I had never heard of ninety-nine girlfriends until I went to a Christmas open house at an old friend's home. It was there that I met Barbara Long. We were only 2 minutes into our conversation when she brought up the subject of ninety-nine girlfriends. I was intrigued. The idea of an organization of women working together to help the community in these times was very appealing to me. There's so much frustration and helplessness about the current situation that I felt I really needed to have something positive to do. Of course a person can always give money to any number of causes, but it is especially rewarding to be involved in the process of distributing the money so that you know who it goes to and what it accomplishes.
I retired two years ago and live in a retirement community of 54 people. The residents range in age, the youngest being in his late 60s and the oldest being 98. Most of us are politically aware and active in charities, volunteer organizations, and causes. When I mentioned ninety-nine girlfriends over breakfast, several people here asked me about it and wondered how it works. I look forward to telling them about the process and what it accomplishes. Grassroots organizing and word of mouth between individuals keeps me motivated. I'm excited about feeling useful and productive.
During my working years, I was a waitress, a sanitary engineering aid, a trainee for Pacific Northwest Bell lineman, a Greyhound bus driver, an attorney, and a real estate agent. Between these jobs, I was going to school, married, had a daughter, divorced, had a 31-year relationship, did some traveling, and became interested in 3D photography. My married daughter and grandson live in Portland. Like most parents, I have always hoped I would leave the world a better place for those who came after me. There are so many problems and I want to work with others toward solutions.
