To answer your questions Joe, life outside of FIRST is... different. I had never been able to imagine myself NOT working for FIRST. It was the BEST job I ever had! There was nothing about that job I didn't like.......even telling teams to READ THE MANUAL when they'd ask me a question that was clearly spelled out for them in the manual!
(did you see the special button I made for myself to wear at competition last year???)
I loved helping the (my) teams through all the difficult moments of rules questions, shipping issues, over-crowded bleachers, other teams saving seats, 'the noise is too loud', 'where's my pit station', etc. etc. etc. I just loved helping them.
So, to go from helping thousands of people...to helping 2 was cause for my withdrawals! But like I said, Jayda (now 19mos!) is thriving. She knows ALL her presidents...her alphabet, counts to 20...then skips over to 30!, she sings all the typcial 'kid' songs, we're even learning Spanish together!...and she loves being home with mommy and daddy! She loves the attention....and I will get a pic of her soon so you can see how big she's gotten!
The business is thriving...we're always busy...sometimes I wish I were back at FIRST just to get a break!
But I do miss FIRST. I miss all you guys....I became personally involved with so many of you...I considered you my friends, not just 'my teams'. So that part I miss a lot.
I hope you're all doing well. I think of FIRST every day....I think of all of you every day! I hope you all have a successful, winning experience with FIRST this year and in future years! I hope that someday our paths will cross again.......until then, know that you...my teams....have always held a special place in my heart! And I will NEVER forget!
my best to you all............
-Lori-