Sandy (Lynn) Simonson

Let's see . . . I went to Arizona State and got my bachelor's degree in Business Management with an emphasis in HR. I had a serious relationship with an insecure turd who turned into a stalker. I graduated and got a REAL JOB, working as a personnel coordinator for the University of Phoenix, which school I deemed too inferior to attend for a master's degree, though it would have been a LOT cheaper, but hey it wasn't my money so who cares, right? After an on again off again relationship with a coworker, I took the leap into technology HR and worked at Microchip, where I met my future ex husband. Two kids, three jobs, and three houses later I decided he would in fact be my ex husband. I worked at Rural/Metro in Scottsdale for awhile before landing at Bank One/Chase, both in HR.

At that point, I went back to school at ASU and got an MBA, which was quite a challenge with two kids and a high maintenance husband, which ultimately landed me in divorceland but with a great job at Honeywell as a Director of HR. But, the pace was just too intense for a single mom, so two years ago I was extremely fortunate in landing a job at Troon Golf as the SVP of HR. In this job I've been lucky enough to travel to exotic places whilst picking my kids up by 5:30 most days. And hey, its free golf, which is quite a benefit even though I don't like golf that much. Cause hey, there are lots of cute guys who do.

So, in between all that, I've retained my interest in being a pretend lawyer, which I get to do a lot in HR, and I still love to read. But my favorite pastimes are travelling and exercise. I've done a couple half marathons and a couple adventure races and sprint triathalons. I tore my ACL skiing a couple years ago and had surgery and the whole bit, but have been back at it this past year. Also, I lost my religion and left the Catholic Church as well as the Republican party. My spiritual inspirations nowadays are Sue Monk Kidd and Elizabeth Gilbert, both authors who blazed their spiritual journeys outside of organized religion and embraced the divinity that resides within all of us and connects to the rest of the world.

I love being a mom to my two kids, Kailey is 11 and Jake is 9. Seeing them grow has been an inspiration and I feel lucky to be their mom. Every day they make me laugh!

I'm surely not the girl you knew 20 years ago, or even 10 for that matter. Frankly, I'm comfortable in my own skin these days, which certainly cannot have been said of me back then. Most importantly, I've found happiness. I hope that can be said of all of you, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion!!

Marla

Ciao from the Washington D.C. metro area!



I can't believe that 20 years have passed. How time flies!



I spent the first of those ten years in school and living abroad. I don't think that I had the same address for more than 9 months at a time, and I loved it! After finishing my MA and defending my thesis in International Relations/Conflict and Cooperation, I moved to Omaha, Nebraska to work in the defense industry. My life slowed down a bit and I was blessed with a daughter. In early 2001 I returned to Virginia - where I am building a wonderful and full life (and anticipating use of my passport in the near future!)



For most of the past ten years, I have spent my time balancing career and parenthood, finding adventures and challenges wherever possible. Siobhan (now 8) has been studying classical ballet for the past 6 years with aspirations to dance professionally. Between her busy ballet schedule, performances, school,exploring the woods, and rock climbing whenever possible, our lives are quite busy. That said, we find time to explore and travel as much as possible. In addition to the DC area, we have traveled to different parts of the US, which we have enjoyed greatly.



As Siobhan prepares to enter the 3rd grade, I am anticipating a job change - jump starting my career just a tad. I have loved being an active participant in my daughter's life, but I fear that I am about to drive myself (and her) crazy due to my professional boredom. We are both ready for a change. I hope that there will be exciting news to report before the next reunion!



20 years - it has flown by. My life has been an adventure. I have enjoyed it all despite the challenges (or maybe because of them) that I have faced. I look forward to seeing what the future holds... one day at a time!



I will miss seeing you in June (I will be at the beach) and hope that you have a wonderful time. I do hope to see you at the 25th in 2013!

Eric Sweetman (no longer Poplin)

After defecting and graduating from Show Low High School, I headed to NAU to study art. That didn't work out due to roommate issues (I'm not big on heavy smokers who sell cocaine on campus) and the fact that I couldn't get scheduled a single art course for the Spring Semester. I bailed out and headed back to NPC for some classes while I considered my next move. That move turned out to be cosmetology, learned at NPC, but never put to use. Seriously, the week after I was licensed to practice in Arizona, I moved to Florida. I didn't like cutting hair, anyway. That was in 1991.

Orlando became home for the next nine years as I worked as a costumed performer at Walt Disney World. A few of you would remember that well since I helped make magical memories for you and your families on vacation. In case little kids are actually bored enough to be reading this, let's just say I was great friends with Tigger, Sebastian, Clopin, The Ninja Turtles, and Bear from the big blue house. Don't tell anyone; it'll be our little secret.

In 2000, I realized that as the whole world comes to see Disney, I wanted to see the whole world. I auditioned for Bear's touring theater show through VEE Entertainment Corporation and spent four years traveling everywhere from Portland, ME, to Portland, OR, San Juan to Seoul, Toronto to the Thames. Good times.

Bear's international tour finally came to an end, along with my job, so I went in an old direction: education. I went back to school to pursue my BFA at Ringling College of Art and Design, in Sarasota, FL. The picture with this post was created for my senior class illustration show poster. I'll graduate on May 2, 2008, just in time for the reunion!

