Everyone has unique experiences in life. Each person has a story to tell and words of wisdom that can be shared with others. With that in mind, we’d like to introduce you to some of the wonderful people who live here at CHCC. Here is a recent Q&A session we did with Jackie E.
Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
Oh, yes! I was born in Vancouver, B.C. I also lived in Louisiana for 17 years. I liked it there, and the people were great, but it was real muggy in the summers. My husband and I eventually moved back to this area and lived in Blaine.
What industry did you retire from?
I was one year into training to become a psychiatric nurse when I decided to move to the South to marry my husband, Johnny.
We met when he was stationed in Blaine for the United States Air Force. When it was time for him to move home to Texas, he asked me to come with him. I said “no” at first, because I wanted to finish school, but I really missed him when he left and didn’t want to be without him for three more years while I finished school. I wrote him a letter and told him that, and he drove right up here and got me.
I went to meet his family in the South, and we thought about getting married then, but he told me he wanted to give me a proper wedding at home so my family could be there. That was good of him; most men might not say that.
I quit the nursing program and we soon got married. Instead of becoming a nurse, I raised four children and also took care of my friends’ kids when they were at work, so I stayed busy. I kept the kids occupied with activities and chores and reading.
What was your favorite thing about the work you did?
When I was training to be a nurse, it was very interesting and challenging. I liked that. When I was raising kids, I was very busy, and being home with them was enough of a job for me. Reading is very important to me, so I read to them until I could teach them to read themselves.
If you could have any type of food, what would it be?
I know it’s not very healthy, but it would have to be ice cream. Any kind, really. Chocolate, vanilla … Oh, I like them all!
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
That would have to be my kids, because they are good, and they have made good lives for themselves. I have two boys and two girls, and I spent a lot of time raising them.
What is one thing you did or experienced that was scary?
That would have to be when I first started training to be a nurse. It was scary because they put me in the day room with the psychiatric patients before I really got any training, and some of the patients were pretty tough. They would lock the door during my shift and come let me out later. After about a week, they gave me my own key to that room so I could let myself in and out.
What was your favorite decade to live in, and why?
My favorite time of life was when my husband and I moved back up here to the Northwest, because I was very used to it here. I finally got to see my family again and was able to spend time with my grandma before she passed away. We decided to move because there were problems with the schools in the South getting shut down because of integration, and I didn’t want my kids to have to go through school closures. We were both used to the area. We didn’t even have jobs when we moved, but my husband applied for one and got it a week later, so it worked out.
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
That would be how to raise and love my children. My parents were not perfect, but they were good parents and we were well taken care of, so I learned by example.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person?
Stay away from getting married until you’re over 18. I saw people get married so young, especially in the South. I’ve seen so many people get married and split up, I’m just glad Johnny and I didn’t.
Also, when you marry or move, you have to learn to adjust, or you’ll be miserable. When I was young, I never thought I’d get out of Vancouver, and then I met a Texan! Moving helped me to see new things and learn about different kinds of people.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?
I love to read so much! My husband’s family kind of thought it was a waste of time, because they weren’t big readers. But my mom and dad always read, so I grew up reading, too. It’s not just for learning, it’s for enjoying. You have to give your mind some food, too, and that’s what reading does.
You’ve lived through other historical events — wars and recessions and such. What do you think of the pandemic that we’re living through now?
I’m trying to ignore it. [Said with a laugh.] Some of it just doesn’t make sense, so I try not to think about it. I don’t like this pandemic.
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
They take good care of me, and I don’t have to worry about anything. It’s all taken care of right away. And they’re good people; I don’t think I’ve met a cranky one yet.