This was the beginning of my new life and new friends.
My sister and I went to school in a 2 room school house from 2 and 3 grades to the 8th. In the beginning all 8 grades were in the same room and my 3rd. grade teachers name was mrs. Boltz.
My sister and I joined 4-H where I remained a member for l3 years. My first project was a fat lamb named Patty but I loved her so much that I kept her and used here in my breeding stock when I started my first flock of sheep. During my years as a 4-H member I owned a flock of sheep, a herd of goats, a horse, rabbits, and chickens. My responsibilites were numberous and I was kept busy between school, 4-H, and chores. I beleive these early years created the strong person who I am today.
In the summer of l969 I became interested in jobs,primarily cooking. So my mother helped me get a job with a friend of hers who owned the Rogers Rollins Grocery and U.S. Postoffice. Being that the closet town was 7 miles out and that was Lakeside and Kalispell to the north was 25 miles and Polson was 25 miles to the south, it was the most logical. Mami Rogers gave me my first training in the cooking industry besides my own mother. But being only l3 and scared and shy, it did not last long; just the summer.
I graduated Flathead High School in kalispell in l975 and have not gone to college yet. I got Married In l976 to James E. Michael of Somers,Mt. Son of James Hayes Michael and Joan Giles Michael.
During that union I had 2 sons. Rudolph James Michael born 6-2-78 died 6-3-78 and James Rudolph Michael born 8-l0-82. the death of my first son destroyed our marriage and we never regained the love we once had. Not even when we gave birth to James. The marriage ended on Dec. l8,l982 and became final on april 30, l983.
The death of my son Rudy and the death of my marriage of 7 years has added to the person who I am today.
In l986 my Mary Ellen Ditolla passed away from cancer, specifically lung and sinus cancer. In l996 my father Rudolph Joseph DiTolla passed away from congestive heart failure do to type 2 Diebitis.
I started working at Sykes Grocery in l988 and I am still there now.I started out a dishwasher and now I am as close to a chef as I can get in a cowboy restraunt as I can get.I enjoy cooking and learning new methods and pleasing people.
In my off time I enjoy the outdoors, cooking, camping, fishing, gardening, writing poetry,concerts, music of all kinds, being with my son james and my adopted son Dale Dixon.
In 200l on Mothers Day my son James decided to come out of the closet. It answered alot of questions on why he had no girlfriend.I flew into a state of denile and refused to beleive James was
gay. But As time went by and I learned more about James new life that He had since he was 8 years old, It became evident that it was not my fault or his dads fault but that it was ordained at birth. I have accepted his way of life and learn more about my son and his friends. which gives me a better understanding of the other gays and lesbians that are around me.
At this point my life is still unway and unconstruction.
Well here it is 2006 wow what a journey. I turned 50 years old on May 8 and although there was no big celebration as I exspected there would be, I made up my mind that this spicey seasoned lady of 50 was going to have fun unending , make some memories and remember the next 50 years in a positive light. The last 50 years seems to be a blurr in retrospect. Being that I am so open minded and I figure I am not too old to learn about life all over again. Lets start new. I have always said if I could do it again with all the knowledge I have right now I would. So lets do it.!!
On the work Page..... I reached several career points. When I got to 16 years at Sykes I found out it was not just 16 years it was "Sweet 16". I now receive 4 weeks paid vacation every year. How SWEET is that, and now that I am at 18 years on Oct.5 I have found out that I could if I so desire to , retire from Sykes in 2 years. At 20 years they have to pay me........!!!!!!!!!! Which if you stop and think about it 20 years in that place is an accomplishment and I should be rewarded for spending almost a decade of my life there.
