Career
After one semester at UNM in the Fall of 1971, I discovered college was not for me . . . at least not at UNM. So, I was off to Hartford, CT to attend an airline training school and three months later I began working for Combined Airline Ticket Offices in Washington, DC; specifically their offices at the State Department, Department of Agriculture and the Pentagon. Before leaving Washington, DC, I also worked with American Airlines in their Reservations department at National Airport.

After leaving Washington, DC, I continued to work with travel companies while living in Mesa, Albuquerque, Denver and Seattle. In 1989, I began my own travel agency, specializing in group travel, meeting and convention planning. I continue to sell travel, although on a part-time, semi-retired, basis now. During the ‘90s, I also developed a travel curriculum and taught numerous travel classes.

In addition to my training and experiences in the travel industry, I have worked as a full-charge bookkeeper for law firms; a risk manager and property administrator for a large commercial real estate company; and as an executive administrative assistant at American Home in Albuquerque.

In early 2014, Jim accepted a Director's position for Hyundai Capital Insurance in Irvine, CA. Now, I'm a very happy 'kept woman' with time to work on projects I have saved over the years. The only career I ever aspired to was that of a wife and 'stay-at-home' mom (just as my very talented mother), which unfortunately was never to be. Now however, I am loving the role of 'stay-at-home' wife!

Relationships
Once I was settled with a new job at CATO (Combined Airline Ticket Office) in Washington DC, I married classmate, Steve Ulrich. Like many of us at that time, we married much too young. We moved to Arizona in 1976 where I continued to work in the travel industry, and was blessed with my first daughter, Heather, in 1979.

By 1981, I began my new life and the struggles of being a ‘single Mom’. Except for a brief marriage in 1988, and another blessing - daughter, Hilary in 1989, I was a ‘single Mom’ for most of 30 years.

After surviving two bad marriages and divorces, I chose to remain single. Then, right in the middle of my ordinary life, I was given a ‘fairy tale’. I finally found my soul-mate; my one-true love! And, it just so happens he was my first boyfriend, from 7th and 8th grades at Chaparral! Jimmy (Jim) White!! Jim’s father was transferred to El Paso and later to Roswell where Jim graduated high school. We last saw each other in May 1971.

I began looking for Jim in 1981, and found him in late 2008 via Classmates.com. Finally, our timing was right and our lives are forever changed. These past few years have been the happiest of my life . . . filled with love, joy, excitement, respect and peace!

Jim moved to Albuquerque from Virginia in May 2010 to be with me, and on December 11, 2010 he proposed to me on the steps in front of Chaparral Junior High School, where our relationship began back in 1966. On October 11, 2012, we were married in Costa Rica (non-legal ceremony) with our immediately family attending, and then traveled to Alamogordo for a legal ceremony on October 26 attended by Rick and Tonya Williamson.

Miscellaneous
I am a cancer survivor. In January 2004, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma - the beginnings of stage four. I went through six months of chemotherapy, and have been cancer free now for 16 years.

In Feb. 2020 when very little was known about Covid, Jim and I both contracted the virus. Jim was well within 4 weeks; I was a long-hauler with symptoms for about 10 weeks. Then in June 2020 while we were visiting Alamogordo, I became sick and after 4 days, Gerald Champion Hospital found a brain tumor and I was immediately helicoptered to UNM Hospital for surgery. Many blessings during that time, among which - the day after my arrival, the hospital began to allow 1 visitor per day; the tumor was benign; and I did not require any additional therapies after being discharged.

Interests / Hobbies
I enjoy traveling and have been fortunate to visit Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji, all 50 of the United States and taken numerous cruises.

Since junior high days, I have been tracing my family trees, and especially enjoy it now with all the documents and information available online. Interesting tidbit . . . Jim and I discovered we are 'first cousins' about 11 generations removed, dating back to the late 1600s.

I also have many special memories of the years spent working with the ‘missions council’ and as a ‘youth coach’ with teenagers in our church in Mesa, AZ.

Now, my ‘special interest’ is my family – Jim, my daughters, two sons-in-law, three beautiful granddaughters; one grandson; two step-sons and wives; two step-granddaughters and two step-grandsons! Life is so good!