Where Are They Now? — Sharmel Larsen (Issa)

Well it is going to sound like an old cliche but holy crap 20 years! I don't know about the rest of you, but there is no way I can be that old. It has been fun to read everyone post, I must tell you I think the class of 88 has done pretty darn good for themselves.

I have had a pretty great 20 years. I married pretty much right out of high school and knock on wood have lived "Happily Ever After." I was a stay at home Mom for almost 15 years, and not only a stay at home mom, but also a house cleaner, a chauffeur, a maid, a professional chef, a T-ball coach, den mother, a room mother, nurse, Dr. Potty trainer, a sewer, a baker, and the list can go on and on. I loved every minute of it. I have to admit I am jelous of some of you who are still having babies. I am going through the empty nest syndrome and not handling it very well.

I have 3 of the most beautiful kids you will ever see (ok, so I am a typical mom, so I can say this). Our oldest is Brandon he will be 19. He is graduated and works full time up at Camp Williams. He takes after his dad. Sebastian is almost 17 and will be a senior next year, and Tavia just turned 12. I am happy to say we live in such a small area my kids have been able to enjoy a lot of things out there. Brandon was our jock who was captain of his football team and enjoyed every sports, (it was so much fun going back to watch high school football again) Sebastian has taken a different route. He is the brains and loves drama and band. So I have gotten the best of both worlds with them. Tavia has been in dance since she was 3 and plays every sport you can think of.

My husband originally worked for UDOT until he got deployed and went to the Olympics for 8 weeks, a year later got deployed for a year, came home for a year then went to Iraq for 2 years. It was a lot of sacrifices our family had to make, but I have never been prouder. He is in Morocco right now and will be returning in a couple of weeks. YEA!!!!

Now on to me, like I said I stayed home for 15 years and got a wild hair and decided to go to college. I knew my kids were getting older and it was time. I went and got my teaching degree, now all of you with your chins hanging to the floor just pick them right up. I enjoyed college so much I even graduated with honors. I taught kindergarten for 3 years and now I teach first grade and absolutely love it. I have just started working on my Masters Degree this past fall so wish me luck.

I still haven't bought tickets for reunion yet, because we still don't know if my hubby will be around. If we come though I can't wait to see everyone. Here is my e-mail address if anyone wants to drop a line jissa@xmission.com.

Hope to see you all soon.