Update from Beth Whitten Swoap

This came from Beth Whitten Swoap:

Hi Carl,

Now that winter is over, things in Maryland are fine. WE had the worst winter in many years, here. Reminded me of the winters in Erie when I was a kid, except that they closed schools and everything else for a week at a time! I think the kids here had more snow days this winter than John & I had during our entire education in PA. They think that the way to drive in the snow is; to hurry up and get there as fast as possible, and without snow tires...

I've been married since 1970 to John Swoap, from North East. He's the same guy I was with during our Senior year, so we've been together forever! In August I'll be 60(like most of us) and also hit 40 years married. WE've been talking about celebrating the "100 years".

We made it back for the 20 & 25 yr reunions, but have missed the rest.
JOhn's Dad died in 1995, and we haven't been back to Erie since. Both my folks had moved, years before that, so he was all that we had left, there.

I have no excuse for missing the 30th and 35th, but in the summer of 2008, JOhn was pretty sick. He developed and enlarged heart, and has been disabled since then. In early 2009 they put in a defibrillator/pacer. It has not had to administer a therapy, which is a great thing. A few months after that, his heart started to improve, probably becuase of the medications he's on.

Last time he saw the cardiologist, he said he could not tell from the exam that John even had a heart condition. He goes back in May for another Echo cardiogram and we'll see how much he has really improved. They will probably say he's completely healed and now at 62 will need to go back to work! That will make me really happy and I'll find him a job!

I have been a mortgage loan officer for the last 30+ years. Not the best business for the last 3-4 years. I've though about doing something else, but who want to hire a 60 year old with no degree and very little other talent?
So I guess I'll keep plugging along. I do really love this biz, though.
There is nothing better than gettting a couple young kids approved for their 1st home, and knowing that it is a good loan you got for them. I was one of the LO's who didn't make loads of money last decade because I refused to do some of the programs that were out there. Wish more LO's had had my sense of integrity, we wouldn't be in this mess!

There are no kids for us, just my beautiful, 18 year old, orange tabby, Chico. My brother has 3 kids(not so much kids any more) and 4 grandchildren, so there has always been somebody to spoil if I wanted. We were always the cool Aunt & Uncle, taking them to concerts and things like that. It was fun.

I agree with you about the new President. I wasn't on board at first, I wanted Hillary, but I realize that he is a much better chioce and she's in a great job for her talents. I think I really wanted Bill back at 1600 Pa Av!
I am the treasurer of the Democratic Party in Calvert County, so I am active in politics.

As you can see, my career and outside activities all involve my math skills!

Beth