Dayle Stapleton

Dayle Stapleton Laughlin – 50 Years and counting.

After I graduated from Penncrest 50 years ago I headed off to Ursinus College to be a gym teacher.  A year later I learned that I would have to take anatomy with the pre med majors.  I changed my major to psychology.  Then I met Bill Laughlin, fell in love, left college, got married and became a full time mom while I pushed Bill through college. Before he finished school we had twin sons.  Our daughter was born in Hawaii 5 years after the boys.  Life was tough at times but all worked out well.  48 years later I’m still married to the same guy and I never killed our kids.  So life is good.

In my forties I went back to Ursinus and graduated with a BS in psychology.  (Lou Scott said I was just a slow learner - that’s why it took me so long to finish.).  I then earned my MA in Counseling Psych.  Since then I’ve been working part-time, mostly at Delaware County Community College.

Although I’m still living on the street I grew up on, we have done our share of travelling. Twenty two years ago, after taking up snow skiing, we discovered Park City, UT and bought a condo.  It’s our home away from home.  Our two granddaughters, now 12 and 14 learned to ski there when they were 3 years old.  We can’t keep up with them now, but they still ski with us some.  So far they haven’t run over me like the Austrian ski racer did.  Ask me if you want to know anything about the Southwest.  I’ve seen most it.

Our son, Dan, decided when he was 43 that he wanted to be a father.  We now have two grandsons 30 months and 10 months old.  They live in MD. (Dan is married)

About 8 years ago I became involved with a program called   “Adopt-A-Native Elder”  (you can find it on the web).  Twice a year volunteers travel from Salt Lake City to AZ to deliver food boxes, medical supplies, clothing, yarn, etc to traditional needy elders on the Navajo reservation.  I drive down once a year.  For 6 years my granddaughters who live in Scottsdale have collected food, clothing and water for the elders. Their mom drives them to meet me.  The girls were 6 and 8 when they started helping.  When the volunteers are introduced to the elders we stand together, three generations.  Boy is that special.

Yes, life has been good.  I still have my good health, can hike, snow ski, water ski, and enjoy the wonders for nature.  I have survived three kids, am still married and have 4 wonderful grandchildren.  What more could I ask for?