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The Greatest Job On Earth

How many can truly say they are employed outside of the home in the job they had wanted since they were in the seventh grade? I am one of those very fortunate people. I went into the office when I was in the Price Junior High School and took one slow look around and decided, yup - when I grow up I want to be a school secretary - and here I am fifty two years later - having fun at Sage Creek Elementary and getting paid for it! I've been at Sage Creek in one capacity or another for 25 years now.

I meet the most wonderful people everyday and I work for and with some of the greatest people you will ever meet in your lifetime. I work with people that are truly dedicated to their profession - they haven't chosen to work in this field for the money or the fame - they have chosen it because they love learning and want to instill this love of learning in others. I have been a secretary for the Department of Defense, a legal secretary, a secretary for the Bureau of Land Management, and a school secretary and I have never met such hard working, dedicated people as I have as a school secretary.

I love my life!

I tell my children to choose their professions wisely - make sure it is something you enjoy - their father spent the last fifteen years of his career dreading going to work most mornings. He now is a substitute teacher and loves working in the elementary schools.

"Decoration Day"

My first memory of "Decoration Day" (Memorial Day) was as a young girl living in Dragerton, UT. We would make flowers out of different mediums so we could transport them to Fruita, CO. We would spend weeks folding crepe paper into beautiful roses, carnations, etc. and then carefully put them in very attractive arrangements and put them in the trunk of our car to transport for placement on my brother's and my uncle's graves. We would then go visiting several friends and relatives in the area. Mom would have already called up Wadell's Meat Store and arranged to pick up a side of beef that would be frozen solid for the three hour trip. We would pick up the meat just before heading home.

This Decoration Day finds me placing fresh flowers on my son's grave and then traveling to Price to place fresh flowers on my parent's graves. There is, also, a little girl's grave in Price that we will visit. Her name is Amanda Dean. I'm sure Amanda's parents have long since moved since ours are the only flowers on her grave each Decoration Day. When we would visit Price from our home in California, Amanda would come and play with my daughters, Marti and Kristi. My Mom said Amanda would always check with her to see when we were coming for a visit - she frequently visited my parents.

While in Price we will have lunch with my brother, Bob, and maybe even my Uncle Perry and Aunt Dot. It will be a great time. My Uncle Perry (my mother's brother) recently celebrated his 80th birthday and it's always a delight to visit with him.

This year those traveling to Price will be: Sandra, Bill, Marti, Richard, Michael, Lyssa and Matyson. Maybe next year there will be more of us. Last year (see the picture) it was the same group, except Matyson was to be born just two months later.

Mother of Nine

The experiences I've had raising nine children would certainly fill volumes but what it has taught me can be summed up in one word - patience.  My mother was the perfect example of patience and my father taught me to "listen to your mother".  I've also learned to listen completely. Both of these "life principles" have enriched every aspect of my life.  When my father reached his 80s and was experiencing dementia I practiced patience and listening, when my mother was diagnosed with cancer, I practiced patience and listening, as a wife I practice patience and listening, as a secretary at an elementary school with over 700 children and 60 staff members - you guessed it - I practice patience and listening.  My mother also taught me calmness.  When my brother, Tommy, was hit and killed by a car while getting off the school bus my mother never "lost it" in front of me and my siblings, but we knew how much she loved and missed him.

I was born in Fruita, CO and was named by my brothers.  My mother had given birth to my oldest brother, Jim, then a girl they named Martha Ann that lived less than an hour, then my brothers Tom and Bob and finally me.  My brothers just loved the name Sandra and my mother's nurse in the hospital was Helen - so thus came my name - Sandra Helen.  

I am so blessed to be the wife of Bill Bachler and the mother of Levi, Marie, Craig, Tom, Richard, Marti, Kristi, J.R. and Michael.  They are my teachers and I am their pupil.  They are the sources of my greatest joy.  I am also the proud grandmother of Aly, C.J., Tyler, Joe, Marissa, Corinne, J.R., Brooklyn, Carter, Tyler #2, Mason and Matyson the sources of great happiness.