We've all taken so many paths in our lives. It's interesting to read where we are now and how we got there. While in college back east I was offered a summer job working for the National Park Service in Yellowstone. They were hiring women for the first time in the maintenance division. I had never been west of West Virginia and jumped at the opportunity. It may sound trite, but as soon as I landed in Montana I knew I had found my home - all the pieces just seemed to connect. After graduation I moved permanently to Montana, continuing to work seasonal jobs for the Park Service and then the Forest Service in Alaska and Montana. I became the first woman to work on backcountry trails, leading Young Adult Conservation Corps members for months' stays in remote areas of the park. I saw some amazing sites that I may never get to again. I met my husband working in Yellowstone and we settled in Paradise Valley north of the park where we still live this many years later.
Our son and daughter were born here and then we moved to my parents home in Chevy Chase, renting out our Montana home, to assist in the care of my father who had developed Alzheimers. Our son actually attended kindergarten at Somerset! Returning to our home in the west I worked at the local rural K-8 school wearing many hats - PE teacher, librarian, classroom aide, and office manager. 18 years later it was time to return to my Yellowstone roots and I accepted a position with what was then called the Yellowstone Association, now Yellowstone Forever. It is the official nonprofit education partner to the park and I managed our sustaining members. Retirement blissfully arrived in 2020 just in time for the pandemic.
Each season brings something to enjoy in this amazing part of the west. We cross country ski mostly these days, though occasionally still downhill ski; hike, fish, camp, float the river, raise hay in our fields, garden, and above and beyond all else spend time with our 6 grandchildren (best job I ever had!). I am looking forward to my husband retiring when he can sell his business, so we can continue some travels we have finally begun to do.
This gives you a glimpse of where I've been. Onward!
Our son and daughter were born here and then we moved to my parents home in Chevy Chase, renting out our Montana home, to assist in the care of my father who had developed Alzheimers. Our son actually attended kindergarten at Somerset! Returning to our home in the west I worked at the local rural K-8 school wearing many hats - PE teacher, librarian, classroom aide, and office manager. 18 years later it was time to return to my Yellowstone roots and I accepted a position with what was then called the Yellowstone Association, now Yellowstone Forever. It is the official nonprofit education partner to the park and I managed our sustaining members. Retirement blissfully arrived in 2020 just in time for the pandemic.
Each season brings something to enjoy in this amazing part of the west. We cross country ski mostly these days, though occasionally still downhill ski; hike, fish, camp, float the river, raise hay in our fields, garden, and above and beyond all else spend time with our 6 grandchildren (best job I ever had!). I am looking forward to my husband retiring when he can sell his business, so we can continue some travels we have finally begun to do.
This gives you a glimpse of where I've been. Onward!