Helen "Sprit" Motion

 

HELEN 'SPRIT' MOTION
606 Pinehaven Drive
Houston, TX 77024

713-899-9675

sprit@sbcglobal.net

Rita's Child Development CTR.

Wow! Fifty years since I graduated from Coral Gables Sr. High. And the road I’ve taken has not been straight…It has all full of struggles and successes.

I went to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX where I received both my B.A. and M.A. degrees. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of semesters studying at American University in Washington, D.C. in the School of International Studies and one summer semester at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu where I studied—just for fun--anthropology and hula. Aloha!

In 1967 I married Paul Pearce whom I met at TCU. In 1968 we moved to Houston where I have resided ever since.

Paul and I are divorced and he moved away. I stayed in Houston where I have had a roller coast ride as “Jacqueline of many trades” and master of none. I managed a tennis boutique. Then I sold valves, flanges, pipes and fittings and handled the PR for my company to participate in big oil shows such as OTC (Offshore Technology Conference) and LAGCO (Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil). I worked as an administrative assistant for various companies. I was an account executive for a penny stock company…which unfortunately went bankrupt. (Sigh!)

There were numerous years that I worked simply as a mother and a housewife. My son, at 7 ½ years of age, suffered two strokes and I stayed home to take care of him and take him to rehab. The good news is that he is okay now.

However, when my son was in high school he got addicted to drugs and alcohol. That was a nightmare! He managed to graduate from high school with good grades, but definitely addicted to bad stuff. I had no understanding of how to handle a person on drugs. But with the help of friends and family and a wonderful recovery program here in Houston, my son has finally come through it all and is completely clean…and has been for 6 or more years. Yes there were several relapses, but he is clean now. Hallelujah!

During his years of rehab, I did a bit of missionary work, going to places like Kenya; Estonia; Costa Rica; El Salvador and Mexico. In 2007 I went to China with the People to People program.

Three and a half years ago my son took off to study at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. The next year he moved to Sydney, Australia to study at the School of Audio Engineering. Of course, I had to go visit.

He has since returned to Houston to complete his studies at the University of Houston where he was accepted into the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship (a program that is rated number one in the nation by Forbes and Princeton Review).

Meanwhile, I am semi-retired, working when needed at Rita’s Child Development Center, teaching children ages 2 to 5. I love the work and I love the flexibility of the work schedule.

Life has had many curves and loops and speed bumps, but I have had the determination and faith that all would end well as long as I had the perseverance to navigate through all the problems.

And here I am coming to my first high school reunion and looking forward to it!