Sondra Briggs’ tells her history and life in decade intervals. Decades is a compilation of stories about foundations and family, dreams and difficulties, willpower and work. Sondra has at times seen amazing successes in her life, and at other times experienced its trials—including being divorced, broke, in debt, and with a house in foreclosure. Life’s setbacks were not permanent but became Sondra’s stepping stones to future successes.
Sondra Briggs’ first decade reveals a compliant child wanting everyone’s approval. As the decades unfold, her stories tell of a woman coming into her own—from the early discomforts of a wife and mother, her extension into teaching and journalism, to fully taking charge of her life as a Real Estate Broker.
1935-1945
Describes Sondra’s first memories in Atlantic City with high-diving horses and carnival people. The discovery of a Civil War slave tunnel. Nazi submarines in the nearby Atlantic. Poppa twice reported dead (although he lived to 100.)
1945-1955
Tells of Route 66 to California. Escondido Union High School. Living in a trailer park while a charter student at University of California at Riverside. The death of hopes and dreams that pushed her into marriage and motherhood.
1955-1965
Describes being a poster child family of the 1950s. Forced to work by necessity, Sondra found an exciting job handling large sums of money. Also found herself in a #metoo situation (before hashtags).
1965-1975
Tells of being uprooted to a Mormon town in Arizona. Forced to be the family breadwinner, Sondra falls into two more jobs. Her improbable intuition about the mysterious birth mother of her adopted daughter comes true on Facebook years later.
1975-1985
Describes her move to Santa Clarita Valley. Being the single mom of four leads to a forty-year career in real estate. Winner of a Cadillac convertible. Renewal in the desert.
1985-1995
Tells of a new romance. Nearly drowning in a Death Valley flash flood. A move to the beach house of her dreams. Then alone again, an empty nester.
1995-2005
Describes holding down four jobs to struggle through foreclosure and bankruptcy. Learning a new language for another career. A breakthrough of how to get anything she wants when old dreams come true.
What people say….
“I really enjoyed your book. You certainly had challenges but you were strong and determined and I so admire your strength and courage.” – Donna Klotz
“I loved the early years Sondra lived. Kept imagining a school teacher reading this to her students to teach history. Sondra’s early years could also easily be turned into a children’s television show- The Adventures of Sondra Lee. The later years were amazing and inspiring as well. This book should be made into a movie because it’s a compelling story with many twists and turns, surprises , tears and laughter. I highly recommend this page turner.” – Diana A. Hendricks