So my daughters recently found an old diary of mine and asked if I would write some more stories from my childhood and start journaling again. So I thought why not. So here are some of my stories for them. My debate is whether to write these as individual stories or just what strikes me. So I think it will be a mix. No judgement of myself. I am doing this for me so if you find you don’t like or aren’t interested I really don’t care….so please remember this is not twitter or social media and don’t leave negative comments please. Thank you!

So I grew up in what was once a thriving town in Iowa, Fort Dodge. As a child there was 2 meat packing plants, Land O’Lakes, the labs, Purina, 2 trucking companies and the gypsum mills, a town of much industry with lots of jobs. I had friends from all aspects of life. My dad was a lawyer and my mom was a nurse. I was blessed she had some years at home with my siblings and I before becoming a special education nurse for the education agency over 9 counties. You might say I was lucky as my parents had good jobs. I have 3 siblings, 1 brother, John and two sisters, Susan and Allyson. If you know this information you will now know who is writing their story, welcome. But like all of you my story is mine. Sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes stressful, sometimes crazy, sometimes just nothing but boring….lol.

As everyone does I grew up and eventually found my home in Iowa City. It was a challenging and complicated trip to get here but I cannot imagine my life anywhere else now. I met my husband Mark on a blind date in 1990. He is 3 years older than me and at the time had figured out his path and was working full time, living at home to save for his own house. Me, well I was still unsure what my path was, was coming out of a long relationship that really hadn’t been good for sometime, was living in my own apartment with my two cats, working 2 jobs, and working on my 2nd college degree. Sigh. So our first date was not very successful but I called him the next day and we arranged another date. Well it took some time but it was meant to be. A story for later. We got married in 1995 and have 3 amazing daughters Abby (25), Grace (22), Anna (21). They are who I am writing this for. Then there is Winnie….as they say my favorite child….lol. She is a 2yr old English Springer Spaniel, my COVID and Empty Nest puppy. 🙂

So welcome to the life of me…Carrie Anne, proud mom.