Marilyn Koolstra

I'd never had a nickname.

I'd never had a nickname.

It was a development of respect and understanding and shared interests and the time spent together.

It was a development of respect and understanding and shared interests and the time spent together.

That love of walking, I think, really drew us into a lot of activities together.

That love of walking, I think, really drew us into a lot of activities together.

His original workplace was sold and everybody moved on.

His original workplace was sold and everybody moved on.

There was a New Zealander, Alan Beck, who liked walking.

There was a New Zealander, Alan Beck, who liked walking.

And so the two of them over lunch breaks would conjure up places that I want to go because Alan's wife didn't like doing those kind of adventures.

And so the two of them over lunch breaks would conjure up places that I want to go because Alan's wife didn't like doing those kind of adventures.

I felt very independent and proud about that, and it was close to where I worked.

I felt very independent and proud about that, and it was close to where I worked.

We each maintained our own households.

We each maintained our own households.

I'd always jokingly said, well, I don't cohabit. It's marriage or nothing. And he just goes, oh, I don't know if I want to get married again.

I'd always jokingly said, well, I don't cohabit. It's marriage or nothing. And he just goes, oh, I don't know if I want to get married again.

It's baptism by fire with four kids because they all had very vibrant personalities.

It's baptism by fire with four kids because they all had very vibrant personalities.