She dove to see a sunken ship and she loves to be on the river. When she’s not playing in the water, she’s educating young minds as the principal at the Grand County Middle School. She’s learned the important lesson: You get what you give.
1) What initially brought you to Moab?
In the early 80’s, I visited Moab to run rivers, hike, and back-pack. I came to Moab to live in 2003 because a colleague told me that there was an administrative position opening at the middle school and they thought it was an “enlightened” match.
2) What do you love most about living in Moab?
I love the energy of the city and the willingness of the people to help each other. Moab is truly a “village” willing to help raise the children.
3) What do you dislike about living in Moab?
The limited flights offered to larger cities. Currently our local airline only offers flights to Denver.
4) What is your occupation?
I am the principal of Grand County Middle School.
5) If you could have any job in the world, what would you most like to do?
Teach
6) Describe a typical day in your life.
I rise to a hot shower and coffee. Hit the ground running. End exhausted but content, either sitting by the fire reading, working in my yard, or kayaking depending on the weather.
7) Some people have bumper stickers on their car that reads: I’d Rather be Sailing. What would your bumper sticker read? I’d Rather Be…
My bumper sticker reads, “I’d rather be kayaking.”
8) Tell us one thing people don’t usually know about you.
Most people don’t know that I am a scuba diver. My favorite dive so far was a sunken ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
9) In high school, you would have been considered the person most likely to…
I was considered the person most likely to do what no one else would most likely do.
10) What is your favorite Moab activity?
My favorite Moab actively is spending time on the river.
11) Tell us your favorite non-Moab place to visit.
My favorite non-Moab place to visit is North Carolina spending time with my oldest daughter JaNae, her husband Robert (who is currently deployed) and four of my grandchildren Maddison (12), Natalie (11), Gabriel (9), and Isabelle (5).
12) What do you consider your greatest achievement in life?
Giving birth to my three incredible children; JaNae, Justin, and Mallory.
13) If you were President, what’s the first thing you’d do to make life better in America?
I would change the rules on welfare.
14) What superhero power would you most like to have?
I would have the power to teleport myself at any moment to any destination past, present, and future.
15) If you could be an animal, what would it be? Why?
I would be a bird, little known but not rare that can see far and acclimate to any environment.
16) What is your all time favorite movie?
“Forrest Gump” with Tom Hanks, an entertaining trek thru history by a simple character who “goes with the flow” of life, a valuable reminder for all of us, ranks in my top five.
17) And, your all time favorite book?
“Sophie’s World,” by Jostein Gaarder: A novel about the history of philosophy with a twist of mystery added to captivate the reader.
18) If you were stranded on a desert island, which three CDs would you want to have with you?
At least two that my son burned for me that mix oldies, new-age, and bluegrass and a book-on-CD on “How to Survive on a Desert Island”.
19) If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Why?
How about two? The philosopher Diogenes because he lived so simply and Benjamin Franklin because he is one of the most accomplished men in history.
20) What is your life philosophy?
You get what you give.
