CURRENT ADDRESS:
Lola (Snyder) Powell
George Powell
2609 Melody Ln
Newport AR 72112-2429
870.523.8516
O.K. - So you think I can't get a little ole' Biography for you?
Well, I will just prove I can.
I understand this is to be about your accomplishments since the"good old days".
Though this sounds like one of those jokes you read about hard times- this is really a success
story. My major accomplishment over the years has been to learn how to say "Whew".
I left
school and went to work at Helena Federal Savings and Loan for almost 6 years. When I quit I
thought I would never get a better job. When I found a job at Helena Hospital, I thought"Whew".
I worked less than a year and the pride of my life was born, a beautiful little girl named
Brenda (Bren) and again I thought "Whew". I returned to work and became Medical Records
Librarian for the hospital for the next 4 years. George was transferred to Brinkley, Ar, where we
lived about a year before returning to Helena. I went to work for the Tax Collector's Office for 5
years before we transferred to Newport, Ar. We just love it here and consider it our home.
After
a short time I went to work at my present job, working for H & V Leasing, Inc. (A trucking
company). We started with 1 small trucking operation and currently have 8 different
corporations. We own freight terminals in Jonesboro, Little Rock, Searcy and Pine Bluff. We
lease those terminals to other freight companies. My boss leaves the daily operations and most
management decisions up to me. Since the day I came to work for him I have said nothing but"Whew".
In 1983 we had another beautiful little person come into our lives. We have no Grans,
but Bren has always had a special heart for the mentally handicapped. She had a client that was
declared profoundly retarded, so Bren brought her home and worked with her to try to get her
adopted. She even had her on "Wednesday's Child" with Carolyn Long (channel 4). This little
girl was 4 1/2 and her name was Nicole Michelle Porter (Nikki). We all just fell in love with her
and were thinking of adoption when doctors started checking "Bren" for Lou Gehrig's disease.
When I found out it was Multiple Sclerosis I was devastated, again I said "Whew".that is bad but
it could have been so much worse. We knew Bren would not be able to adopt Nikki, but when
Nikki was 7 ® she was adopted by a lovely family in Texas.
About this time George was having
heart problems, but the dreaded "Open Heart Surgery" was not necessary, he had to have 2 stints
(one more last month making it 3). Again I said "Whew" it could have been so much worse.
Two years ago I developed breast cancer. I was able to have a lumpectomy, and recommended 6
Chemotherapy and 15 radiation treatments. I took 1 Chemotherapy treatment and decided I
would choose an alternative therapy along with radiation. The alternative is working for me, so
far. I look at it and say "Whew" that could have really been much worse.
Last week my mother
(who has Alzheimer's) fell and broke her hip and crushed her shoulder. Again, we are so
thankful she is still with us and I am saying "Whew".
I really haven't had enough spare time to
take a trip or do any of the exciting things you have all written about, but really don't believe I
could take much more excitement than I have already had in just everyday living. I still work full
time but George has been retired for several years, we have been beside each other through every
period of our lives, whether good or bad. I think life could not be better for me, I think this is
really the greatest "Success Story" you will receive. I have a job that could not be more
rewarding, a boss that could not be more appreciative, a family that I love and need who lets me
know every day, just how much I am loved and needed. This is the ultimate in accomplishment.
I have found that life will deal you many good things along with a few bad. When you get the
bad things, just appreciate your family's support and think of how much worse it could have been
and say "Whew", what relief, it wasn't really all that bad.
"Whew" "Whew"
I got it done before 4/21/06.
Below are three photos of Nikki that were submitted by Bren.
Nikki 4 1/2
Bren & Nikki 5
Nikki 8