Ward Spotlight June 2021 full length

In my current church ward, we do a spotlight on a sister in weekly newsletter as a way to get to know each other. This is my full length version. The printed version can only be one page. The other side is used for announcements. 

The following questions are to help us get to know you better. To participate, please answer the questions you would like us to post. Please feel free to send us digital pictures.

What is your name?  Pamela Ann Rice, prefer Pam

What is your marital status?  Single, never married

If you are, or have been married, is there anything you would like to share about how you met, or anything else about your spouse or relationship?   Never married, so thought I’d share my introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The summer of 1965 we had a long road trip vacation. We were living in Grand Forks ND at the time. We traveled to Seattle Wa, then to Pasadena Ca, then Las Vegas/Grand Canyon, then Salt Lake City, then home. My parents knew of the Church and some of its history. We went to Temple Square. I remember the sea gull monument and the exhibits in the old visitors center – mostly the ancient history ones, that was my interest back then. Time jump to 1974 when I went to the Spokane World Expo and toured the Church’s exhibit. I filled out a little form at end of tour, pretty sure I said I wasn’t interested in more info. A few months later Missionaries knocked on my door. I felt the Spirit when taught about Joseph Smith and First Vision. I was baptized shortly before leaving for an one year remote tour of duty in Turkey.

Current living situation? Kids? Grandkids? Pets? Parents? Roommates? House? Apt? etc. I live alone in a new manufactured home. My parents and brother dead. Nephews and Nieces all live far away.

Where else have you lived?  All over the world. My father was in USAF and I also joined. I was born at Ft Lewis, Wa; Pasadena, Ca; Manila AFB, Philippine Islands; Del Rio, Texas; O’Fallon, Ill for Scott AFB; Denver, Colorado; Orlando, Florida; Wiesbaden, Germany for Hq USAFE; Grand Forks, ND; father retired moved to Orlando and then Cocoa Beach Florida; graduated HS, local community college and then to Boca Raton Florida for Florida Atlantic University; San Francisco Bay Area, where I ended up entering USAF; Lackland AFB for Officer Training School in San Antonio Texas; McGuire AFB, New Jersey, this is where I joined the LDS faith; remote site in Turkey; Vandenberg AFB, Ca; Sunnyvale AFB, Ca; discharged from service; Tucson Arizona for UA Pharmacy School; Sunnyvale, Ca; San Jose, Ca; Sacramento, Ca for 18 month assignment kinda in middle of San Jose time; Sequim Washington.

What brought you to Sequim? And how long have you been here?  Moved here January 2018. Visited area, Forks mostly, for first time in September 2013 for Stephenie Meyer Days and fell in love with area. When I decided to retire and needed to move out of San Jose, I decided to come to this area. Visited Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Forks, Sequim, decided on Sequim.

Tell us about the family you grew up with. Siblings? Parents? How did you work together? Play together? Unique traditions? challenges? triumphs?     Two parents, one older brother, all dead now. I remember family painting outside of house in Orlando Florida. I was young and short and did the lower parts. Remember playing board games. My mother started having serious health problems in Denver and less play, more chores and taking care. She spent time in hospital in Orlando and in Germany. We were in Germany while I was in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade. I was old enough to know I was having a special opportunity and young enough to ask often “Are we there yet?” on our road trip vacations. We took advantage and traveled in summer throughout Europe.

Recent or current occupation   retired Pharmacist [legalized drug pusher].

Education or past work experience  BS Chemistry 1971 FAU, BS Pharmacy 1984 UA. Worked as a chemist testing for pesticides in vegetables in Bella Glade Florida. Worked in photography studio in Palo Alto Ca. In USAF I was a Space Systems Operations Officer. I watched for Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles from Russian submarines for my first duty assignment out of OTS. Then to Turkey to track satellites. Then to Vandenberg to track satellites to send commands to them. Sunnyvale AFB I worked on just one satellite program. I worked in various community pharmacies for 30+ years.

Indoor hobbies  reading, photography, use to do needlework until arthritis in hands made it too hard. Attending and working at science fiction conventions.

Outdoor hobbies  photography, hiking. Attending and sometimes working at Scottish Highland Games. Attending Renaissance Faires.

What brings you peace?  Completing a project [usually finish reading a book], Classical music, being out in nature.

Do you have a scripture, talk, hymn or any other spiritual insight that has helped you recently?    There are many hymns that touch my spirit. There are two that are especially noteworthy – I Stand All Amazed and I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go. My favorite scripture is Psalm 27: 1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” King James Version. With my depression / anxiety I try to keep this in mind, doesn’t always totally work, but does help.

