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 Fran T.
Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
I grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. Shortly after my husband and I were married, we decided to move to Lynden, because we were tired of the cold winters. It was no fun to be stuck at home during storms when we wanted to go out and have fun! My dad had been to Lynden before, and I had some aunts and uncles who lived here. Those things influenced our decision to move to Lynden.
If you can believe it, I fit a washing machine in our car, along with all our other belongings, and we drove to Lynden. The car was loaded!
What industry did you retire from?
I worked for my husband, who owned a farming equipment business, mostly helping with bookkeeping and running errands for the company. I also helped manage an apartment complex we owned in Bellingham. We had four children — two boys and two girls. That was a full-time job. I enjoyed the kids, and they kept me busy. It was nice.
What was your favorite thing about the work you did?
I liked being around people, and my jobs allowed me to do that.
If you could have any type of food, what would it be?
I really enjoy different types of soups, salads and fruit, although I would probably choose ice cream. We used to eat a lot of that.
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
My husband and kids. They were always so special to me. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we did everything together.
What is one thing you did or experienced that was scary?
I was only 19 when we moved to Lynden, and I had never left home before, so it was scary. After we settled in Lynden, my husband got a job at Van Sheet Metal in Eastern Washington. He would get picked up by a bus Monday morning and get dropped off at home Friday evening. That was kind of hard, since I didn’t know anyone and he was gone all week, but I had my aunts and uncles around and later met people at church. Plus, I had a car. It was what we had to do for money, and I didn’t know any different, so it was fine.
What was your favorite decade to live in, and why?
Maybe I shouldn’t even tell you this, but I never went to high school. My parents had 10 children — five boys and five girls. My mom got in a car accident around the time I was supposed to start high school, and my dad told me I needed to stay home to help with all the kids, since I was the oldest daughter.
At that time, most women were expected to marry, stay home and take care of the house and children, so he explained that I really didn’t need an education anyway. I was not happy at first, because I had planned to go to high school with my friends. Instead, I helped on the farm with feeding and milking cows, taking care of animals and looking after my siblings.
I was a good farm hand. I also had two uncles who owned restaurants, so they would call me when they needed help, and I would waitress or do whatever else needed to be done. I helped a mother down the road with her baby as well. It was all work, but it was entertainment too, and I liked helping other people out. It may not sound like it to other people, but that period in my life was a good time. Basically, I think I had a good life.
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
We always went to church, and we were quite involved from a young age. Going to church with my parents taught me to live a good life and do the right thing.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person?
To always do your best, work hard and try to do what your parents or leaders expect of you. Learn as you go. Life is important, and you have to take accountability for everything you do.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you, but you wish they did?
My husband and I did a lot of traveling in a motor home and on cruises and by airplane, mostly when we were retired. We went to Hawaii, New York, Holland and lots of other places. This was a big part of my life, and it was the most exciting. Traveling gave me a lot of good memories. We also used to golf quite a lot at Homestead and Raspberry Ridge golf courses.
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?
Well, it is something I never thought I would live through. At first, I just kept saying, “This is America, and we don’t do things like this in America.” That’s the only thing I could think of, and I was really wound up at first. But we have to do what they tell us, and I’ve relaxed since then.
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
I don’t have to cook or clean house, and I even get my bed made! I never liked making my bed. Those are things I really appreciate and enjoy having done for me. I don’t even have to think about it anymore, which is so nice.