Lynn Salvatore Macdonald:  

I hope old friends remember me as someone who listened, who was respectful of others, who could be trusted to keep my word. Actually, in all honesty, it is nice just to be remembered at all. I always wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea. As it turns out, they were right.I loved it for almost 25years! I blow off steam by yelling, screaming,and pounding things. Actually, I work out, get outside, talk and laugh with friends, or listen to music. An occasional martini or scotch on the rocks is good too! I wasn't a wild child in school. I always looked guilty even when I was innocent, so I didn't push the boundaries much. On April Fool's day in 8th or 9th grade some friends and I caused a disturbance in a Spanish class. It really was pretty mild, but I spent the rest of the year seated in a corner. Miss DelFierro was angry. If I'm going to work somewhere, I need to have contact with people, some autonomy , laughter, and surprises to be able to deal with the day-to-day. Most important I have to believe in the work I do. I have many real life heroes. My dad, my immigrant grandparents, my mom. Anyone who works daily to provide for others inspires me. I have many heroes in the arenas of public education, labor history, and social justice. Thinking of them helps me stay motivated to do my best work. The one person from my past who I'd most like to see again is my dad who passed away 15 years ago, because he would be interested and delighted to learn what I have done with my life since we spoke last on this earth.. I'm pretty obsessed with my family and my work. I love my daughter's dog who used to live with us and still stays with us from time to time. She's the best listener, always eager to see me, and is a great workout buddy. Lily doesn't require me to act at all reserved. She's delighted when I'm off the rails with exuberance. My human companions are not nearly as understanding. I work way too many hours at my job as a Union Rep. now, and always spent too many hours working as a teacher. I can only say I have great respect for both professions and you can't achieve enough by working 9-5 in either of these fields. It would be awful if I didn't love the work and value the contribution both professions make to peoples' lives and to society at large. My biggest surprise is that I didn't retire from teaching. I always thought I would. To move to SE Washington after more than 24 years as a classroom teacher and to embark on a new career was a surprise to myself and to others who knew me at the time. I have never regretted the change, even though, I do miss teaching. I love my home.It is my sanctuary, but I also love to entertain family and friends here. We've been here for 25 years and it has been the backdrop for most of the precious memories of our family. The things I have learned from my daughter are too many to list. She's quite organized, pragmatic, and artistic. The most enduring lesson relates to the benefits of unconditional love. I am so glad to have been a parent, and especially to have been her parent. My current age is 59. When I was 12, I thought that people my age would be old, sick, retired. I was so completely wrong and ignorant. Actually, I expected that I would be dead by now. It is a surprise to me that I have already lived too long ...Expand for more