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Today's Featured Biography
Andrea (Andi) Fradette Beauchamp
Dennis and I were married on August 2nd, 1980. We both joined the Air Force in March of 80, went to basic training at the same time. Got to see each other every now and then and most of our communication was thru writing letters. When we did get to see each other, there was absolutely NO touching each other. After Basic training we both went to Keesler AFB, Mississippi for tech school. When we arrived there we actually ran into Mike Carroll who was almost finished with tech school. We graduated from tech school in Oct/Dec 80 and our first assignment was Chicksands, England. What?? That's exactly what we thought too. It was a very small and beautiful Intel base, very cold and damp. Our first daughter Brandi was born in 82 in the UK. After 3 yrs in the UK, we went to Northern Japan, Misawa Air Base. We got there in the middle of winter (January 84), which was the record breaking snowfall of 240 inches (20 ft). Here ya got 2 Floridians deep in the snow! It was a great assignment, we learned to snow ski and golf. Our youngest daughter Ashley was born here in 84. After 4 years in Japan, we went back across 2 big ponds back to Europe, San Vito, Italy. Now this was an eye opener. In the heel of the boot, a very depressed part of the country. I feared for my life when getting on the roads. Vandalism, breaking and entering were part of our daily lives. To say the least we did not like it. After 3 long years in Italy, I decided the AF wasn't for me and bailed out. We went to San Antonio, Tx for 2 1/2 years. That was tough, learning to live on 1 income! After Tx, we wanted to get out of the country again, and we got another assgnment back to Misawa, Japan! We were so excited. By that time I had went to school and gotten my license to be a Nail Tech. So that is what I did while Dennis did his military duty. When I wasn't working I was golfing, skiing, snowshoeing and going to the gym. I had tons of energy back then. I also opened up the very first tanning salon in that region. Mainly for the Americans. We loved Misawa so much that we stayed for 7 years this time. It was getting close for Dennis to retire, and his next assignment was McGuire, NJ in late 2000. He only had a short time left, had already started the retirement process when 9/11 happened. Retirements were halted, so he became a First Sgt and moved to Montgomery, Al, after Al, we were ready to go back overseas. In 2004, we were headed back to the UK, Mildenhall this time, with no children, just our 4 legged children. This time we loved our assignment to the UK. Maybe b/c we were more mature. I also did Nails over there. When I wasn't working I did alot of traveling to Germany, Wales, Scotland, Poland, Spain. I was very active with the Outdoor Rec Program, canoeing,kayaking and horse trekking. While there I fell in love with the nice cold weather. Unfortunately after 4 years there, and 28 years in the AF, it was time for us to hang up the military hat. Dennis retired in 2008.
We came back to Panama City and the heat. ugh. After 3 years of retirement I got the itch to move again and still have that itch, so I try to go places whenever I can, especially to see our daughters and their families.
I retired from the Nail business when we left the UK. Since returning, I've dabbled in doing a few things workwise, but I prefer to work on my own.
We have 5 grandkids, Thalia (14), Major (10), Hannah (11), Holly (9) and Crew (5). All of which live somewhere else...Italy and Idaho. And we also have 2-10 yr old Lhasa Apsos, our 4 legged babies.
I love the outdoors and have taken up kayaking, hiking and bird watching. I even completed a 7 day 123 mile kayak trip down the Suwanee River. I hope to do more of those and if anyone wants to do a trip I highly recommend PaddleFlorida.com Let me know and we can do a group trip.
Life is good and I look forward to seeing ya'll around town.
Go Rams!!
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