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WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS
I moved to Oklahoma City, OK in July of 1982, just one month after graduation. I worked in retail (Toys R Us) for a year, then accepted a position with the Federal Reserve Bank of OKC and attended college from 83 to 85. During this time, I met my husband Mike and we were married in January of 1985 and moved to Jacksonville, NC. Mike was in the Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Lejuene, NC, and ironically, one of the marines in his battalion was fellow IVC alumnus, Tom Nelson, from the class of 83. It truly is a small world.
Upon returning to OKC, I worked in the banking industry for a couple of years, we bought a house in 87 and our first daughter, Brittany Rose, was born in February of 88. I was a stay at home mom during that time and another daughter, Erica Michelle, was born in April of 90.
Bored with Sesame Street, Barney videos, soap operas, my home office, and the lack of adult interaction as well as longing for a regular payroll check, I embarked on a new accounting career in the legal field. I worked for a couple of larger firms and found it to be very hectic and stressful (hated it) and finally found my niche in a small real estate law firm in 94, where I am presently employed as a bookkeeper and paralegal (i.e. financial advisor/payroll queen/office manager/legal assistant/computer guru/jack of all office trades). LOL!!!
In 1998, we formed a corporation with Mike’s sisters and opened “Jaramillo’s Mexican Restaurant.” Great authentic food from family recipes! If you are ever passing through OKC, and craving Mexican food, we are located just 2 miles north of Interstate 40, at the corner of N.W. 23rd and Villa in Shepherd Mall Office Park, right next door to the America Online OKC Call Center. Since my husband works for AOL and helps manage the restaurant, this is extremely convenient for him.
My daughters attend private school and we are very involved in their activities. Mike coached softball for several years and I have coached volleyball. Imagine that!!!!! Brittany is an honor student and jock (volleyball and basketball) and will be starting high school in August. Erica is our drama queen and lives to sing and perform on stage in musicals and theater at school as well as in front of any available mirror!
I travel back to Chilli every few years to visit friends and extended family members and always have a great time. I have made it to all of the class reunions and a few visits in between. I’ve kept in touch with Lisa Tyler, Jackie (Anthony) Simmerman, Belinda (Blankenship) Dossett, Shannon Kennington, Becky Jackson and Lisa Hein over the years, as well as many other IVC alumni from other classes. In 1998, when Lisa Tyler was relocating from Pittsburgh to Portland, she took a detour south and picked me up so we could embark on our “Thelma & Louise” cross-country road trip (something we had not done together since 1982). We stopped at all major points of interest along the way: Grand Canyon in AZ, Bryce Canyon in UT, Snake River in ID and on through Oregon to Portland. I highly recommend a trip to the Pacific Northwest, the scenery is awesome!!!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!