Chapter 1
Gayle was a strong willed woman, not afraid to stick up for herself when she felt she was in the right. She was a beautiful natural blonde, with a great sense of humor. Her father, on the other hand, was one who tended to avoid confrontation, so she must have gotten it from her mother who was much the same in her attitude in life. This trait served Gayle well in her ability to accomplish what she did with her life. She was always a positive thinker, had a deep faith in God, and felt that if she did her best He would do the rest.
Gayle had a normal childhood, was an excellent student and an all around good kid.
She had an older sister and two older brothers, one of whom teased her relentlessly and played tricks on her, which she took with good humor.
She sufferer from severe asthma and was hospitalized several times in her younger years, and it caused her great distress when the Doctor said one cause could be her cat. She would not part with that cat for anything. She had a very deep love for animals. In fact, all God's creatures. She literally would not swat a fly. In addition to her cat she acquired a rabbit that she named” Bugs”. The rabbit lived a good life for five years, but one day her father found her in her room holding Bugs. He had died in her lap. Gayle learned what it felt to lose a loved one.
Gayle fell in love with a boy. They were both eighteen and her parents told her that they thought they were too young, but did not make an issue of it, so they were married.
It was a nice wedding and her father thought she was so beautiful when he danced with her at the reception and away she went with her new husband.
Two months later she appeared, bag and baggage, at her parent's front door. She had realized that she had married a boy, not a man. He was mean to her and just lay around smoking pot, so she left. No “I told you so” from her parents, but just welcomed home with open arms. She had learned something and a divorce followed shortly thereafter.
Gayle's parents had been on a vacation in Hawaii some years earlier and while there bought a lot on the Big Island. It was to fulfill a dream they had of building a home and living in paradise. A dream that turned into a nightmare, but that is another story I will tell another time. Gayle went to Hawaii with them, where she got a job as a waitress to help while her father looked for a job. It took three months and they were almost broke when he finally found a good paying job at a local TV repeater station as an engineer. Things were looking up and life was good. Gayle was saving her money as best she could so that she could realize her ambition of being a Registered Nurse. She worked long hours, but had many friends including a man who her parents hoped she might marry. He was a real man in every way at least that is what her father thought.
Gayle, however, had her own plans and became a licensed real estate salesperson.
She did well and got a Broker's license, though she did not open her own office, because she did not have the finances to do so. However, it showed her dedication to be the best she could be at whatever she attempted to do.
After about three years, Gayle was ready to begin to do what was necessary to become a registered nurse. She said goodbye to her parents and boyfriend at the airport in Hilo to fly back to Illinois and begin her new life, with high hopes and determination.
Chapter 2
Gayle arrived safely in Illinois and resided with her sister until she found a trailer to rent. She got a job as a waitress and began to see about going to college. Money was short so she spent hours at the library researching how to receive Government grants, programs and scholarships. Her friends told her it was a waste of time, but she applied for everything she could find out about, sometimes reapplying until she got what she was looking for. She was persistent, it paid off, and finally off to college she went.
She worked at night, went to school and studied hard. After four years, she graduated; passed the state boards and her ambition to become a Registered Nurse was a reality. She got a job at a clinic and began to get experience.
Gayle worked at nursing during the day and then drove many miles to the University for Night Classes, because she wanted a bachelor's degree. Two years later, she had it.
