FABULOUS JOURNEY
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Our goal in writing this treasure trove of memories was to describe and interpret our experiences at each life stage, while reflecting on the meaning of our heritage as well as major events in our lives. We were also interested in revisiting and examining decisions that have enabled us to pursue our aspirations. We thus trace our individual and collective journeys, focusing in part on our philosophies, values, aspirations, successes, and occasional failures. We have organized the chapters sequentially from our births in1934 (we were born in the same year and same month!), followed by narratives describing our childhood, education, professional experiences, and retirement. Each chapter covers a specific time period, and includes two distinct sections (Bill’s/Marie’s)—until we were married in 1973. The personal and family side of each chapter is jointly written, although each of us describes and interprets our separate family and professional experiences. After retirement each chapter became a joint effort. Although we grew up at near opposite ends of the country (North Dakota and Georgia), we had remarkably similar childhood experiences. We each lived on small farms, went to relatively small rural elementary and secondary schools, did well in our classes and in school activities, and graduated from high school with honors. Although we followed quite different paths immediately after high school, we both eventually achieved doctoral degrees and became college professors. We were each the first in our families to achieve university degrees. We are both especially proud of our education. We liked to learn from the very beginning of our lives, and wanted to have the formal education that would provide a satisfying lifestyle, professional achievement, and a good income. We both aspired to college while in high school. However, Marie was not able to realize that goal immediately, as Bill did. Instead she got married, had three children, worked, and went to college intermittently until somewhat later in life, when she was able to complete her undergraduate degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. She started her first full-time college teaching job at age 36. Bill went directly to college, completing his undergraduate degree in four years. After one year as an exchange student, and two years in the army (during which he got married and had a first child), he completed his master’s and Ph.D. before taking a full-time university teaching job at age 28. A chance encounter in Grand Teton National Park when we were both 37 had a profound consequence. We discovered many common interests and found ourselves immensely attracted to each other, eventually concluding that we wanted to redirect our lives so that we could be together. We moved to the State of Washington where we were married in 1973, eventually had jobs at two neighboring universities, and have happily collaborated since then on innumerable personal and academic endeavors. Our common interests have generated a storehouse of wonderful experiences, including co-authorship of six books. We have also published dozens of articles together, have traveled to most states in this country on personal and professional trips (often tent-camping in the early years, and later traveling in one of five recreational vehicles), and have temporarily lived, and taught university classes, in six countries of Asia and Europe. Many of our trips have been to visit one or more of our five children and their families, scattered across four northern states from Washington to Ohio. Our first visit to Tucson was in July, 1987, when we were initially impressed with the area as a potentially interesting place to visit during the winter, because it was so hot in the summer! We enjoyed several winters here so much that we finally adopted it as our permanent and satisfying home, after learning to adjust to summer heat. Since full retirement in 1999, we have continued to enjoy mobile and exciting lives, traveling much of each year by motorhome, while writing books. Writing these memoirs has enabled us to think deeply about the interesting and exciting details of our journey through life. Most of the journey has been exceedingly rewarding and satisfying. We are genuinely pleased with our lifestyle and have achieved most of our goals. Now, at age 74, we have every intention of pursuing an active and productive life as long as we can continue to navigate!
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About the Book
Fabulous Journey is a treasure trove of memories about the authors’ experiences at each life stage, with reflections on the meaning of major events in their lives. Each chapter compares their separate and common experiences, beginning with their heritage in family and community, their childhoods, educational preparation, professional experiences, and retirement.
Until they met in 1972, the narratives are presented separately as two distinct parts of each chapter. After their marriage, the personal and family side of each chapter is jointly written, while each describes and interprets his/her separate professional experiences.
They were born (in the same month) in 1934 at opposite ends of the country, in North Dakota and Georgia. By happenstance, they discovered each other in Grand Teton National Park, got married, and became successful professors and researchers. Bill was a professor for ten years at Montana State University, and twenty-six years at Washington State University. Marie was a professor at Weber State University for two years, and twenty-two years at the University of Idaho.
Their common interests have generated a storehouse of satisfying outcomes, including travel throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, teaching university classes in six countries, and completing nine books—most recently Health Care Systems Around the World; Quality of Life for Older People: An International Perspective; and Paradise for RVers: The Greater Yellowstone—Grand Teton Region.
They live in Tucson, Arizona, when not traveling in their motorhome to visit their five children (and families), or to enjoy magnificent national parks.
About the Author
Bill Lassey was born and raised in North Dakota, arriving in September, 1934. He completed a B.S. in 1956, an M.S. in 1961, and a Ph.D. in 1967. He was a professor for ten years at Montana State University, and twenty-six years at Washington State University (retiring in 1999). Marie was born in Georgia, on September 5, 1934, where she grew up. She completed her B.S. in 1967, M.S. in 1968 (and a second in 1992), and a Ph.D. in 1971. She was a professor at Weber State University for two years, and at the University of Idaho for twenty-two years (retiring in 1996).They have five children: Sherry, Dione, Derek, Maureen, and Dara. They have traveled widely in the North America, Europe, and Asia, completing nine books along the way—most recently Health Care Systems Around the World; Quality of Life for Older People: An International Perspective; and Paradise for RVers: The Greater Yellowstone—Grand Teton Region. They live in Tucson, Arizona, when not traveling in their motorhome.