Jeri Crone Bates

My life of international travel commenced with my first European adventure in June, 1973 prior to graduation. That launched a 30-year cycle of European and Asian education and business travel. For a girl from Cleveland, Ohio, it was glamorous!

However, travel has stopped being so exciting, and thanks to the Internet, we are able to conduct our overseas manufacturing without hopping on a plane. We've been in business for 25+ years, and see the vast changes in Southeast Asia where dirt roads and outhouses at one time were "du rigeur".

Today, we are fortunate to have acquired land in Southwest Washington state in close proximity to Mt. St. Helen's and Mt. Rainier. Just a 1-1/2 hour drive from Seattle. So now our 4-day weekends include growing food for self-sufficiency amongst the wildlife of the roaming elk herd and various other critters.

Life continues to change. And the changes have been good!

I wish all my fellow classmates a wonderful year, and a happy 40th!!