Pam McClure Roman

650-678-3768

Facebook: Pam McClure-Roman

I am freetired from software project/implementation management.

Now living in Pacific Grove (between Monterey and Pebble Beach), a block from the ocean.
We lived in Emerald Hills (San Francisco Bay Area) for 25 years.
Prior to that, lived in Fremont CA, Denver CO, Northridge CA, Laurel Canyon, Pasadena

My mom, Audrey Truesdail McClure Ray, a SPHS graduate, died suddenly of a major stroke on July 15, 2009. It was a huge shock, as she was in great health, working out several times per week -- laughing with friends one minute, gone the next (come to think of it, that sounds pretty good...) In the past 10 years we had become best friends -- something I never would have expected at 18.
My brother, Greg, who was 3 years behind, went away to school at SLO and never looked back. We are close, now that I live on the Central Coast, as well, and he comes up for the weekend every other month or so

After SPHS, I started PCC. Then, moved in with my high school boyfriend (John Carter). After a couple of years, we moved to Portland, OR. I found out what it's like to be broke and hungry and turned 21. We moved back 6 months later. Then, we broke up.

I went back to PCC and to work. I met a new guy. Lived with him 6 months and spent 1.5 years breaking up.

I started a career in data processing (without finishing PCC -- real life was just so much more interesting). [Mr Holmes' Tiger class prepared me for a career as a technical writer at a time when there weren't actually classes out there.]

Then, I moved to Encino and joined the disco era and bought a condo. Met a lot of guys and ended up marrying one from Afghanistan. That's material for many books!

I turned 30 and moved with Aziz to Denver, CO. I got a job, he didn't. After 6 months, we moved to Fremont in the San Francisco bay area. I got a job -- he finally did too. We bought a house.

Career went great; marriage not so much. After 15 years, he gave me a great excuse to throw in the towel. Thank God! I'm single at 39!

By now, I was a software project manager (had been other kinds of managers)and making great money.

6 months after breaking up with my first husband, I met the second. I swear I was NOT looking. Divorce was one of the best experiences of my life; really, I felt so empowered! But Mr Right shows up -- what are you going to do???!!

Andrew is originally from Hungary, but he's been through 25 years of marriage boot camp, so he's cool. He's also over his midlife crisis (unlike the guys my age). We start a business, then buy a house in the Redwood City hills, then get married.

Our business does well for 10 years, as does our marriage. Then, marriage still doing well, business started slowing down (Bush/911). So, I have to get a "real" job.

Back in the corporate workplace at 51. At 57, I start working at a software start up. It was a ridiculous amount of work with no off hours. But 4 years later, it went public and I was able to start actually thinking about retirement. I retired April, 2021.

Figuring I needed a hobby that was not sitting on my butt, I took up horseback riding at 49, after a 35-year lapse. Two years later, I bought my own horse, Denali, a 13 year old Morgan mare. The day she arrived in my life was the most purely joyful day of my life, free of any mixed emotions or trepidation.

My friend Chris and I kept meeting other older women who wanted to get back into horses (the industry calls them "re-riders" and they're the fastest growing demographic in the multi-billion dollar horse industry). Finally, we figured what the heck, we can make some money or at least make our horses tax deductible. So, we started The YeeHaw Sisterhood.

My father died when I was 30. My mother, Audrey Truesdail McClure (from SPHS, too) remarried a few years later. I love my stepfather, Bob Ray and have used him as a model for dealing with my own adult stepchildren. They retired in 2000 and moved to Tucson. We spent the Christmas holidays with them and I love it there. Mom died suddenly and unexpectedly of a massive stroke on July 15, 2009 and I am still distraught.

When retiring, I figured I needed something to take the place of 10/12 hrs/day on the computer and sitting reading wasn’t it. I had retired my horse Denali from riding, several years before. So I decided to get a younger one I could ride. I got another Morgan; his barn name is Rohan.

I'm blessed with a wonderful husband, rich cultural background, active spiritual life, great job(s), great friends, life in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and a loving human, canine, and equine family.

see above

I loved Mr Holmes' classes. I think he saved me in the last couple of years of high school. I can't remember much of that period -- PTSD because of home stuff.

What I learned from being on the Tiger allowed me to become a technical writer (back in the day, no word processing, had to type/draw by hand and paste up manuals -- just like in Mr Holmes' class).

I'd sure like to know what happened to Mr Holmes (first name???) and to thank him!

I had a lot of acquaintances, but not the kind of friends you hang out with. I do remember spending lots of time at Cece Magistrale's house --- bless her and her family!

My home life was tough. I don’t remember a lot because of PTSD. But I spent many years working through the trauma and life has been wonderful since my late 30s.

I haven't been back in years.

Unfortunately all the home stuff made me a strange kid, I guess. Everyone was very nice, but there wasn’t anyone I kept in touch with.

I worked with wonderful young people and for a wonderful company. This was a source of inspiration I’ve tried to reproduce in retirement.

Just before Covid shutdown, we bought a new-to-us Class C RV and we look forward to exploring the US.

My husband is a constant source of inspiration and entertainment. He's quite a bit older that I am, but so young in spirit. I just hope I can age as gradually.

I am digging my gray hair!

ELO, King Crimson, Fripp and Eno -- the kind of stuff that sounds good on ilicit substances.

Disco, The Gypsy Kings, Classical Indian and Afghani, "New Thought" music -- generally stuff that's meditative or happy and toe-tapping

Equestrian, walking on the beach (1/2 block from our house), pilates!!!, reading (my constant lifetime companion/obsession), sewing (the home ec teacher from jr high would be shocked), technology

Girl Scouts! Loved hiking and camping. Loved going away to camp.

Ugh, I've never been much of a joiner. I'm loosely affiliated with different groups: spiritual, exercise, etc.

Makes me tired just to think of it. I'm staying right here, thanks!

June 2021: I’m freetired and loving it. After all of the years of daily adrenaline, I’m finding it challenging to let go of stress, but I’m up for the challenge. I spend my days taking pilates classes, taking care of my horses and dogs. And, of course, hanging with the love of my life. We’ve been traveling quite a bit (by car or RV).

April, 2020: planning on retiring in a year. Still in tech, still working hard. Just bought an RV and spending the Covid shelter in place buying all of the stuff to decorate and outfit it (probably saved my sanity). My horse is retired from riding, but I still go out to walk her and take care of her every day; she's a "therapist" with an equine therapy group and loves her job. Hubby is bummed because he can't go play tennis, so we're going for a walk on the cliffs over the ocean every day.