Richelle Meer Meer

I've been busy since 1978. AFter graduating from ECU in 1983, I moved to Washington DC with Sherri Task as my roommate and best bud. With a degree in Early Childhood and no teaching jobs, I went into law office management where I stayed until meeting my husband and best friend Jeff. We got married in Greensboro in 1986 and then set-off to China where Jeff was a diplomat in the US Foreign Service. We lived in Guangzhou China (just north of Hong Kong) for two years. I taught K-1, 2-3 grades at the American School there, while Jeff worked at the US Consulate. Traveled quite a bit through Asia before having our first child Jason, born in Hong Kong in 1989. Our next assignment was in Frankfurt Germany. I worked in the Frankfurt International School and Jeff and I traveled all over Europe with Jason in tow. We moved back to the US in early 1992 just in time for Meredith to be born and settled in Silver Spring Maryland. Jeff worked at the State Department doing all kinds of interesting jobs and I settled into being a stay at home mom with the two kids. When Meredith was 3, I began working at a cooperative preschool designing and implementing a compliment program for kindergarten aged children and eventually became the executive director. Still here after 13 years and love what I do. Its a busy job, managing a staff of 30 very talented women with about 200 children at two campuses. Jeff eventually left the State Department and continued work in international development, where he still works today. Jason and Meredith have kept us busy over the past 19 years and we are just beginning to get the feeling for what the empty nest will feel like as Jason left for Duke last year and Meredith being a typical teenager doesn't much like hanging out with her mom and dad. So, two years from now with both kids in college, who knows what we will be up to next.

Over the years I have stayed close with Sherri Task and Laura Zuckerman ('77) as they both live in the DC area. Cheryl Buffington, Lisa Wainer and Dana Simel have also been a special part of my life. Funny story; Meredith came home from high school her freshman year to announce that her new English teacher was some crazy lady named Dr. Simel. Who is Dana Simel, mom, she asked!!! Others from 78 have come back into my life recently (Pam Africk and Leah Landau) and I feel blessed to have all my girlfriends and a few boyfriends (Flash and Scott) from high school.

This feeling of connection with my 78 Whirlie girls has been the driving force behind wanting to help organize our 30th reunion. What a great time we are all going to have reconnecting since our 20th.

Hope to see you all there.

THE PLACE....