Patricia Watson:  

You may remember me in MHS musicals as the leading lady who made you cry ... Once Upon a Mattress (1970) was the highlight of my years there. Being part of the Impressions was equally wonderful, and the choral director, Bob Burton, will always be my most admired teacher. What he could do with a swing tune was simply magic. I was Patty Samples back then ..emerging hippie, dating Bumper (who I married, then divorced .. couldn't keep up with all the groupies he was spending time with all over the country, traveling with his 'Unholy Rollers' band), living for my music classes and proud to earn 'Most Talented' in the yearbook. Music was the ONLY thing I did right back then - the rest of my life was a total mess. People like Beth Hailey and Marcy Green, Bob Welch and Charlie Brown, they kept me from falling completely off the ledge... Since high school, I earned 2 college degrees in music education & my teaching certificate ... went to teach music in Washougal (on the Columbia River) and then was dropped when their levy failed. Disgusted with public education and state funding, I worked as an educational rep. for World Book, became a Christian (smart move!!), then helped establish a private kindergarten in the old Edmonds Elementary School on Main Street. Remarried (dumb move, wrong guy), had 3 great kids, and did missionary-type work as a housemom in group homes all over the country for about 16 years. Then our family moved to West Africa (Dakar, Senegal) where my ex and I worked at Dakar Academy. He ran the facility, I ran the office. I loved working with teachers, students, parents and NOT teaching! I found my niche as a support person, managing tons of ...Expand for more