Jean Johnson:  

Life If you're reading this, send me an e-mail, just to say Hi! I'd love to hear from anyone from the old days, not just my particular friends. In 1970 I became a Christian while reading Fritz Ridenour's book, How to Be a Christian Without Being Religious. In 1971 I bought my horse, Shenandoah, a big, beautiful chestnut thoroughbred/Appy (no spots). I met another Christian horsewoman, Eileen Schubert, who became my good riding buddy. We trailered our horses all over western Washington! Camped at the ocean, went on competitive trail rides--lots of adventures! Joined the Washington State Horsemen, Tacoma Unit #1. Worked on Decorations Committee for horse shows, handed out ribbons, all kinds of fun. Joined the Tacoma Lariettes, an equestrian drill team. Participated in some parades, but mostly manned the french fry duty at the concession stand during horse shows to earn money to fund our new uniforms! Went to Disneyland in 1971 and Hawaii in 1972 with Pat Doyle (Wilson High alumna). Moved to Seattle in 1978 after graduating from Tacoma Community College, in order to attend night classes at the U. Met some more horsey people and had more horsey adventures. Dated now and then, but being a Christian AND horsey AND something off-putting about my personality, I didn't have anyone seriously interested in me until I met Norm Johnson, a chemical engineer and one of the leaders of the young singles fellowship at my church. Met him July 3, 1981 and we were married December 5, 1981. Norm went back to the U to get his Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering. During that time our first child was born in 1983. In 1984 we moved to San Jose, CA, where Norm worked for IBM. After 6 years of exile IBM moved us back to Washington, to Issaquah, where Norm made the transition from chemical engineering to software development. Norm was an independent contractor for a while, then worked for an insurance company in Seattle, but now he is back in chemical engineering, working for his brother Daryl's company in Ferndale, WA, supporting the refineries in the area. I love living in farming country! We've had five children, all of whom were homeschooled. Our oldest, Andy, attends Western Washington University, majoring in Computer Science. Derek and Sabrina attend Whatcom Community College, and Laurel will be starting there this year (Fall 2008). Jessica is still homeschooled, but she attends a co-op twice a week that is really a private school so there isn't much for me to do anymore. Wow. That's a major change in lifestyle for me! We stopped at three, by the way, but God had other plans!!! :D The NOW photo I have added was taken Easter of 1997, but it's the nicest family photo that's scanned into my computer thus far. The boys have both surpassed their dad in height, and the girls are just a little shorter than I am. Must take after my dainty mother. :) I have to add, I am struggling with how photos work in Classmates. Now, Then, Albums, bulletin boards--seems I have to upload a photo for each different section of the website. I'm so confused! School Hi to all old schoolmates! REED ELEMENTARY: I started my school career at Reed, in the morning kindergarten class with MISS ALTOMARE in 1956. I remember my first day distinctly! Anyone else there? By the way, I met Miss Jennie Reed when I was a preschooler. My mother took me with her on a visit. There were no toys, so I was ready to leave almost immediately, but I was well-brought up and didn't say anything. Next, 1st grade with MISS MCINNIS. She was so pretty! I decided to become a schoolteacher when I grew up because of her. 2nd grade with MRS. EGLUND, in the basement classroom. She taught us to sing, "Jump down, turn around, pick a bale o' cotton." Remember that? That's also the year I broke my front tooth due to running in the basement. Don't run on concrete, kids! 3rd grade with MRS. HITCH. That year my parents divorced and I spent a lot of time daydreaming while I was supposed to be doing math--I mean Arithmetic. I doodled all over my papers. She held up one of my papers one day, claiming she couldn't read the name because of the doodles. "Whose paper is this?" she asked. I was so ashamed I never doodled again. She knew perfectly well whose paper it was. Anybody remember that? The intake of breath from the class denoted they were all shocked! LOWEL ELEMENTARY: 4th grade with MRS. HAGENESS. That's when my eyes started going bad, and I found it painful to do schoolwork. So I pretty much didn't. I started violin that year, but quit when the teacher scolded me for not practicing. I didn't think to tell him I didn't practice because it hurt my eyes. Maybe if I'd said something I would have gotten glasses sooner and would have been a great violinist! :) Also started Blue Birds that year, with Lisa Drost's mom as leader. Caroline Allen is a name I remember from the group, and Mary Ann ?. Highlight of my year! I still have some of the crafts we did together. BRYANT ELEMENTARY: 5th grade with MR. FLEISCHMANN in the old school building (loved that place!) the first half of the year, in a combined class of 5th and 6th graders, then after Christmas break moved into the new building with a new teacher, MR. DURHAM. Started clarinet that year, which I continued...Expand for more