Will you be attending the reunion? Yes! And, just like old times, I will be rooming with Kathy (Parker) GoodsonWhere are you living now? Logan, Iowa -- which is 35 northeast of Omaha, Nebraska
Email: paytonjsplace@aol.com
Tell us about your husband: His name is Mark Armstrong. After going through a very difficult divorce -- my friends introduced me to a guy who was 20 (I was 26 at the time). I laughed at the idea of dating someone who was 6 years younger than me…AND someone who couldn’t go to the bar with me. However, we dated anyway -- after a 
week together, he turned 21 (one hurdle crossed) -- and after dating/living together for 2 years, we got married in 1999.
week together, he turned 21 (one hurdle crossed) -- and after dating/living together for 2 years, we got married in 1999.When did you meet? 1997
And your kids? My kids -- they are my sweet little girls (sometimes!).
My oldest daughter, Payton Jeanae was born in December 1999. She's our little "sweetness" -- who's named after Walter Payton. She's nearly 8 years old and is extremely intelligent. She's also headstrong, independent and VERY bossy (probably gets that from mom!). We're convinced she's the one who will sneak out of the house through her bedroom window and steal the car in 8 years (or less)! Like every other girl her age, she is obsessed with Hannah Montana -- and dressed as her for Halloween.
Jordan was born August 2002. She is my sweet little baby. To continue our Chicago sports theme we started with Payton -- we named her after Michael Jordan. She is 5 years old -- and still at that age where she is my sweet, cuddly little girl. She's going to be the one that we will have to keep the boys away from -- she's our girly girl and LOVES to get all dressed up. She also loves it when people tell her she's cute. She's also our little singer. She‘s not half bad -- and already makes up her own songs (that, also, aren‘t half bad).
Occupation: Community Affairs Specialist with Mutual of Omaha; Grants/Program Manage with the Mutual of Omaha Foundation
Where have you lived since graduation? Well, I lived in Newbury and Thatcham near Greenham until 1991. I then moved to Shreveport, Louisiana for a little over a year. I got to reconnect with John and James Swanson there -- and ran into Vince McClure a couple times. After Shreveport, I moved to Omaha, Nebraska and never really left. I now live in Logan, Iowa -- which is a small town of about 1500 people located 35 miles Northeast of
Omaha.
What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? Greatest accomplishment...that's a tough one. Ask me tomorrow and I might have a different answer. But, for today I would say my greatest accomplishment (outside of my family) is that I have achieved success through hard work and determination -- because I could never find that "perfect" time to go to college.
Omaha.
What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? Greatest accomplishment...that's a tough one. Ask me tomorrow and I might have a different answer. But, for today I would say my greatest accomplishment (outside of my family) is that I have achieved success through hard work and determination -- because I could never find that "perfect" time to go to college.
Another accomplishment is that at 37, I am the lead singer of a pretty successful rock & roll cover band in Omaha, Nebraska. Check out the band's website: http://www.catch22omaha.com/
If you could go back and do anything differently, what would it be? Maybe not be so childish -- boy, I was a catty, gossipy girl! Other than that, I would probably have taken advantage of the beauty, culture and history that surrounded us!
What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew then? I wish I would have applied myself more in school -- and maybe been a little less focused on the "social" aspect (don't get me wrong -- I LOVED the social aspect).
What is the one thing you know now that you wish you knew then? I wish I would have applied myself more in school -- and maybe been a little less focused on the "social" aspect (don't get me wrong -- I LOVED the social aspect).
What do you miss most about LCHS? Living a carefree life -- where we just didn't realize the ills of the world. Going to school in a foreign country, feeling as if I had this extended family in the dorms. Having that amazing support network of friends around me whenever I needed them.
Now, let's talk about what I don't miss...white glove inspections, curfews, study hall -- and public showers!
What was the best part of attending school in England? It was just that -- attending in England. I have so many memories that only those who attended school near London could have -- like Theatre Appreciation...how amazing was it to go to London and see shows like Blues in the Night? Or traveling to Stratford-Upon-Avon to the Royal Shakespeare Academy -- where, of ALL things, we saw the musical version of “Carrie” (yes…Stephen King’s Carrie) starring LeRoy from the movie and TV show “Fame”. I'll also never forget the night we went to the Terry Wogan show and had the chance to meet Howard Jones (remember the song... "Whoa, whoa, whoa -- whoa, whoa, whoa -- things can only get better). As I handed him my show ticket to autograph, someone hit my arm and I shoved the ticket into his eye!!
And then I have all of those memories of The Rye, Suicide Hill, pink champagne, spirit week, musicals, sledding on cafeteria trays by the Jr. High, etc.
Why do you think we have such a unique bond? So many have already said what I feel -- we were away from our parents and outside of the country we knew as "home". We were forced together and lived as family -- we really were much more like a family (dysfunctional as it may have been) than we were classmates. I can't explain it -- but there are many from LCHS that I have a lifelong bond with.What was your favorite class? Drama
Favorite teacher? Mr. Wernette
Do you have a favorite memory?
I have so many favorite memories. Here's a few:
1. Skiing in Geilo, Norway with Linda Price and Kathy Parker's family (Remember my first experience on a Red Hill -- Kathy...where you had to hold my hands and talk me down!!!)
2. Evenings by the Rye
3. Senior Skip Day -- Chi Chis, Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park (who else can say that???)
4. Godspell, Carousel and Pirates of Penzance
5. Speech/Drama Festivals
6. The party after Graduation
7. Cramming for semester exams...in the crazy way Kathy and I did that!
But more importantly, I remember each and every person who attended school with me. Their faces may be fading from my memory -- and I may not be able to immediately recollect specific memories -- but we were in such a unique environment that I don't know that I'll ever forget anyone who shared that amazing experience we call LCHS along side me.
Anything else? I just want to say how excited I am for this reunion -- and give a HUGE thank you to Kris (Long) Blevins. We are making a great team -- and I can't wait to relax, hang out, reminisce and share a few adult beverages with my dear old LCHS friends.
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