I had plans all set. I was going to go to Ohio State and my father passed away in March and I graduated in June, and there was just no way mother could make it on her own so, as I said, I got a job. But I’m not complaining or crying in my beer or anything because my life turned out great anyhow.

That’s when I went over to Perry Swan Rubber. As I say, just exploded with this glorious case of rubber poisoning!

After I got healed up over that I saw an ad in the paper that someone was looking for someone with office skills and secretarial work and I thought, gee, why not? I went and applied, got it, and I would have to help the customers with their flooring needs and they would ask for suggestions. The boss thought I was doing a real good job with that so he said, “How would you like to go to decorating school?” and I said, “I’d love it but I can’t afford it,” and he says, “It’s on me.”

I worked there until I got married in 1955. I had my family, was a stay-at-home mom and when my boys grew up to be teenagers – you know, boys are expensive to raise.

I did have one girl but believe me, the boys was much more of a trial! (Laughs)

I went to work at Whirlpool as Rosie the Riveter. I shot screws at Whirlpool and put my boys through school, high school. When I’d get home on Friday night with the paycheck in hand they’d be sitting with the pizza delivery man at the door waiting for me to get there. (Laughs) They were already spending it?

Today I work at the Hancock County Senior Center

I am the activities coordinator and that involves doing all the different activities that goes on inside the building. There are all types of craft classes like knitting, crocheting, counter-cross stitch and that type of thing.

We do, right now we’ve started having this luncheon crowd here at noon and we are sponsoring what they call “Lively Lunches” where we have a theme and work around that. That brings out a good crowd.

I am real proud of a couple programs I started here. The baby-boomers are coming on – why should I tell you? Baby-Boomers are coming on, you’re a Boomer, and Boomers are not interested in what the other seniors are doing per se, like sitting and playing cards and things so we have to think outside the box and come up with things that Boomers are interested in.

Most of them are very active so we started the program at Jim’s Gym where they can go and continue being keeping their bodies healthy, and we have started yoga with this gal that does yoga in her class, and we do a swim exercise class at Hampton Inn. We rent a room there for people to keep their belongings in; their clothing, and they exercise in the pool. You know, I’m real proud of the programs I’ve started.

And of course you can’t forget the gambling trips! I take them gambling six times a year to casinos and all kinds of other little day trips that we have found real popular. Just interesting sites. Maybe a dinner theater? Saturday we went to see Phantom of the Opera, very good. Very good.