50-Year-Reunion

Carolyn Aust 224 Sunnyview Court, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701 cmav1156@gmail.com (304)308 - 8423 November 1

It is really hard to sum up 50 years of life lessons, milestones and adventures. After graduating from BHS, I attended the Bluefield State College Nursing Program. I earned my A.S degree as registered nurse in May, 1977, and started work as an R.N. at Bluefield Sanitarium. In March of 1979, I went to work at Princeton Community Hospital. I got married in June,1979 to my first husband, who had obtained a job in Washington, D.C., and so we bought a house in Frederick, MD and relocated. Our home was located at the base of the Catoctin Mountain range near Camp David. It was a beautiful area, but there was not a day that I didn't miss the West Virginia mountains and the people of Bluefield. During the next 20 years, I raised a son, Cory, born in 1983, and a daughter, Leah, born in 1987. Of all the things I have done, they are my greatest accomplishments. I also completed my B.S.N. and worked in various health care disciplines, including Hospice and Oncology, Home Care and Geriatric Care. My last job, before retiring, was serving as a Director of Nursing for a large retirement community that housed 400 seniors through all levels of care. I knew from the age of twelve that I wanted to be a nurse and that gift from God was the most rewarding work for me. My first marriage ended in divorce in 1999. In 2006, God sent a man into my life who supports and loves me unconditionally every day. I married Darryl Vance in July 2006. Darryl is from Wilmington, DE, but has lived all over the U.S., and is retired military, serving for six years during Vietnam. He had never lived in West Virginia, until I had the opportunity to move back to Bluefield in 2009, and we found out that West Virginia is where his ancestral roots lie as a part of the Hatfield Clan in Logan County. Fortunate for me that he loves West Virginia and Bluefield. In 2007, I became a grandmother, known as "Nana". My daughter Leah has three beautiful girls. Kylie 17 years old, Natalie 6 years old and Mollie 17 months old. I am fortunate they live here in the area, and I get to spoil them as much as possible. Nothing brings me more joy to than to be hugged and hear, "I love you Nanny". I spend a lot of my time making memories with these sweet granddaughters. I have been fortunate to be able to travel all of the eastern U.S states and a few west of the Mississippi. I have been to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Eastern Canada, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario. All of these are beautiful places. My all - time favorite is the Bay of Fundy between New Brunswick, Novia Scotia and Maine. The tides rise and lower 56 feet, and you can walk about two miles out onto the ocean floor during low tide. Amazing to see and experience. I came home to WV in 2009 to be here for my aging Mom. She will be 86 this June. My Dad passed away in 1994. I have lost two of my four siblings in the past five years. Many of our friends have passed away, but I am grateful for the life God has given me, and grateful to be able to share this 50th reunion of the BHS Class of '75.

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