"I love my life - my extra ordinary life!"

Sylvia Long - February 1986 Grad

This summer I was "getting ready" to turn 60... become 60... seriously! I have spent 60 years on this planet and I love my life! These thoughts floated though my mind as I sipped my ice tea, sat in the shade in my backyard, and watched the mama ducks splash around in the creek with their babies, remembering the beginnings of my life as it is today.

My journey with Wings began when I was 34. I was a single mother, going to college, working more than one job to keep my sons and myself warm, fed and safe. It was during this time that my sons decided they wanted to go live with their dad in another state. I was questioning staying in college because I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a psychologist after all. Change was coming.

I thought, “There is something more to life than this... what is it?"

This was about the time Mount St. Helens exploded and the Northwest was still scooping away ash. I felt a bit like the volcano, something big was about to happen and after that I knew nothing would be the same for me again.

Soon after, I was talking to my friend Carol, expressing to her this feeling I was having about my life. Carol had just gotten back from PES and my comments opened the door for her to talk with me about the seminar. I said, “ OK, I'll go!” Of course, my car broke down and oddly enough the repair was the cost of PES. This meant I did not have a car to travel from Bend to Eugene and no money to pay for PES. I called Carol to let her know I couldn't go. “Car trouble” I said. Carol was magic! She came up with a ride, the money and covered any unforeseen events that could, would or might stop me from attending PES.

PES was AMAZING! PES may be the first place in my life I showed up without worries, concerns, doubts or anything else that usually got in my way of being fully present. I realized if I could do this in my life, I could do anything! I signed up for the very next CrossOver, the very next LifeWorks and the very next Namasté. I applied for the Wings Internship program and was accepted.

The first day in PES I knew was going to work for Wings. When I got home from the seminar I canceled an interview I had scheduled with the Peace Corps. I decided I was going into a different kind of peace corps. It was about three plus years before I actually started working for Wings. During those three years I spent much of my time at Wings as a volunteer. Besides being an Intern, I assisted on backup teams and helped out the staff in any way possible. In the mean time, I met my husband JC and my sons came back home to live with me again. I was happy.

Finally, in 1991 I started working for Wings as the Teen Seminar Coordinator. I loved it! The the summer turned to fall and I was asked to stay on in an “as needed” capacity. Of course I said YES and by Spring I was hired as a full time Enrollment Coordinator. I achieved my dream! Or at least the part where I work for Wings.

The next part, living the intention I had when applying for the Peace Corps, has been a journey. My job right now as an Enrollment Coordinator and facilitator of the Assist Team Training offers me the opportunity to support people to find what is most meaningful in their lives, assisting them to live their dreams. I am grateful for all the opportunities I have had, meeting the most amazing people and sharing their journeys. My plan is to stay right here at Wings. It is a wonderful life...  learning, loving, laughing and sharing tears with you. Spending time with the most amazing people in the world.

I LOVE MY LIFE – MY EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE!