Hello Fellow 1966 Classmates of Kodiak High School!
I can hardly believe that you tracked me down after all these
years. I remember my days in Kodiak as if they happened
yesterday, but clearly they didn't! Thirty years since
graduation...it's incredible, and I never thought 1970 would
come! But to catch you all up on what's been happening to me in
the last three decades.
First, I left Kodiak in September 1966 to attend the University
of Washington. I enrolled in the nursing program, but still
wasn't exactly sure this was what I wanted to do. I decided that
it was a profession that would provide me useful knowledge as I
matured, no matter what I eventually did. So I stayed with
nursing and graduated on time in 1970, but while in school I had
decided that to help support my tuition and other monetary needs,
I would sigh\n up for the Navy Nurse Corps Candidate Program.
When I finished with "The U", I was an Ensign in the
USA Navy Nurse Corps with a three year obligation. I never
planned to stay more than those three years, but somehow one
thing lead to another, and here I am almost thirty years later
and still a Navy Nurse.
My career started out pretty much like any other junior Nurse
Corps Officer with tours of duty in large Naval Hospitals like
San Diego and Oakland, as well as assignments in small overseas
places like Guam and Iwakuni, Japan. In 1980, I was selected to
return to pursue a master's degree in nursing at my alma mater,
the University of Washington, where I specialized in
cardiovascular physiologic nursing.
The next several years I worked as a critical care head nurse and
cardiovascular clinical specialist nurse, and then eventually
went into management. First, I was a nursing supervisor, then a
Director for Nursing at some Navy hospitals and clinics.
Eventually I became an Executive Officer of the Naval Medical
Clinics, New Orleans, which prepared me for my current duty as
the Commanding Officer, Naval Medical Clinics, United Kingdom.
In addition to the clinical nursing and management jobs, I have
been a basic patient care instructor for the enlisted hospital
corpsmen and the Washington DC Nurse Corps Career Planning
Officer. I have had many wonderful and challenging experiences in
my career as a Navy Nurse and traveled just about all around the
world. Although I have never been deployed either on a ship or to
"the field" (as the Marines call it), I have been very
involved in the development of Navy Medicines's operational
readiness training programs.
I am truly sorry to be missing the 30th year party. I
have often wondered what you all have been up to in the
intervening years. The only member of the Kodiak High group that
I have been able to keep up with is Elly (Davidson) Hayden (class
of 1967), She lives in Baltimore, Maryland, so while I was
stationed in Washington, DC, we were able to rekindle our
friendship. She is a speech therapist and does signing for the
deaf professionally. She is married and has three children: two
boys and a girl; her husband John is a lawyer.
I will be in London at least another year or two, then probably
go back to the US, hopefully to the West Coast. I've decided with
all my travels, that Carlsbad, in North Sand Diego County, will
be my retirement home. I love the weather and already have a
townhouse there. Either I never found "Mr. Right" or
I've been too busy in my career, so I've never married and have
no children. I' m not sure exactly when I will retire, but know
that it will be within the next five years, maybe just prior to
the turn of this century. After that I have not decided what I
will do, but I know it will include taking trips to some places
I'v wanted to revisit, like Kodiak.
I have enclosed a picture of myself to add to any of the other
memorabilia that might be collected at the event. I would really
like to have a copy of any of the reunion books or pamphlets, so
I can see what everyone else has been up to. I am enclosing a
check that should cover cost of a Reunion Booklet and help defray
other expenses. I have received the "Visitor's Guide"
and was quite impressed at what has been built up in the town
since I left.
So have a wonderful reunion and tell lots of stories. I guess my
fondest memories are of the basketball games, school plays, and
world history slide show/class. Maybe that's why I've become such
a world traveler. When toasting the class, remember me; I
certainly will be remembering you!
Always,
Barbara Beeby