Who are you?
Married as I can be (Domestic Partner) to Jan - I'm going to miss her terribly on this trip...have a daughter age 20 and love both of them with my heart and soul. Democrat. I'm thinking of starting a new affiliation - perhaps a Republican Democrat...a middle of the road party...
I come from a large family - 5 older brothers and 1 younger sister. Add the cousins and we were lots of kids growing up! We had our own baseball team. My sister is 11 years younger than I so I was the youngest child for...11 years. I spent my young life keeping up with my 5 older brothers and can do ANYTHING they can. We spent most of my early childhood on a "farm" of sorts - 5 1/2 acres, horses, cows, pigs, chickens and...I think that was it. I looked like a farm girl too, but what a tan! I still come home and change into my "play clothes".
What is your current profession?
I run a pupil transportation department for a local school district. A lot of people make fun of school bus drivers, but I have a real passion for pupil transportation, children and teaching adults. I started in pupil transportation over 20 years ago and working with children over the years has definitely kept me young! As a CA state certified bus driver instructor, I get to work with new and "seasoned" drivers every day teaching them, inspiring them, honing new skills and reminding them to care about what they do - after all, we transport the most precious cargo ever! I bet you didn't know school buses are 72 times safer than the family car! How splendid it is that I get to work with such honored professionals on a daily basis. How cool it is to walk into the local supermarket and have a 22 year old girl (er, woman???) remember when I took her to elementary school and thank me for caring about her and saving her from the "bee".
How long have you been riding and what do you ride?
I've been riding since I was 15 years old (a long time now). Currently I ride a 2007 HD Softail Deluxe - my dream bike. Over the years I have had 6 other bikes - so how appropriate that my 7th bike is an '07.
Why did you start riding?
I started riding to keep up with my 5 older brothers riding the back-roads in Mexico and over in "Brown Field". I crashed a few times but would get up and keep going - it was on from that point forward.
Why are you doing the Journey to Graceland?
I have tried and planned several vacations over the years to complete the trek to Graceland. None of them panned out because I would allow "things" to get in the way - until now - and how splendid is that??? I get to go with my sisters. I've heard some say that Graceland is not all that impressive - perhaps to "ordinary" folk it is not - to me it is will be impressive. I'm going to fulfill a dream AND experience the road with my sisters.
What, if anything, does Graceland represent to you?
I don't know what happened, but when I was a kid old enough to recognize Elvis - I fell in love with him (not literally, but his style, coolness, eyes, lips, and songs), I wanted to be him (how weird, huh?). When he died, well, that was sad. I don't have a "collection" of posters, knickknacks or anything of the sort - that's just clutter. What I do have is an emotional attachment to the legend and the person Elvis was - a man, a singer, an actor, a gospel singer, a philanthropist and at times, a jerk. I know he wasn't perfect - but he was the "King"...TCB. So for me, Graceland represents an opportunity to see, walk, touch and experience the life Elvis had - a peek into the man that lives in my soul. That's the magic of going to Graceland. For me - it's a dream come true. I imagine I'll be excited and sad, sad that he is gone, but oh so excited to walk the path.
Name one obstacle you overcame as a child, and how that shaped you today.
I used to be skinny - I'm in recovery now - and that explains my shape today. Is that what you meant?
Name one thing that the Girlz of Graceland would be surprised to know about you.
For some reason, my parents and EVERYONE else in the family thought "Girl" would be a great nickname for me...I don't know - it works. To this day my older relatives only know me by "Girl", I still answer to that...
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