Debbie Matthews

Hi Everyone... What a pleasure this has been to read what you all are doing... I have often wondered about many people in our class!! I am Debbie Matthews....not sure if any of you remember me. I took the all the science, math, history (as much Glennon as I could) classes that were offered. I also lettered in swimming and was Girls Club President (sheesh, had forgotten that one...) in our senior year. After our class, Girls club disbanded as it was deemed sexist. My family lived all over the map when I was growing up...so I joined this group in 10th grade...never went to Pacific or Olympic Jr. High. After Mt. Rainier, thinking I would no move anymore, I went to Udub and graduated four years later...then moved to New York City for graduate school. After grad. school I worked for a non-profit agency doing development (fundraising/grant writing) here in New York. After I found that the Executive Director was embezzling, I went to the Board. Well, rule #1: When you squeal to the board, you cannot expect to keep your job long. So, I sought other options. Being fluent in American Sign Language, I decided to develop my interpreting skills. Although I have had positions in various places, I am now self-employed as a sign language interpreter. Everyday is different...one day I am in a court room, the next an emergency, the next corporate training, the next a Broadway show or on television (you know, the person in the bubble). I have been fortunate to work in a wide variety of places and come into contact with a wider variety of people. Living in New York City for nearly 21 years (is that possible?) has been quite the experience. I expected to be here two years and be back in the Northwest. Somehow, I stuck. In recent years, however, I have felt a definite 'pull' to move back west. Who knows what will happen with that. My parents continued to move around after I left and have been in Illinois, upstate NY, Boston, Rhode Island, Wash. DC and now have settled (My Dad just retired) in California. My younger brother is in SF and my older brother, Chuck (Class of '75), whom some of you may know is in Redmond working for Boeing. I am still single and no kids. I really enjoyed reading what all of you are up to...and, of course, made connections. I, too, attended the 10 year reunion, but didn't hear about the 20 year reunion, though not sure that I would have been able to be there. This year, however, I was thinking IF there was a 25 year reunion, I would consider it...now it doesn't seem to be in the works. For any of you who took Chemistry, Miss Berdan is alive and well and living on Orcas Island. I am still in touch with her. What a riot she is!! I look forward to hearing/reading more about everyone as we move forward. It's always nice to have a touch of the Northwest here in the Big Apple!! It's wild here...but it CAN'T compete with Ken's woods and moose!