Laura Dudgeon

20 years is a long time! It is hard to believe I am old enough to say I graduated from high school 20 yrs ago! Yikes!

I'll see if I can summarize the last 20 yrs:

I went to UNM for 3 semesters. I had way too much fun and my grades reflected just how little time I spent in classes and studying. I did make some great friends though! I transferred to New Mexico Highlands University where I made the Dean's List every semester, including summers! I met my future husband Andrew in my environmental science class and we became good friends. We got married in December of 1990 ......our son Zachary was born in July of 1991 (ya, the math is a bit off!) We managed to work, stay on the Dean's list and graduate (BA Special Education) by Spring of 1992. My husband was also commissioned through the ROTC program and was assigned active duty Army. Our second child, Olivia, was born in Espanola in August of 1993 while my husband was deployed to Somalia.

We began our Army life at Ft Benning, GA in Sept. of 1993. From there we went to Ft Drum, NY, Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Ft Lewis, WA, back to Ft Huachuca, AZ, to Ft Hood, TX, then to Ft Leavenworth, KS and now we are back at Ft Drum, NY. I think I got to see more of these places than Andrew ever did, as he has traveled the world and spent so much time away.

During that time I have learned to pack and unpack a household in record time, manage to be mom and dad to my children, and I have learned the ins and outs of military life. I'm also able to figure out the mountains of paperwork involved in applying for teaching licenses in each state when we move.

Our children are now 15 and 13 yrs old. They are the center of my universe! They are both accomplished runners and have competed in national events for 6 yrs. Zachary was 2nd at Cross Country nationals for his age group this year. We spend a lot of time traveling all over the country for them to compete. He has now also taken up snow shoe racing.

I am currently teaching a self contained life skills class at our local high school. All of my students are mentally challenged with IQs below 70 and give me a run for my money each day. They really teach me more than I could ever hope to teach them. They also keep me laughing and smiling!

My husband deployed to Afghanistan in January of 2006. He was supposed to return on Feb. 11 but his Brigade has been extended and the earliest he will be home now is June. Hopefully that will happen and we will make it to the reunion.

I really do miss New Mexico and we are looking forward to going "home." I love to hear from old friends and if anyone is ever up in the most northern part of NY....our welcome mat is always out!

Laura