Laura Chase:  

I was really quiet during my years going to high school, so don't know if anyone will remember me. Am sort of undecided about going to the 30th reunion because it will be sort of scary to go and what if no one remembers me and I just sit there all night? I like to read what others have written about their lives, so am giving a glimpse of my life. Enlisted in the Navy after graduating high school in 1978. Spent 5 years in the Navy on active duty as a Builder in the Seabees (CB's = Construction Battalion). Stationed on the coast in Coos Bay, Oregon and Adak Island, Alaska. There wasn't much to do on that island in Alaska, so went to school at night and graduated with a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Alaska. After leaving active duty, didn't want much to do with the military for a while, so went back to school and received a degree in Physical Therapy. Worked in nursing homes for years and really loved working with the geriatric population. It was wonderful helping people to get better and learn to walk after a stroke or a fall, but it was really hard having patients die. I saw one patient die right in front of me and that was the hardest thing to go through. Went back into the Naval Reserves in 1994 and have had lots of fun training with the Navy. My favorite experiences were working for the Navy Seals and getting to ride Zodiacs on the water and going to the firing range with them (not sure if I can say where they were due to security reasons, but it was a fantastic place). Also, worked atop a volcano in Hawaii rehabbing cabins at a military resort and froze my tuchus off (yes, it does get cold in Hawaii). Flew over the Kilauea ...Expand for more