Page 42 - SHS 50th Reunion

AWI
Ellen Morgan Lodgen
pelzo125@gmail.com
How exactly is it possible to summarize 50 years of life? By years, by decades, by chapters?
Well...here goes.
After high school I was off to Brandeis University for four years. It was a wonderful time filled with experiences that I never could have imagined. Our freshman year ended with Brandeis being the National Student Strike Center for the strike that followed the Kent State shootings. My mother, of course, called immediately to tell me she was coming to get me. The whole thing made her nervous. I told her I was staying and became a part of the movement, helping out in the background doing all sorts of phone and office work. When my daughter was in high school, she wrote a thesis paper on how the student strikes influenced the end of the Vietnam War. She got permission to use me as a primary source. My total experience then, and in all four years, was amazing. I majored in Physical Anthropology, always with the intention of teaching science.
After graduating, I turned down two different teaching jobs because of their locations and went home to Sharon to live for a year. I tutored pregnant high school girls, who at that time were not allowed to attend high school. I then took a job at Hillel Academy in Marblehead and worked there for 39 years. I received my Masters in Science Education from Boston University during that time period as well. When I look back, it is amazing to me that I had only one job that entire time. I taught a variety of subjects including science, math, and art. I was also the assistant principal for almost 20 years. The relationships formed there with colleagues and students remain some of the most amazing ones I have, including meeting my husband Larry there.
During that time, I found an apartment in Somerville and lived in it for 7 years until I bought my own house in Somerville and became a landlord for 10 years. The house was a three family, 20 room Victorian. I t was a great deal- I lived for free and actually made money from the rent of the other two apartments. I really enjoyed the challenge of being a landlord and had multiple experiences that were at various times funny, sad, and scary. Having tenants is an eye-opening experience. When I sold the house, I dou- bled my money. I t was all a great deal, until my daughter Sara recently moved to Somerville. The house I bought for $75,000 and sold for
$178,000 is now valued at 1.4 million. Trust me- it isn't a 1.4 million dollar home- location, location, location. As we begin to plan our retirement, and Sara is paying Somerville rent, We marvel at what might have been had we kept the house.