Kim

Another person who has made a big difference in my life is my sister in law, Kim Rohlfing. Kim made the first difference with me when she made my brother happy. The first time we met was at a party and Kim thought I was his date. Then later she discovered I was his sister and all has been well since.

Kim is fun and fun to hang out with. She has loads of friends and she volunteers to help out all of the time. She was instrumental in supporting both my cousin Pat and my Uncle Cecil when they were sick and later passed away. Kim likes country music, camping, and hanging out with friends. She has been team mom for her kids in all capacities and reaches out to help people in need. She plays Bunco and has a close circle of friends. She is very close to her family also.

Kim and I are buds. We have had some fun nights drinking till the cows come home and we have had some experiences where we were very serious in taking care of family. I respect her and I love to go there and hang out and play yahtzee. Christmas Eve at her house is what makes the holiday. Kim is someone I respect as both my sister in law and as my friend. I know that if I need anything she is there and I also know we can have lots of fun when we get together.

Kim is a great mom. She has to her credit both Sarah and Jared who are good people with strong values and no sense of pretense. She is present and she is involved and her kids know she will be there for them. She has instilled in them a sense of reality regarding people and she has made a difference in my connection to my family in general. Kim allows us all to keep it real and fun and when necessary, really fun.

Jared

One of my top ten is Jared Rohlfing. Jared is the apple of my eye. He is my nephew and I think he is funny, smart, and a great all around guy. Jared has always had his own mind. He is very self sufficient and does not seem to need a lot of people around. He has played football since he was young and this year took over soccer. Jared has a great sense of humor. He is funny and he does funny things to make people laugh. He also is great with younger kids and takes them under his wing when he is at events. Jared has a girlfriend and they go to movies a lot and hang out at the mall. Jared is good to his parents and he is very smart. he makes great grades in school and he is well liked by his teachers and his peers. During his freshman season, he was given an award for his leadership in football. He is very athletic and talented in athletics. Jared is my buddy. I love him so much. When he was little he used to come to my house and swim and stay the night. He would use all of the bandaids when he fixed scrapes and we would drive all around town. Now is he growing up and I have a lot of respect for the young man he is becoming. Jared is a fun loving individual with so much to give to the world.

Chris

One of my top influences in my life is my brother, Chris Rohlfing. Chris and I are fifteen months apart in age and the closest i will ever have to a twin. We have always been close and he loves me unconditionally. Chris was always the quiet one while I was the one always intervening and creating havoc. Questionaing and rebelling. Chris is also very smart. He is good in math and English and he is a geologist. he works from home which has given him time to do the job he is the most proficient at, being a Dad. When I wanted to move back to California, Chris brought his kids with him and they flew back to MO and drove me out to California. He and Kim have alwasy opened their house to me on holidays and I know he will be there for me if I ever need anything. Chris is a great person. He likes fantasy football and likes to stay up late and watch movies. He works from home so he has been able to be a big part of his kids' growing up years. Chris is funny. He likes all forms of music, esp. the Beatles. He rolls with things and does not get too shook about much but keeps a handle on what is important. Chris has been a support to his kids. He coaches Jared's teams and has made a big impact on people in Ventura. He is fair and kind and upholds what he believes to be the right thing to do. This was evident when he went to bat for a football colleague who was accused of some crimes. Chris is well respected by people who meet him. he is firm but fair with his kids and has taught them right from wrong. He instills in them a respect for people, and hard work, and education. He is there for them and his family is first. Chris wss the person who found my dad when he died. Of all of the people who were affected by this death, I think he suffered the most trauma. He was only 13 and did not have what he has been able o give his kids- an attentive father. Chris immediately took over the role of being there for Sue when our dad died and he was there for her through all of her years growing up. he is patient with our mom and he is just an all around good guy. I have always said if I could find someone as good as Chris, I would marry them in a minute. One of my top ten for sure in people who have made a difference in my life and continue to do so.

Gail

Gail Lockart is not only my aunt, but my mentor and my friend. She is the rock of gibraltar for me when I need something and especially when I need a reality check. Gail grew up in Vandalia, IL and has three children and loads of grandkids. She married my Uncle Roy in the late 7os which was around the time I graduated from high school. I remember when I graduated she gave me a group of poems that she had written. This was my first interaction with her and I was so impressed with her support and her insignt and knowledge about education.

Gail is a teacher. She taught elementary school and gifted education. My Uncile Roy died young and he was the love of her life. Gail had many friends in Vandalia and was well respected as a school board member and a teacher. Gail was always my go to person when I needed advice about career and my life. She and I were very close and always had fun watching movies and discussing books and such over coffee. She also always made sure I was taken care of. When I graduated from high school with my teaching degree Gail bought me all kinds of teacher stuff.

At a time in my life when I did not have a lot of parental support, she was my support system and always still makes me feel like I can move mountains. Gail got me involved in middle school when I wanted to know more about it. She was working at Vandalia Middle School at the time and was involved in the transformation. It was also at this time that she was hired to teach college classes at Eastern IL University. She was there for me when I finished my masters and she was there for me when I had surgery. She came to visit me on Christmas when I did not come to California so I would not be alone. Gail moved from Vandalia to EIU and spent fifteen years at the college as a teacher. In this time she presented all over the world at the middle school association conferences. Gail loves movies and she is an avid reader.

She is strong and she has strong opinions on how things should be. Gail is very strong in her faith. She believes in God's will for our lives and she keeps her focus on his expectations. Gail is also fun and funny. She is fun to hang with and shop or go to movies and she is fun to talk with. Gail manages her money wisely and she is self sufficient. I respect Gail because she is unconditional and because she is strong in her beliefs. Gail Lockart is in the Top Ten and one of the top of my 365. She knows my life, my triumphs, and my heartaches.

Sue

Also in the Top 365 and one who should be in the way top is my sister, Sue Ellen Gleaves.

 I love my sister.

Sue Ellen is 11 years younger than me and I consider her one of my best friends. Sue loves the Cardinals and the Blues and she is a biologist. She is married to Richard who is also in my top list. Sue was six when our dad died and she grew up in the 80's. She is smart and fun and very much a person of her own opinion. Sue is a naturalist and an animal lover. She has three dogs and was also a cat lover for many years. She is very confident and satisfied with herself. She has strong faith and loves her family and I respect her because she does not have to garner a lot of attention from other people to feel worthy

Sue is a cook. She loves to cook and she and Richard have a big garden in their back yard. I have always felt the need to protect her and would go to the end of the earth for her if she needed anything. This is because she is my sister and I love her so much. Sue is reslient and strong and she has strong convictions. She loves to go to see Stockton Thunder play and she also loves the Cardinals. Once she came to visit me and we got her tickets to go to the Cardinal game. Funny story that we obtained the scalper for the tickets from a police officer. We have fun when Sue is around (And Richard). We like to drink some brewery beers and watch movies and she is fun to just sit and talk to. She loves Hunger Games and Sons of Anarchy and is a tv buff just like my mom. She is loved by all of us and she and my niece Sarah look, act, and talk the same. We think Sue was cloned.

Sue works as a TA at Stanislaus and is a darn good one. She even just won an award. My best memories of Sue are when she was around when I was older and she was little like when I graduated from college and on my 21st birthday. She probably thought I was a crazy older sister. Her wedding was beautiful and she designed it herself.

When I need a reality check, I call Sue cause I know she will tell it to me the way I need to hear it.
When I want to go out and have some beers or go to Neptune's Net, I wait for Sue and Richard cause I know I will have fun. If you want to remind her of her recent cruise, just call her Suey...:)