Pamela: Rhode Island Years, 1985-1987
As told by Marty (with added comments by Pamela)
Last updated 20-August-2002, any feedback about this page should be e-mailed to Marty (after you remove the leading "z" in the e-mail address). |
This was the first of several times that Marty made Pamela into a trailing spouse ("making" her move after she had worked for 19 years in one job in New Haven). He had a new and seemingly good job to go to. She looked for a job after they moved.
She took a job in a lab at the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtuckett. Pawtuckett's claim to fame was that it was prime territory for pulmonary and cardiac research, the inhabitants never left and many of them smoked. Anyway, Pamela stayed in this job 'till we left for St. Louis. |
Luckily we moved house-to-house, New Haven, CT to Warwick, RI, in July 1985. From a three-bedroom ranch to a two-story converted rambling ranch (now L shaped with a partial second floor) with three bedrooms and a very nice study. But now Marty had to drive 7-1/2 miles to work and when Pamela took a job at the Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtuckett, she had to drive 13 miles. It was easier in Connecticut, 4-1/2 miles for both of us.
Pest and Squeak were sedated for the car ride to Rhode Island. Poor Pest took a day or two to clear the sedative - he was a cheap drunk and kept falling down. Pamela also brought two retired guinea pigs from her lab to keep our cats company.
My drive included 5 hair-raising miles of potholes and crazy Rhode Island drivers! Also, this new house had been professionally landscaped. I found myself doing more maintaining than creating. That may have been just as well, we were there for a scant 2 years. Anyway, my bigger and better gardening opportunities would come later... |  |
| For whatever reasons, we didn't take many trips and we didn't take many photographs while living in Rhode Island. Perhaps because our cameras were not immediately unpacked. Perhaps because we were both working at new jobs. |
 One trip we did make was to Mount Snow, Vermont for a Ski Week.
My class, the beginners, pretty much all wore bunny suits and hats. I suppose that was because we knew we were going to fall down a lot. Our show-off martinet ski instructor didn't help either.
By the way, I'm the third from the left.
Pamela made her snow (bunny) suit. It did serve her well - keeping her dry. |
Now look at Marty's class - one for experienced skiers. They mostly wear blue jeans and no hats.
Oh yes, he's the fifth from the left with his jeans hiding his chicken legs.
Hey - those legs did get me down the mountain. |
| In late 1986 Marty recognized that the department at Rhode Island Hospital was likely to have some "issues" in the not-distant future. It was time to look at other jobs. So, Marty and Pamela went 'round the country on interviews that included Allegany General Hospital, The Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, the U. of Arizona, UCLA, and the U. of Chicago. My choices were U. of Arizona in Tucson for its wonderful terrain and people, UCLA its people and for being on a coast, and Chicago for the city and friends living there. St. Louis was my least favorite location. But it didn't seem that I got a vote. Marty accepted an offer from Mallinckrodt. In June 1987 he was off to St. Louis. Pamela stayed with the Rhode Island house for a few months 'till it sold. |