CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT: An Interview with Glenda Unger

Reilly Molitor, reporter for the Snowberry Creek Clarion: Hi, everyone! Please join me in welcoming long time resident of Snowberry Creek, Glenda Unger. I'm really glad she agreed to be interviewed today. Welcome, Mrs. Unger.

Glenda: Thank you for having me, Mr. Molitor. You've recently interviewed several friends of mine. I know that Jean and Louise both enjoyed talking to you.

Reilly: That's nice to hear, Mrs. Unger. Please tell them I said hello.

Glenda: I will do that. So, what questions do you have for me?

Reilly (checking his notes): From what I've learned, you have lived most of your life right here in Snowberry Creek. You also taught several grades in the local school district. Can you tell us a little about your background?

Glenda: My parents moved to this area during World War II. My father was too old to serve in the military, but he worked in the shipyards while my mother took care of me and my older brother. My parents couldn't have afforded to send us to the university, but my spinster great aunt helped pay for college for both of us. My brother went into business, and I got my teaching degree. I took a job teaching eighth grade math after I graduated.

Glenda (pauses to take a drink of her water before continuing): I met my husband at a dance that first year. He was in the army and stationed at the base up near Tacoma when we got married. When he was transferred out of the area, I resigned my job to go with him. As soon as his enlistment was up, we moved back to Snowberry Creek to be close to family. It wasn't until after our children were all in school fulltime that I returned to teaching, this time at the high school.

Reilly: So I'm guessing you've know a lot of our local citizens for most of their lives. Who do you remember having in your classes?

Glenda: I've been retired for almost twenty years now, but I did have our chief of police, Gage Logan, in my class the last year I taught. He was a bit of a rascal back then, but he was also a good student.

Reilly (grinning): I won't press you for details about what kind of trouble he got into back in the day, at least not on the record.

Glenda (laughing): That's probably for the best.

Reilly: I hear you've become good friends with one of the town's newest residents, Abby McCree. How did that come about?

Glenda: Her late aunt was one of my dearest friends. When Abby moved here after Sybil passed away, I felt…well, actually several of Sybil's friends felt we should take Abby under our wings, so to speak. You know, to help her settle into her new life here in Snowberry Creek and to connect with the people who live here. For example, we convinced her to take over Sybil's duties as head of the quilting guild.

Reilly: How has that worked out?

Glenda: Abby is an amazing young woman. Thanks to her leadership and organizational skills, our group has accomplished so much more than we used to. Why, our garage sale was such a huge success that we raised more money than we'd dared hoped for. That's why other people here in town would love to recruit Abby to serve on their committees.

Reilly: How does Abby feel about that?

Glenda (with a hint of a sly smile): She swears she's done with committee work, but we'll see how that works out for her. I know the mayor has already enlisted her help on the Committee on Senior Affairs, and she's also worked on several projects for the city. You know, decorating for the holidays and things like that. She's definitely making new friends and also learning how rewarding getting involved in the community can be. It's the best way to put down deep roots here in her new home. It's how I've lived my life, you know.

Reilly: I can tell that. Thank you again for spending time with me today.

Glenda: Anytime, young man.