LINDA REIMER GERBER



Due to space limitations, our class attended eighth grade at Wolf School, which was one block from my home and at the same school where I attended kindergarten to third grade.  I can still picture the basement classroom of our history teacher, Mr. Ralph Hunsicker, and exactly where I was standing in the room when he commented to the class that he’d like us all to send him a postcard after ten years telling him where we were and what we were doing. What an assignment!  I had never thought further on than a week into the future, let alone ten years! 

That evening was another vivid memory when I discussed with my parents his assignment.  I remember being nervous.  Until that moment, I’d never looked ahead to what life might possibly be like for me in the years to come, but it was on that night in the kitchen at 1660 Washington Avenue, that a decision was made.  The conversation centered on two career paths my parents told me they would approve - nurse or teacher.  I was very queasy with the thought of blood, so I rejected the nurse option.  That left the teacher option, which my parents put their stamp of approval on as my best choice.  The decision was made in a matter of seconds.  From that moment on, it was assumed that I would become a teacher.  No further thoughts ever came up over changing that choice.  Quick decisions aren’t always bad, however, because this one turned out to be great for me and I loved every position I ever had in the field educating youth.

My parents loved travel.  My dad had a true wanderlust, loving the adventure of exploring new places, but my mother was opposed to flying or cruising.  So, my family took to the open road.  It was their goal of making sure we saw all 48 states in our country, several of the Canadian provinces, and some bordering Mexican communities.  After that, in their minds, it was important and our own responsibility to see the rest of the world!  My brothers never reached the goal of 48 states with our parents, but I did, by age 14.  That love of travel was passed down to me and I combined it with my teaching career.  I’ve always embraced change and so I was able to be a part of educating youth in many communities -  Pottstown, PA; my alma mater, Northampton, PA; Billings, Montana; Reno, Nevada; Anchorage, Alaska - and ending my teaching career in a small border town in Arrivaca, Arizona with the Experience Corps, teaching reading to Pascua Yaqui Indians and Mexican-American children.  Even at age 70 and retired, I’m still an avid traveler, exploring new places and cultures.  Different for this Baby Boomer was the fact that although my parents traveled extensively in the US throughout their lives, I chose to live in various places and became a contributing part of those communities for short times.  It has been a lifetime of memories through travel and education, after a quick decision made in 1960 that I’ve never regretted.

P.S. Does anyone know who was responsible for or has information as to how I got sent to the second floor in the high school service elevator??


Linda Reimer Gerber and husband Gene


Sunrise View from Linda and Gene's Florida Home