FAMILY
Husband Bob Johns

EDUCATION/WORK
My day jobs have always involved education.  I taught in Ann Arbor, directed a private school/wilderness adventures program for socially and emotionally maladaptive punks in western Massachusetts and then became a public school principal to try to reduce the number of disenfranchised students.  After we moved to North Carolina, I served as a Director of Exceptional Children's Programs (yuk!) and 5 years later requested a principalship, which is where I completed by formal career.  This was the short list.

LIFE
In between and around jobs, I played hard.  My wonderful husband, Bob Johns and I lived aboard our 35' sloop Pearl for a year, cruising the Atlantic Seaboard and the Bahamas.  We cruised the waters of New England for 10 years and have spent a couple of summers on the Chesapeake.  We look forward to returning to the coast of Maine and maybe a repeat trip to the Bahamas.  We still have the same boat--a 1968 Pearson--but she is very well cared for and now qualifies as a classic!  Just like the Class of '65.

I have really enjoyed the last year and a half of retirement.  Bob and I took our first cruise ship trip to Alaska with my 83 year old Aunt Shirley--what an inspiration she is!  Bob took Shirley rafting while I went kayaking on a gorgeous glacial lake.  The boats were three person boats and a nice couple asked me if I wanted to join them.  We exchanged first names; my kayaking partners were Bob and Sue.  We got our paddling skills coordinated quickly and had a lovely time chatting as we floated around the banks of the beautiful place.  We spotted eagles every mile, a cliff that was totally faced in copper, ducks, waterfalls and other natural wonders.  Our conversation was light and lively.  When we returned to the dock lunch, Bob took off his life jacket and he had on a University of Kansas sweatshirt!!  I asked if he attended KU and he said he grew up in Lawrence...it was BOB CALVERT!!!!  My momma always told me to behave 'cause you never knew who might see you!! Talk about a small world.

Beaufort is the jewel of the Crystal Coast.  It is a small town with an active arts community and a small college.  Bob and I live 18 miles north of town on Adams Creek.  The 'creek' is a mile wide and deep enough for our boat and the Intercoastal Waterway.  It is also perfect for my rowing shell and kayaking.  The Warrior Queens (a group of women friends named after our mascot/black lab 'Abigail Braveheart, Warrior Queen') explore the marshes and waterways that feed Adams Creek.  Bob and I also pull in about 3 dozen blue crabs a week for our eating and entertaining pleasure.

I miss some of the stimulation of work so I teach writing 18 hours a week at the community college and I have started playing with pottery again.  I have been asked to participate in a four person show with my pots and photographs the weekend of October 11th.  I'm humbled and thrilled.

Did we not grow up in the greatest place at the best time?  I often think how lucky I was to have the safe heartland community of Lawrence, the fun and exciting challenges of LHS and the trusted companionship of truly good people.  I don't think I fully appreciated this wonderful combination of circumstances at the time, but over the years of several careers and many fun adventures, I know our solid roots made all of my opportunities possible.

Bob and I have been blessed with good health and good humor.  I hope the same is true for all of you.  Sorry I will not be in town for the reunion, but I do appreciate that some of you have made this connection--whether in person or in writing, continue.  Cheers! 


That is me and Bob Calvert in Alaska.

Last updated 10/2005