Sue Proctor Armstrong

In March of 2013 I moved to Salem, to a small apartment on Waldo Street, close to my old stomping grounds. A year later, my divorce was final and I felt more confident in being an independent woman. I purchased my first car and my first house on my own.

Since retirement from the field of Early Childhood Education, I have published my first book of poetry, Chaos, and a set of three novels which begin (and ends) in Monmouth in 1971: ALLEYCAT, YEAR OF THE PIG, and SPIDERWEB. I have a webpage, www.wordsfromsue, and I can be found on Amazon. I'm working on a new novel, FOUR PLAY, and a compilation of short stories, no working title yet.

My father lived at Redwood Heights (assisted living on 12th Street) for a year or so before he died. He shared his table in the dining room (sort of assigned seating) with Del Ramsdell. Mr. Ramsdell (hard for me to call him "Del") dressed up for dinner (or maybe he was always dressed up)--sport jacket and tie. It was interesting to get to know our old VP from a different point of view. He was a very nice man--so kind to my father who was suffering from a stroke complicated by Alzheimer's. He and I had many lively conversations when I shared a meal with the group. His wife was a tiny little woman who appeared to have some kind of dementia like my dad. He was chivalrous and attentive. I was saddened to hear he passed away. He lived into his nineties.

I loved the dances--sock hops, Prom, Homecoming, Sno-ball--even when I didn't dance. The absolute best one was Prom my junior year. Great memories!

Miss Henniger--oh! I got called into her office one Monday morning becasue I was seen holding hands with my boyfriend at a Leslie function on a Friday night. You were never safe from her eyes!

Kindest teacher--Mr. Burrell. When I was failing chemistry, he told me that some people just aren't able to understand it--including his own daughter. He recommended a tutor (thank you, Steve Moeck!) and gave me points for trying so hard, and I was able to pass the class. A dear, sweet man.

I loved Spanish class with Mrs. Byers, especially senior year when we had only 12 (?) people in the class. I remember reading parts of Don Quixote in Spanish. I wrote a play for our class to perform (only in class--the last thing I would ever do is act!) about a family's trip to Manzanita (?). I considered majoring in Spanish when I went to college. Why can't I speak it now????

Mr. Foote's English class, junior year--he must have been at South for only a year. Too bad.

Chocolate milkshakes and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch! The apple machine--how much were those apples? 25 cents? Watching the cross country boys work out on the track before they ran (practice) and waiting for them to get back.