Class Notes

Debbie Stanley Leap is spending 3 weeks in January at Conversa Language School near Santa Ana, Costa Rica for her first Spanish immersion experience. She never thought she’d be “studying abroad.” Although she studied two years of French at Mary Washington, she then went on to her love of biology and chemistry. In later life, she decided it would be great to converse with the burgeoning Spanish speaking population in her community using their native language.  She began her preparation with online learning (an hour to an hour and a half 5-6 days a week) as well as a bit of face-to-face learning in the James Madison Life Long Learning program. She is excited and nervous all at the same time.  This should be a fabulous learning experience that she may want to continue each January.  Good luck, Debbie and enjoy the Costa Rica weather.

Gail Sherwood Cervarich wrote to say that she and her husband moved to Portland, Oregon this past August.  Both their children live in this city and they wanted time with them as well as their granddaughter.  They are really enjoying life in Portland and love spending time with the kids, learning the city and their new house.

Dennis and I are still loving the Roanoke area with all of the mountains.  He stays active with learning about politics and the Botetourt Town and Country Women’s Club keeps me hopping.  We love the people here as well as continuing to fix up our home.  We have enjoyed spending time with Dave and Cheryl Prietz Childress both at their home outside of Richmond and their daughter’s in-laws’ home at Smith Mountain Lake.  They had some wonderful news that another grandchild is on the way.  That should give daughter Thea’s little Ellie a great playmate.  Cheryl and Dave travel often to the Atlanta, Georgia area to visit.  Also new in their lives are two horses which they have added to their farm.  Both are enjoying getting used to riding them.  Their son, Alex and his wife, Belle, reside in the Richmond area and they see those two on a regular basis.

That is about it for now but send me your news.  It is always exciting to hear from former classmates.