Plymouth. Will have to be smaller because it’s way more expensive to live there.
Roommates: Doug, son Roman, old crotchety 13-year-old cats named Merry & Pippen; perhaps “labradoodle” dog around 5-6 years old. If God is willing, a second child through adoption. Preferably Russian.
Attending: Plan A: great church around Kalamazoo. Plan B: same great Congregational church.
Working: Only if I want to. Plan A: Stay at home mom that keeps busy. Plan B: working part time in middle school. Plan C: working full time in middle school to pay bills from second adoption.
Driving: Nissan Murano.
Trips: Disney World for the third time with Roman, with many historical stops in between.
Listening: Probably to my same CDs of show tunes and movie soundtracks. Roman’s loud rock music.
Hair: Coloring reddish-brown, slightly more mature color. Probably all gray naturally. Hopefully around chin length, I really like it.
Wearing: Only clothes that make me look fabulous. Slacks, khakis, dress pants, and shirts & sweaters with v-necks. Probably still sweats & t-shirts at home, but maybe the matching-cute-set kind.
Buying: Braces for Roman, reading glasses for me. Scrapbooking supplies.
Doing: What makes my life balanced and happy.