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 resident spotlight interview we did with Carmen.
Have you lived in other places besides Lynden?
I was born in Lynden and grew up here. I even graduated from Lynden Christian High School. After that, I decided to go to college in Sioux City, Iowa, where I studied to become a teacher. I completed my college education and decided to move to California, in the Ontario and Ventura areas. I eventually made my way back to Lynden with my daughter.
What industry did you retire from?
I started out as a preschool teacher, but I realized that was not the job for me. I made a decision to become an insurance billing clerk in a hospital in California.
What was your favorite thing about the work you did?
I guess I would say the reward of money coming in and being told that the money came in and the bills were paid.
If you could have any type of food today, what would it be?
Oh, pizza! If someone were to come bring me a pizza right now, I would give them a kiss, it just sounds so good. I would want Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza!
Or this dip for chips I used to make. You take Velveeta and Hormel chili with no beans and mix them together and it is delicious. You have to make sure to have it warm though, because it congeals together if it sits and gets cold.
What is one thing that you have been most proud of in your life?
I am most proud of my daughter, Kristin. She is a supervisor of the English department at Northwest Lineman College in Boise, Idaho. She and her husband, Jason, have given me five beautiful grandchildren. I have all of their photos in my room that I look at every day.
What is one thing you did or experienced that was scary?
One night when I was living in California, a group of friends and I went up a mountain to hang out for a little while. Well, on the drive back down, we decided to turn the headlights off! There were so many hairpin turns we had to take in complete darkness. I would never do that again.
What was your favorite decade to live in, and why?
I think the 1970s. Back then, I was married and had just had Kristin. Rick and I had a home, and I had a good job. The best part was right after I had Kristin and I was a stay-at-home mom for five months.
What is one life lesson that you learned from your parents?
Work hard, be honest, and be the kind of person where in the evening, when you look back at the day, you know you did a good job — even if nobody saw.
What is one piece of advice that you would give a 16-year-old person today?
Work hard at whatever you’re doing and keep your eye on the prize; you won’t regret it!
What is one thing most people don’t know about you but you wish they did?
I have a great sense of humor! I also have a life motto: Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19.
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 am sick and tired of it! I want it to just go away, but I don’t think that is going to happen any time soon. When it first started, I thought maybe it would last until June of that year, but now here we are two years later, and it is still here.
What is one thing that you like about living at CHCC?
I enjoy all of my interactions between residents and workers. It is fascinating and I enjoy it quite a lot.