Actually, I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to make it to the reunion this year. Student loans are shockingly high and I have to really work the job hunt. If anyone is writing a children's book or needs an illustrator who works in watercolor, oils, pen and ink, Adobe Illustrator, or Photoshop, let me know. I'm pretty decent. I'll even post a link to my blog so you can see for yourself.

Later.

Jennifer (Johnson) Crockett

Howdy Class of '88 !!



After graduation I attended EAC, squandered my time and my parent's money until they made me come back to Lakeside to attend NPC where I met and subsequently stalked Burt until I convinced him he was in love with me and couldn't live without me. (I later found out he was stalking me with the same intentions.) We married in 1990, had our first child, Miya in 1992, Denton in 1994, Truman in 1996, Ella in 1999 and Lela and Amelia in 2001. We moved many-a time before settling here in Mesa.

Burt is a computer programmer and I will graduate from Mortuary School in May. We are blissfully happy with our little family here in the valley of the sun, but love to make the trek up to the cool mountains to visit our families.
Amazing how quickly the time passes!





Jenn, Burt, Denton, Miya
Amelia, Ella, Truman, Lela

Kimberly Grolla

Hello All!!!

I actually left Blue Ridge the end of our Freshman Year. I moved to Tucson and have been here ever since. I have kept in touch with Vickie all these years. Recently got back into touch with Grace and Amy among some others. After graduation I attended Pima Community College for a year or so. I got married and pregnant all in 1 year! I was then a housewife/mother. I divorced when my son was 2 and have been a single mom since. It's been difficult at times, but I had loads of help from family and friends. I tried being a single mom, working fulltime and attending night school, but after a while my son started suffering so I decided to give up school and concentrate on just being a mom. I have since realized it's the path God wanted me to take. I have been truly blessed! I am currently dating the love of my life. David and I have been off an on for 13 years this July. We broke up for 5 of those 13 years, but have been going strong for 4 1/2 yrs now and are discussing getting married by the end of this year. He is such an amazing man!

My son has been such a blessing in my life. He has had to overcome some obsticles in his life, but has become a stronger more grounded man for it! At age 5 he was diagnosed with ADD, was on Ritalin til age 9 when I decided I was tired of having a zombie for a son and took him off meds. He didn't suffer with school work so I felt it was a great decision! At age 11 he was diagnosed with Epilepsy. Boy was this a rough year for us! He did not have convulsive siezures but more Aura/spacing out type siezures. He is now Seizure FREE!!! and has been off meds for 3 1/2 years. He attends an Epilepsy Camp (Camp Candlelight) in Heber, AZ 1 week every summer (since 2002) and has now become a counselor for the kids at Camp. Something he thouroughly enjoys and looks forward to. Having Epilepsy I feel is part of the reason he is interested in Pediatric Psychology/Neurology. He loves children and they stick to him like glue! Michael graduated High School in May this year and we have decided Pima Community College is cheaper for his first year or two of College, where then he will transfer to the UofA (hopefully, I dont want him moving away!!!) He is very active, into Free Running, Rock Climbing, and Music. He plays the Guitar (has had a few lessons, but mostly taught himself) for our Worship Band at Church and is teaching himself to play the drums. We are currently looking for an apt. for him. He's at the age we all were once when we dont want to live at home anymore. This is going to be tough for me, since it's been he and I for so long! But I am excited to see where this next path in his life leads him. God knows and has huge plans for Michael!

I am currently working for my parents. We had a Powder Coating business, which I ran for 8 years, but now have a Machine Shop, where we make parts for the Medical and Optical Field. Life really is great!

See you all Soon!!

Kim

Cathy (Dawson) Chlarson

Fellow classmates,

After graduation I earned a bachelors in journalism and public relations from NAU in Flagstaff. I wasn’t too sure what would happen afterwards, but ended up moving to San Francisco within a few months, following my boyfriend at the time. Eventually that relationship petered out and he moved back to Arizona while I stayed. I loved San Francisco, living in the city 15 years before moving back to Mesa, Arizona to be closer to family.  I have stayed in my field, working at a dental school, high-tech public relations agencies, the Schwab Family Foundation, American Cancer Society and, currently, the ASU Foundation which raises money to benefit ASU.

 

I married Shane Chlarson (’89) in 2005. Although I knew him in high school, we re-met in July 2000 camping in New Mexico. He lived in Mesa and moved out to San Francisco in November 2000. His teenage daughter, Laurie, came to live with us in 2006 and we have a son, Ander, together who was born in February 2007.

 

We have a family blog at www.chlarson.blogspot.com if you’d like to check-out photos.

 

 

Blue Ridge High School Class of 1988 Presents...

Hard to imagine that it has been 20 years since that wonderful day in May of 1988 when we donned caps and stood together for the last time as a class.  So much has happened; we have each come so very far.  As the reunion approaches, there is mounting excitement and curiosity surrounding friends and classmates - the lives that they have lived and their accomplishments. 

 

This site is a place where we can all catch up, find one another, promote our accomplishments, our businesses, and share our stories.  The sky is the limit here, so... what are you waiting for.

 

Where are you now, BRHS Class of 1988???