Mary Ann Rutherford Hidding

I have had more jobs than I can count, from bartender to keno runner to teacher to marketing to writing/editing to teaching teachers best practices in reading instruction. I retired from Scholastic Publishing in 2017, kept busy helping my daughter with her optometric practice in Woodstock. I play mahjongg with high school friends weekly, volunteer at the Raue Center for the Arts (former downtown movie theatre), try to keep fit, and healthy.

Most embarrassing moment was when I was literally running to study hall in the auditorium when I slipped and fell on my funny bone. The minute bell rang. I picked myself up (remember we had to wear skirts so I suppose the hall monitor got an eyefull) and as I stumbled into the auditorium I passed out. The next thing I knew I was in the nurse's office being administered smelling salts to bring me back to consciousness. I don't think the nurse even called my mother. She just sent me back to study hall.

During our annual girls' trip to Green Lake, WI, a bunch of us were talking about manicures. Who doesn't talk about manicures? It reminded me that I used to regularly give myself a manicure in Study Hall 105. I cannot believe that the teacher nor any of the people sitting near me complained! Thank God that I didn't have the nerve to also do a pedicure!

I was lucky to get a job teaching English at CLCHS after graduating from college. I also directed the plays, musicals, and sponsored the Thespian Club. During dress rehearsal for a fall play, I went up to the lighting booth to give the lighting kid some directions. When I popped my head in the door, the smell of weed was overpowering. I was so angry at the kid, and I should have turned him in immediately. However he was the only person who knew the lighting for the show, and if I reported him all the kids would be punished and the show would be cancelled. So I told him, "You are really lucky that I am not going to punish the entire cast and crew due to your poor judgement. DON'T EVER SMOKE DOPE OR ANYTHING ELSE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY." I still feel guilty for not reporting him, but since all the administrators are dead and buried now I guess I can forgive myself.

Visit son Rudy and his family in Copenhagen, Denmark, while they are living there.