Darlene Allain Edgecombe Mollere
My big dream was to become a wife, homemaker and mother of six. I went
to college anyway—LSUNO—but completed only three semesters.
I left college
to marry and realize my lifelong dream. But the six kids never came; in
fact, I never had any children. I was at one time, however, fortunate
enough
to be foster mom to three lovely girls. Life wasn’t working out
as I planned. I discovered a talent for sales, so when I divorced in
1974 I shifted gears. First, I “sold” people as a personnel
counselor; then I “sold” travel, eventually becoming agency
manager. During that time I had the opportunity to meet
many people and to experience a variety of cultures.
After eight exciting years of globe trotting, I down shifted and took a
job as executive secretary at a bank in New Orleans. From there I
became Administrative
Assistant to the CEO and Chairman of the Board. Three years later I
began
preparing for the mission field. In 1990 I flew halfway around the
world
to serve the people of Togo, West Africa. I have to say that to me this
was
the most glorious path on my walk through life. While there, I worked
with
seasoned pastors and their families from countries throughout West and
Central
Africa. I got to express my love for children with ministries at the
local
school for the deaf and the boarding school for children of ambassadors
and
tribal leaders from Anglophone countries all over Africa. In 1991 I
returned
home to get my degree hoping to return to Togo.
I enrolled at the University of New Orleans but fate’s fickle
finger intervened once more. While pursuing my studies, the illness my
mother suffered from worsened. Although I consider caring for Mom to
have been my great privilege, I never did get back to Africa. I am
proud to say I finally graduated, and at age 50 I “walked”
to receive my Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies
with emphasis on Deaf Education and Cultural Diversity. Good thing I
like
change. In 2001 change found me again when I was a victim of
“corporate
downsizing.” By this time I had come to enjoy a simple life. I
found a job
that satisfied the soul— working with people who had suffered
traumatic
brain injury. In 2006 my day of triumph arrived—I officially
retired.
Nine years ago I put down roots and made my home on six acres in a
rural area surrounded by nature’s beauty. I share life with my
11-year-old faithful companion, Sambuca, a most lovable, entertaining,
and intelligent Maltese, and my five-year-old Papito, who is an
adorable, also loveable, Chihuahua. I enjoy puttering in the garden. I
have resurrected an old hobby of knitting and learned to crochet. Now I
am learning to make beaded jewelry. No, it’s not the husband and
six kids I envisioned, but it has been a grand,
exciting life of adventure, challenge, and diversity. There’s
never a dull
moment; and never have I had much opportunity to become bored with what
God
has placed before me.