Patricia Shaffer Watts:
CLASS OF 1964
Richland High SchoolClass of 1964
Johnstown, PA
University of RichmondClass of 2001
Richmond, VA
Pennsylvania State University - CommunicationsClass of 1989
State college, PA
Patricia's Story
Life
I have two daughters, one who with her husband owns several businesses including a moto-cross track in SC. But the best is that she has 3 beautiful daughters, my granddaughters. My other daughter, who lives in VA, is quite an accomplished artist and gourmet cook. I also have inherited 5 bonus grandchildren from my new husband, Peter.
I am retired from the State of VA as a Project Manager, and from Electronic Data Systems as a Project/Program Manager and am currently writing a book plus keeping busy decorating and redecorating my house. I do volunteer work and now lead, thankfully, a quiet life.
My career with EDS was the most exciting, traveling worldwide working for the gov't on a variety of computer projects for the military, from Panama (during Operation Just Cause), to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, the Far East and all over the U.S.
I was working on my Masters in Disaster Science at the U of Richmond when 9/11 happened, taking online courses with many first responders from all over the country - EMTs, firefighters, body bag suppliers from the military and learned much more than I ever anticipated. (By the way the gold was not in Fort Knox per those with with whom I worked !)
I've had several short stories published, wrote for a National Sunday School paper, and have received first place national awards 4 successive years for publishing and editing a Packard Antique Car Club Newsletter.
I live in Chesterfield, VA in a very quiet community of over 900 homes with a large population of quite active baby boomers.
Two years ago, I remarried, a great guy whom I worked with about 7 years ago when I was managing year-end testing for Wachovia Securities as a consulting. I found the problems, he fixed them - and that's how it still works in our relationship. (Just kidding!!!) He's a great guy - we have so much in common but never knew it while we worked together for 5 short months. After I left we never saw each other again until 5 years later when he sent me a poignent email. I responded and the rest is history.
I could tell you all the mush - soul mate, happily ever after, so much alike we drive each other nuts on occasion. But, YES, suffice it to say it is a true love story!
Oh, I almost forgot, the classma...Expand for more
tes window header suggested I tell you about my pets. About 7 years ago, I was very lonely and a mother cat, 'very pregnant with no visible means of support' came to my basement door looking forelorn and sooooo needy, I had to feed her. She was feral and much too wild ever to trust me but she did rely on me for her food and water and gave birth to her litter on the seat of my riding lawn mower under the shelter of my deck. (The riding mower was tarped and was a decent shelter for mom and her brood.) But when the male cats came around, she fled to the sheltering woods from which she appeared never to be seen again taking the new born with her that February.
In late April, a minature of the mother appeared at that same door. I again began to leave food and gradually coaxed the mini-cat up to the upper deck (She had to climb the latticework because I didn't have steps.) by using the Pavlovian technique of the sound of the upper sliding glass door. The next 6 months I sat on my behind on the kitchen floor coaxing her inside taming her to my touch. By then she had adopted me. She is a tortise shell that cannot get enough love. At that time, superstitious of giving her a "real" name, fearing she might run away if I did, I named her "Kitty Baby". To this day my Dad keeps asking me when I'm going to give that cat a real name.
I've retired now, life is less stressful and has thankfully slowed down, but I'm still busy. I do volunteer work and have made lots of friends in the community. And it's a difficult job keeping the the deer out of my roses, hosta and azaela - their personal salad bowl, and the racoons from stealing the cat's food.
I did volunteer projects for the historical society in Chesterfield, and later was elected president. That is over now and my husband and I are preparing to move to a much smaller house. I'm tired of the big house for bedrooms five toilets to clean plus huge attic and basement. We're moving to a retirement type community where we have no outside work to do everything is on one floor and we've been invited to several activities there until our house is built next spring and the people are fabulous. Can't wait. It's not far From where we live now so everything will be so convenient and close.
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