The Way We Are
Family: Married 2 years-Navy, married 4 years-Army (to George V's next door neighbor), single for 27 years but SO 16 for last years
Wonderful Son, Scott, 44
Perfect Granddaugher, Elinor Chance/AKA Sam, 10
Comments:
Since high school:
Eloped after graduation with Navy guy, son Scott born in 1967 (lived in Fairlington).
Lived in London in 1968, then left husband.
Chased Army guy to Monterey, CA, 1970, married him, worked at Naval Postgraduate School.
1972 got a job at the Pentagon working for the Navy CNO Bud Zumwalt (lunched with Mel Knudsen).
Left husband in 1974. Left Government in 1975 to work for Non-profit energy education outfit run by Bud Zumwalt. That lasted three months when it was discovered it was a front for Westinghouse nuclear power.
Went to work for defense contractor System Planning Corporation (SPC) in Rosslyn and had a ball for six years, working for Paul Nitze, former DepSecDef, Navy Secretary and (my favorite) Chairman of the Board, Aspen Skiing Corp/later 20th Century Fox. (Bought a house in Fairlington).
Left with Mr. Nitze for the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces talks with the Soviet Union in 1981 in Geneva; carried home the Walk in the Woods secrets/bought Burberry while in London to be suitably attired.
Back to SPC in 1982 having decided I needed to return to being a full-time Mom (son Scott not so sure).
Found a better opportunity at defense contractor Titan Corp where I enjoyed 11 years traveling back and forth to San Diego and great colleagues.
Actually it was only 11 years. Scott graduated from VCU in 1990 and the next day I took off for a year in Telluride, CO - so I could have an annual ski pass while all body parts were still working. Had a free condo at the base of the slopes in exchange for closing five hot tubs during season. You come for the winters and stay for the summers.
1995-2003 set up and managed Admin/Finance/Contracts for two venture-backed start ups (one in Y2K, another adverse drug effect software applications). Remet my SO, who in 2000 became as smitten with my Perfect Granddaughter (she lived in Fairlington) as me!
Back to Titan to manage a new headquarters build-out in Reston and then managed the 280K-sq ft facility. Laid off in 2006 when L3 Communications bought the now $2B company. Enjoyed seven months off... to do lots of traveling (see below).
Started an Old Town home renovation which became an unraveling sweater "almost tear down" in 2005 - you can't tear any anything down in an historic area in Alexandria. Took three years. End result great and I learned a lot as a GC.
Am running Administration for an air traffic management company which collaborates with Airlines, the FAA, and Airports to develop software for more efficient and safe air travel gate to gate, Metron Aviation. Hope to retire in three more years.
Then who knows?
Blessed to have Mom and Dad doing well in Harrisonburg. Just returned from my fourth ski trip with Perfect Granddaughter to Whistler in British Columbia; we also spend a week annually at the Outer Banks. Ellie and Scott live in Richmond but I have "custody" of her usually once a month. Scott is up regularly working various union jobs at the Kennedy Center, Ford's, and capital events like the upcoming July 4th on the mall. Traveling my SO Ben and I really enjoy - Australia/New Zealand, Greek Isles/Turkey, China/Hong Kong/Laos/Thailand, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Hawaii, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, France, UK, Alaska, Canada, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and a terrific road trip from Seattle to Phoenix via Catalina Island and Yosemite which I hope is the first of many in retirement.
Life is good...!
Current Photos:
Son Scott and Granddaughter Ellie/Sam
SO Ben and me Malbec wine tasting in Mendoza, Argentina
Virginia Barrell Oak wine tasting with Greg (Y69), Ben, me, Mom, Connie (Y75), Dad
