Grimes,+Janet

6207 North 24th Tacoma, WA 98406 253-752-6563 jg110840@gmail.com (preferred) janetg@harbornet.com
 * Janet Grimes**

**1969:**I attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma for 4 years, receiving a BA degree in English in 1963.From there, I went to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio were for two years I was a teaching assistant and graduate student.Using Ohio as a base, I managed to do some travelling—to the East Coast metropolises and, in the summer 1964, to Europe for 6 frantic weeks.In June 1965, I received an MA degree and, finally, a job.I taught English for two years at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.In Sept 1967, I returned to the Northwest for anew job as English instructor at Tacoma Community College.

 **1979:**Since our last reunion in 1969, I’ve remained employed at Tacoma Community College but have exchanged reading endless stacks of student papers (the curse of an English teacher) for the more normal working hours of a librarian.(I took a sabbatical leave in 1973-74 and went to Library School at the University of Washington).During summers and weekends I like to spend time in outdoor activities, especially hiking and backpacking, which I’ve done in Hawaii and Switzerland.I’m staying closer to home this summer and so will hope to see many classmates at the reunion.

**1999:**I retired three years ago after 29 years on the faculty at Tacoma Community College—the first 10 teaching English, the last 19 as a librarian.Immediately began volunteering at the Washington State Historical Society, which opened a new museum in August 1996.I work both there as a docent and at the research center as a cataloger, usually working 12 hours a week. Interests include hiking in summer (except this one—too much snow), taking in the Seattle cultural scene (I subscribe with various friends to theater, ballet, symphony, and opera), reading, gardening, and travel.Actually, I don’t like the travel process but do like being in new places, so my ideal trip involves staying in one place for at least a week, preferably two or more.Fell in love with Italy in 1995 (2 weeks with friends in a restored medieval village, now countryside hotel, in Tuscany; 2 weeks last summer in Sicily).Took two trips to Russia in the ‘80’s and have done several rafting trips including the Grand Canyon. I was married for about three years—divorced in 1982.Considering that my parents were “ancient” when I was born (each about 40 years old) I was fortunate that Dad lived to his 80th year and Mom lived until just past her 93rd birthday.I still have an aunt and cousins in Mount Vernon and Bellingham and visit frequently.In 1959 I couldn’t wait to get out of the old hometown, but it’s always been a great place to return to.

 **2009:** I guess the biggest news since 1999 is that Bob Mead and I got married July 1, 2007. !We met while hiking and still enjoy that activity together.Three years ago we spent a few days hiking near Innsbruck, Austria. Bob recently retired, having owned a fine art gallery in downtown Tacoma for over 25 years. Here we are:



I'm still volunteering at the Washington State Historical Society and have an article published in its quarterly, //Columbia Magazine//, this summer. It's a nostalgic piece about Saturday shopping trips to Seattle when I was growing up in Mount Vernon. click here for a preview


 * 2014:** Nothing much new except that I've published another article in //Columbia Magazine// about digging bulbs for Mr. Cowell; and I've published a book, SMALL TOWN GIRL, A MEMOIR, which is available as both a paperback and an e-book from Amazon.