Is there anything funny or unique about you that most of us don't know?    I have a blog that is not very active with some poems I wrote at awpaw.blogspot.com.  Abby Weyr Poems and Writing. My pen name is Abby Weyr. Public picture albums on my Facebook and at pamrice.smugmug.com.

Pictures included were: at St Helens Swan House with BD 2 blanket that I won in Prop Store auction. My official Captain picture.  

 

 

 

Road trip to Vancouver Wa 4 to 6 June 2021

My friends, Jim and Christine Johnston, recently moved from Utah to Vancouver Washington. LOTS closer to me. We are now in same time zone and only about 4-5 hours driving time apart! I was able to go visit them Friday to Sunday, 4-6 June 2021.

The drive down was a lot longer than should have been. Road work along the Hood Canal for about 15 miles had spaces of one lane traffic. It is a curvy road and can’t drive fast anyway, but those one lane stops really slowed things down. There was a funeral to attend via Zoom that I ended up missing.

I got off freeway ok, but there was no street sign for the park they live in so bypassed it the first time. Finally arrived at their temporary quarters. Nice park. Chatted a bit while stood up and Christine on break from her training for new job. Then off to motel for me. Google maps did good job on getting me to both places.

Went back over for dinner. Nice to have good food and good company for conversation. Chatted and caught up on life. Christine visited me in 2019, but haven’t seen Jim since 2015. We went for a drive to see his new work site and a bit of Vancouver and Portland. He is lucky living about 10-15 minutes from work and before major commute traffic in Portland starts. He’s enjoying the company, coworkers and new job. We sorta planned out the travel plan for the next day.

They are not big Twilight fans but support me with my interest and were willing to go see the filming sites in St Helens. The weather was only cloudy in St Helens. We drove up to the Swan House, then the parking lot to see the ‘bookstore’ and alley. Drove by the ‘dress shop’ and the county seat that shows up in the HalloweenTown movies and the marina. Then on the Cascade Locks and Multnomah Falls.

We went back to Washington side to go across the Bridge of Gods. It started raining on our way there. Still able to see some nice scenery, just not as much with clouds and rain. Stopped for lunch at the Bridgeside restaurant. GF buns and soup available! Ate too much for mostly sit down and riding in car day, but it was good. The weather cleared some while ate, so able to get some bridge pictures without getting soaked.

The soaking waited until we got to Multnomah Falls. The main parking lot is between the east / west directions of highway I 84 and almost full. The lot accessed from highway 30 was full. My back was bothering me so I got out the rollator so able to sit when needed and I needed to. With the rain it was wet but it didn’t matter. While driving the other side of river we could still see the fire damage, but not noticeable around the Lodge and Falls. Took a bunch of pictures and posted to pamrice.smugmug.com. Turned a penny into a souvenir at the gift shop. Nothing else caught my eye at either gift shops. We all got soaked. So homeward. Oh forgot to mention Jim was driving. A rare treat for me to not drive. They dropped me off at the motel to dry off and put some heat on back.

I went back to their quarters for evening. We all decided still full from lunch so no meal. We watched a couple of movies, Rio and 100% Wolf. Both are animated films. They were both enjoyable. Laughed lots. Disappointed that Nigel didn’t completely bite the dust in Rio. I knew a little about Rio but 100% Wolf was unknown. The summary sounded fun and it was. A great day!

Wish the motel room was better so sleep better. The people upstairs seemed to walk back and forth all night and not lightly footsteps. Also the room was too close to the street so traffic noise was too loud at times. Think I will use a different motel when visit again.

Up and away about 9am on Sunday. Drive home started off dry. Rain started about Woodland and rest of way home. No road work to slow traffic down. I took a side trip up to Mt Walker south view point. Four miles up the mountain from the highway on an one + pull outs lane road. It was a little nerve racking driving up and back. Drove through some clouds and no rain at top with view point. It was windy and interesting hearing the leaves moving. On a clear day one can see Mt Rainer, it wasn’t clear could barely see next mountain over. I’ve been wanting to take that trip up and it was worth it, just have to do again when the weather is clear. Another car was coming up as I was going down. I was closer to pull out on my side so let them by. There were a couple of larger pull out areas, one with a nice view.

I had a light lunch in car before final miles to home. Car unloaded. Caught up with things on laptop. Looked forward to sleeping in my own bed. It was a good trip. Glad I was able to go and visit my friends. Hope the possible more permanent residence opens up soon.

More pictures are at https://pamrice.smugmug.com/5-June-2021-Road-Trip/