Deborah Leslie:
CLASS OF 1976
Mclane High SchoolClass of 1976
Fresno, CA
University of California - GSE&ISClass of 1989
Los angeles, CA
Kings Canyon Junior High SchoolClass of 1973
Fresno, CA
Ewing Elementary SchoolClass of 1970
Fresno, CA
Deborah's Story
Life
A changed mind in the middle of a history doctoral program, plus a failed marriage, dumped me exactly where I wanted to be but hadn't known it. I am fortunate to be a librarian working with rare books at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., and get to travel a fair bit too (become a cataloger, see the world!). Professional jobs took me to Norman, Oklahoma; Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut; and finally to D.C. I love it out here (New England the most, but my dream job happens to be in Washington), although am always happy to visit the Fresno area where I've got family and many memories.
Reading has been a passion since early childhood and continues unabated, but with a twist. I was introduced to Harry Potter (another passion) and audio books at the same time; however much I love reading, I love being read to even more, and am a full-fledged, card-carrying audio book enthusiast. (Unabridged only, of course.) I took up knitting to give my hands something to do while I listened, and have became a knitting enthusiast.
If you knew me at McLane, you'll remember that I was a Highland Dancer. I picked it up again in my late 20's/early 30's, taking lessons, performing solo and in a group with my then-husband, and competing at Highland Games throughout California. Didn't do too badly for an old chick. In New Haven I discovered the world of "country dancing," which became a new passion. (I'm nothing if not passionate!) This isn't country western dancing, but English country, Scottish country, and New England contra (the American version). If you've seen a recent Jane Austen movie, you'll know what it is--there's always at least one scene of English country dancing. Or if you ever danced the Virginia reel in school, you've done it yourself. I'd still be an enthusiast if I liked the Washington dance community more. Alas, it doesn't suit.
What else? I converted to the Episcopal Church as an adult, and am (surprise) an enthusiastic Anglican. I love the Anglican tradition and the Book of Common Prayer, although grieve the Church's current state of global schism and acrimony.
I have a good life: I love my family, love my friends, love my work, love good food and wine, love that I live on the 17th floor with a gorgeous view of the Washington Monument, National Cathedral, Capitol Building, and the Library of Congress. One thing I'm sorry about is that I didn't understand what real friendship was when I was growing up, although I remember many school friends, and those I wish I'd been friendly with, with much affection. I would love to hear from one and all from my past; there's still time to make amends!
Deborah J. Leslie (aka Debbi Jackson, but not "Debbi" since 1976, and not "Jackson" since 1985)
School
A.D. Ewing School (Fresno, CA), from kindergarten to 6th grade (1963-1970). Won the girls' Field Day trophy in 1970; my sister Shari won the same trophy in 1973! Kids I remember: Billy Madison, Ann Hearth, Tak Saito, Linda Bell, Vicki Messerli, Lisa Brunemann, Lee Vander Poel, Gina Fazio, Lisa Barron, Annette Kennedy, Louise who moved away in 3rd grade, Lori Downs, Mark Nelson (who moved to Fresno from Tucson and gave me a horse pin for Christmas in 3rd grade), Tom Curtis, Julie Rice, Fred Araujo, Patty Biggs, Carl Clause, Loren Derpinghaus, Dale Smith, Bobby Proe, Dawn ...Expand for more
Rogers, Linda Martin, Donald Gonzales, Ronnie Williams, Mike Ward, Carol Van Stone, Cathy Clarke, Ellen who was my first Jewish friend, Mike Somebody who I had a huge crush on at the time and who won the boy's Field Day trophy, Mike Broderick, Jimmie somebody, and probably heaps more if I looked at the class pix.
Kings Canyon Junior High (Fresno, CA), 7th-9th grade (1970-1973). Played sports, was a cheerleader in 9th grade. Those who know me now *cannot believe* that I was a cheerleader. Had I but known, my interest in cheerleading was a sublimated interest in dance! Kids I'm curious about where they are now: Lisa Chilingerian, Marilyn McKinney, Susie Kamansky, Susan Crouch, Denise Takakjian, Nancy Kassouni, Pierre Parent, Patti Kuykendall, Mike Maclemore, Mike Kunz, Jeff Baird, Jim Black, Mark Wilson, Ricky O'Daniel (tall guy who, in an English class exercise, spelt his name Wryque).
McLane High School (Fresno, CA), 10-12th grade (1973-1976). Highland Dancer, French Club, Chess Club secretary but never actually went to any meetings (I've always had a soft spot for nerdy guys), volleyball team, track team, spent lunchtimes by myself reading Shakespeare on the quad. Best friend was Anne Vahradian. Dated three actors: David Fey (now a city planner in Clovis), Steve Martin, and Les Marderosian (Les Marsden, retired from acting and the founding director and conductor of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra). I've since gotten over my thing for actors, but I still really like people who make me laugh.
College
California State University, Fresno, B.A. in history (1976-1981). I got a good classroom education, demonstrated by my ability to compete in graduate school with classmates from major universities and elite liberal arts colleges. I especially enjoyed my last two-three years, when I fell in with a circle of friends who hung out in the cafeteria and coffee shop, talking about the big important stuff we talk about in college. Still, I regret not having a residential college experience. I didn't know what I'd missed until I went to graduate school, even more when I worked at Yale. Proudest achievement: winning the Dean's Medal for the School of Social Sciences.
Indiana University, M.A. in Russian history (1981-1983). I'd have enjoyed this a lot more if I liked 19th-20th century Russian history. Turns out I liked the Russian History professor at Fresno State, and only thought I liked Russian history. Still, I had a reasonably good time, and made some friends for (I hope) life. No especially proud achievements, although I did qualify for in-depth reading proficiency in Russian, and got the Russian Area Studies certificate by the skin of my teeth. Not me at my academic best, and the Russian language has eroded, too.
UCLA, Master of Library Science (1987-1990). An excellent library school program, made hellish by the fact that I continued to work 32 hours a week at the English Short Title Catalogue at UC Riverside, and commuted 60 miles each way, two days a week, for three years. But it was worth it all when, on a flight to a job interview out of state, I was able to tell my row mate that I was a librarian.
I've taught at college, too: Short courses in Rare Book Cataloging at several loosely-affiliated Rare Book Schools: University of Virginia, UCLA, and Wellington, New Zealand.
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