I was born and raised in a small town on the Oregon Coast, Bandon,
and lived there until 20 years ago when we were transferred
to Ketchikan, Alaska. My parents still have their home
in Bandon, I have a brother who lives there as well
as a sister who lives in the next town. I have two sons.
My older son is currently a First Sergeant with the
USAF, at Ramstein AFB, Germany. He is career military
having been at Eglin, Langley, Sheppard and Bitburg
AFB, Germany. He is a veteran of Desert Storm. He and
his wife (who was my friend in Alaska before she met
him!) have two daughters, one who was born in Germany
13 years ago, and the other born in Virginia who is
10. My younger son is a career firefighter with the
Ketchikan Fire Department and an EMT III. He and his
wife (who was a classmate of his in Oregon!) have one
daughter who is 11. I am very fortunate that they live
here because Germany is certainly far away! When they
were stationed at Bitburg at the time the first grandchild
was born, we were able to go to Germany. It was the
most wonderful trip! My father is a WWII Navy vet, I
have 2 nephews and 1 niece who are USMC vets, my husband
is an Army vet, and I have many friends who are Coast
Guard vets. We have a Coast Guard base in Ketchikan
because of all the water and the ocean. I have never
been in the military...I wish I had been. During the
time my kids were growing up, I was a stay-at-home mom.
When we moved here, the younger one was still in school
(he chose to finish in Bandon and we supported that!),
and I began working. I was first a volunteer dispatcher
with the Ketchikan Fire Department and went on to become
an EMT II on ambulance for 5 years. During this time,
I accepted a position with the State of Alaska, Alaska
State Troopers, as dispatcher.
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Because of conflicts
I had to give up the Fire Department and concentrate
on the 'paying job'! I dispatched many years with AST,
met so many wonderful Troopers and their families, and
others through contacts that law enforcement has. While
at AST an opportunity opened with the District Attorney's
office and I transferred out. A few years later, another
opportunity came up with State Troopers as administrative
Assistant and I transferred back to AST! Last January
I was contacted because I had my time in with the State
and was asked if I wanted to opt for an early retirement...of
course I said yes! So as of last year, I have not worked
outside the home. I enjoy many things: my grandchildren,
my yard though most things drown in Ketchikan before
they can bloom, I read alot...all types of books, I
crochet and knit, but my most enjoyable pastimes are
my websites and my computer. I have learned a lot in
the three years I've had a home computer and been on
line. I have met so many wonderful people through my
websites and their websites, and I enjoy helping friends
who are having difficulty with a program or when their
computer 'won't work right'. When the time is right
and retirement age comes for my husband, we plan to
return to Oregon on the coast somewhere. There is so
much I could write! I have had a wonderful life, I have
a wonderful family and wonderful friends, I have had
opportunities to do things in Alaska that I wouldn't
have had in the Lower 48 such as the ambulance experiences,
State Trooper dispatching, and the people I have met.
I think because of the isolation in Alaska, you soon
know everyone in your own town or village. Many of the
people I've met here have become what I term 'Forever
Friends' and I have a website dedicated to them. I would
not have known the American Native culture as I do today.
There are many tribes and villages in Alaska as well
as totem poles (we have two totem parks here) and heritage
so it has been a continuing education. We are never
too old to learn!
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