Pamela Redsted Markey

Enjoying retirement. Do work part-time for about 16-20 hours a week. Keeps me young and active.

I like working on crafts and enjoy making most of my Christmas and birthday gifts. I enjoy using my Cricuit Joy for some of the crafts. As soon as we get some really good warm weather, I plan to strip some furniture and update it from the 40/50's to 2024 style.

Looking forward to the summer of 2024. Going to go camping with my nephew, his wife, and two of his kids. Can hardly wait for March 31st to come.

Still play pickleball regularly. Although, I took the winter off due to severe arthritis in my left knee. I had gel injections and it worked so back on the court soon. Had to give up volleyball due to recent rotator cuff surgery. The ortho said I couldn't play anymore or risk shoulder replacement

Sold my 100-year-old house in 2020. The money pit is now gone. I never thought I would move out of Independence but I did. I somewhat live in the country in Grain Valley. I love it. It is so peaceful and quiet except when the coyotes howl at 2:00 a.m. or the hoot owl sings or the bobcat hisses. I see an occasional buck and yearlings in the area. Now, I have wild turkeys hanging around. Awesome. I rented a 1400-sq. f.t patio duplex and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. No steps and no second or third floor or laundry in the basement

Still occasionally preach as a Christian layperson. Always enjoy doing that when the opportunity arises. I'm actively involved in a detailed Bible study group. I love learning about the Word of God, and even beginning in Genesis, where points to Jesus, the cross, and his resurrection.

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After 50-years of debilitating migraines, they are now under control. I take a monthly injection of Ajovy. It has reduced my migraines down from 18 a month to about 8 or 9. I don't know how I got through high school with the migraines. It was a struggle with the horrific pain. I still struggle with my clinical depression occasionally. I'm very open about my depression, because I want other people who suffer with it and to know that there are medications available to help with it. No one needs to suffer with it or even contemplate suicide. There are doctors who are able to help, and there are some really great new medications on the market for people with depression and/or migraine/depression.

I don't have an exciting school story. I did not have many friends and was not a good student. I do remember participating in intramurals, which I loved. I flunked typing and Latin but did very well in human science, history and biology.

Pep Club was fun and so were the football games and basketball games.

My favorite classes were few but included Mr. Good's biology class and Mrs. Elliott's human science class.

I remember Mr. Chambers sleeping through his Civics class and spitballs flying around everywhere.
I remember being embarrassed in Mrs. Strong's music class in 9th grade because we had to sing mandatory solos and I couldn't (still can't) carry tune. She stopped me in the middle of the song and asked me sit down. I couldn't sing but I sure could write a good research paper.

As I reflect back on my high school years realizing that memory is reconstructive, I guess they were not so bad afer all. There were good times and bad times.

I would enjoy seeing the few friends that I had in high school. I hope that Mary Jeanne Clark Whittar and Linda Hansen can make it.

I wish I could get more excited about the 55-year reunion. Maybe it is reality slapping me in the face, 55-years is a long time. Wow! Where did the years go? They seemed to have flown by so fast. Looking forward to hearing about the reunion plans.