Donna (O'Pry) Lynn
1514 Patriot Circle
Glen Allen VA 23059-4573
804.515.5815
Immediately after graduation I went to Ouachita and began my college experience.
In the fall, Louise and I were roommates (Louise, who?). She left me to marry Bill.
Married: December 15, 1957. Nancy (still a great friend) was my Matron of
Honor. Continued education. Bob out of Navy transfer to ASTC (at the time).
We both got our degrees from ASTC, Conway.
As a novice, I taught General Business and Business Law to students older than I
at North Little Rock High School. In 1964 I became the first pregnant teacher to
be allowed to continue teaching in maternity clothes. What a change from today's
apparel!
When Bob graduated, he was hired by Reynolds Mining Corp., location Bryant,
Arkansas. We had a grand time there! I arranged with a neighbor to look after our
son, born July 15, 1962 and continued the commute to North Little Rock in a VW.
That was the carefree, glorious time. We bought our first home there (for less than
a car costs now) and were on our established, conventional way. One fine day
when I was hanging drapes in our unused living room, Bob came in with the news
that we were moving to British Guiana. What a thrill!! Imagine moving to a jungle
compound where there was no bread, mayonnaise, peanut butter, etc. except what
you or your cook could make. My expertise expanded as I learned how to do these
things. Never thought I would be cooking iguana or turtle soup. Do you know how
much soup one 12" turtle will make? However, our cuisine in the next twelve
years expanded as we moved to Haiti, Iran, Germany and Thailand. There were a
few things I did not want to repeat, but we tried most all. While we were in the
tropics, I missed red delicious apples and paid a premium to have them. Now, I
pay a premium to get mango, papaya, heart of palm, etc. Guess you would want to
know the menu before accepting an invitation.
I became a kick-ass bridge player along the way. Still enjoy the game.
All along the way, I enjoyed the culture and tried to learn as much as possible.
With my French textbook in hand, I was determined to speak French with our
household help in Haiti. (I speak enough of five languages to get me in a lot of
trouble. I have found that intonation is as important as the way you would like to
spell it.) Unfortunately, it took me a few weeks to learn that French was the
official language, but not that spoken locally. Monsieur Durand would have been
proud of my dedication. However, after my best instructions failed to keep our
cook from breaking a cast iron skillet, I decided it was best to teach her English.
Our daughter was born in Miragoine, Haiti. Didn't cost much, but was rather
primitive. Mr. Smith, our mongrel dog, was a physical witness to the birth. There
had not been many white babies (maybe none) born in this area and we drew a
crowd. Drawing on my vast experience of having had one child, I went to the
infirmary prepared with three changes of clothes all of which were on the child
when Bob took me home, early, at my request.
Our best time was while living in Hamburg, Germany four years in the early
seventies. When Bob's boss asked where we would like to go next, I told him
anyplace where I could keep my mouth shut and look local. We were sent to
Thailand. I still give him grief about that, but it was a great experience. There was
a time of unrest in Thailand schools were closed and we were advised to stay
inside our home, that it seemed like the right time to return to the States.
Richmond, being Reynolds' home office at the time, became our home. Our
children have put down their roots and I can hardly get them to D.C.
You might imagine that I became a bit restless as the children grew. When I
started to update my teaching certificate, I skipped the electric typewriter and took
courses in computers. Eventually, was hired by IBM to introduce computer labs in
our county schools. The crSme de la crSme came when the Head Master of the
International School Hamburg visited our facilities. He said he needed someone to
train his staff (including himself) and I told him I was that person. Three weeks
later, I had a contract for two years in Hamburg. What a great experience. I could
write a few pages about this.
We now have two grandchildren that are smarter and cuter than yours!! The five-
year old granddaughter wants to be a belly dancer and the seven-year old boy
wants to be a football player. They have been a pleasure to travel with. However,
these things have been greatly curtailed by Bob's dementia. He is currently
participating in an 18-month Alzheimer's study, testing a new drug. The questions
are rather rigorous, but on his worst days, he is still my full-time sweetheart. I am
sorry that we will not be able to attend the reunion, but he is not comfortable in
crowds and strange places.