By Dale Buchanan
My husband Harold and I were married in an Episcopal church, attended Big Red on Easter Sunday–the first Sunday after our wedding. And Big Red has been our church home ever since. My name is Deanna and I am honored to have the opportunity of sharing with all of you this short story autobiography.
Way down in the southern end of California’s Central Valley, there is a sleepy, little town called Taft. Daddy graduated from college as an engineer and was hired to run the refinery for the oil company in Kern County where his dad had worked in the oil fields. I was born in Taft and memories of my first seven years there remain among my most cherished.
I vividly recall the small rural village of Taft—one of those small towns you miss if you blink as you drive through. It was a wonderful place for a little girl. I could walk wherever I chose with one exception. I was not to go past the houses to the field where there was a horse. But I did. 😊 That horse and the little girl had many fascinating conversations across the fence. Our next-door neighbors had a son named Donnie and he had a Boston terrier. The three of us passed the innocent days of summer as if there were no tomorrow. Indeed, in my mind today, I can recall every street and every house just as they were in those blissful days of my childhood.
We lived in Taft until I was seven years old. Then dad’s business took us to the Oakland hills. As an only child, I found the Oakland hills a perfect blend of rural and urban environments. Next to our housing development there was an open area with plenty of room for a little girl to explore and imagine a wilderness existence. At the same time, I had all the advantages of a suburban neighborhood. A school just a block away provided a large assortment of playmates, and there was a library just half a block down the street–the source of more books than I could possibly read. The habit of reading has stayed with me to this day. I belong to a book club and we are currently reading the best seller Where the Crawdads Sing.
Seventh grade found us living in Fresno and me attending Hamilton Junior High School. Next it was Fresno High. I loved every minute of high school! I joined and was active in every group available. I sang in the choir and in a trio, was in the Pep Club, and held student offices. I had more friends than you could shake a stick at, and we had a big group cry when graduation made us alumni instead of students.
I always knew I wanted to do something with science and my dream was to attend U.C. Davis and become a veterinarian. That was a difficult ambition for a woman in 1956, and I was told that the university discouraged women from entering that program. At that time, polio was at epidemic stages, and I decided to become a physical therapist to help children who were victims of polio. Since there was not a physical therapy program at Fresno State, I majored in child development. With that degree in hand and a scholarship from the Elks, I was accepted at the University of San Francisco and became a licensed physical therapist.
I came back to Fresno, married, and worked for the county in California Children’s Services. My career was put on hold with the arrival of my two children Mark and Kristy. I became a stay-at-home mom until the children were six and eight-years-old respectively. I went to work for the Lori Ann Infant Program which eventually became a part of Fresno Unified School District. It serves children with special needs from birth to three years of age and their families. After twenty years of working in this program, the school district told me I needed to have a teaching credential. I was not going to leave this work I loved, so I went to Fresno State and got a teaching credential, and I was blessed to work in this chosen field for thirty years. My experiences working with special needs children as a physical therapist were always exhilarating. Parents, who were totally numb, saw their children accomplish things they never dreamed possible. I brought them hope and I loved my job.
After serving in the Army, Harold came to Fresno State to get his education and play football at Fresno State. I was reluctant to date this huge football player at first, but time erased my anxiety. We were married in 1961, and our years together have passed the test of time for over fifty years.
I am a survivor of breast and bladder cancer since 2002. I am determined to live my live positively. I find people, friends, and family the most important elements in my life.
Since retirement I stay active mentoring kindergarten children at Hamilton Elementary School. I sing in the Big Red choir, and serve on Church Life ministry. I am active in the PEO Sisterhood which educates, supports, and motivates women.
In thinking about my life challenges, I remember my bout with cancer, losing a son, going back to school to get my teaching credential, and the push and pull of family and work.
My life has been rich and full and the list of things I want to do now is short—travel with Harold and spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
