Dearest Julie:

Thank you so much for putting together such an awesome newsletter! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about my co-eds.  You will always be President! After hearing about my pals lofty accomplishments and world travel I ached to be a part of print history so I thought maybe I'd drop you a line on my existence.  

First and foremost I must say how much I reminisce on ole' SPA and all the incredible people I was fortunate enough to meet there.  I don't live that far from SPA (on the coast about 40 minutes away) and at times I'll just drive through the grounds listening to and smelling the air for memories.  I miss it sometimes, though in my dreams it is a jail I can't escape (they're really great dreams, even if they are a bit scary , but a lot of classmates guest star!).  The adults of SPA (namely Mrs. Bradmeyer) took me in at a lonely time in my life and gave me a foundation of security.  I will forever be indebted. The friends I made, and even the people who I was too afraid to be friends with or too stupid to take the time to know will be emblazoned in my mind and heart.  One of my future goals (in the works for some time now) is too write! write! write! of all those days of bliss in novel form.  Maybe young adult reading, say Judy Blume goes to boarding school and is saved from the cruel world? (Idealistic isn't it!) Anyway... let me just give a shout out to everyone that was so supportive to me... I've gone on to become completely fulfilled and happy.  Thank you my family of SPA-ites - seriously!!!

I live in Oceanside, CA, not the scummy part that some may remember from town trips, but a little sea-side family community.  We know all our neighbors, have dinner with them often, swap eggs and butter and meet at the back fence for coffee in the morning (no I don't live on the set of Edward Scissorhands).  My strapping husband of 5 years brings home most of the bacon, kisses me, and then cooks the bacon.  We met back in '89, dated an eternity, and then (obviously) married!  He is the catch of the millennium  (anyone sick of that word yet??).  

I had a big year (actually every year is big in its own special way) in '97 my long-awaited graduation from Cal State San Marcos.  I'm now a real writer because I have a degree in Writing and Literature which I have placed on the wall for everyone to admire and comment on.  If per chance they miss it U lead them over to it and point to it! My husband is going to fashion something for me so that I might wear it around my neck. 

'97 also brought my sweet love, Olivia.  I really did not believe I could birth an 8 1/2 pound baby but with Randy (my husband!) holding one leg and Julia (Lund-Nielsen) holding the other - out she came.  She is now 18 months (a year and a half to those of you who hate that month by month thing).  She is my WORLD (and I say that without any embarrassment... holding back nothing - she is my very breath, my reason for all things - there is nothing left of worry and sadness - all is good!!!)

I write sporadically - mostly about my sweet love Olivia and sometimes Randy gets a line or two.  I have become quite the poster girl for extended nursing (the boob-type - not the nursing - hanging out with cute doctors type).  I've considered becoming a lactation consultant to help other mom, but that not really my dream.  I've worked just about every restaurant this side of the Rockies, (waitress-ing and writing go together well), but I hung up the fake greetings and plastic smiles once Olivia was born.  I've had a job in a plumbing company, a financial investment firm (I wrote for them!) and a kids resale boutique, all of which I took Olivia to.  she as not left my side since her birth, nor I from hers.  Life is good, money's tight but that's the least of my concerns.  We're vacationing in Cape Cod in May (now there ya go, there's some good stuff to brag about, Cape Cod!!).  We will take lots of pictures of Olivia standing by the waving grass that spouts from the sand and I will visit with my good friend.  Randy will go to a Red Socks game and then we'll fly home and tell the neighbors about it all!

Well Julie, there it is.  I wish on some clam days that I was wearing a red suit and driving a car with a better emblem or wowing the court with my speedy verbatim and wit.  I'd really like to be Laura Joseph, wow!, she is doing good stuff for others no less! (I am not being sarcastic! I completely mean this!). More travel would be good - lots and lots of exotic travel, oh and some massages, pedicures, and new jeans, jeans like the ones I had in high school that looked so good (oh yeah! that was on a different body! I forgot! Ha!)  I never knew I could have it all so I never dreamed but watch out because that SPA novel is coming soon (names will be changed to protect the mundane).  As Olivia ages I plan my return for my Master in Writing Studies in the fall of 2000.  My interest are diverse and ever-changing, but writing has always been here for me.  I will most likely pursue the goal of becoming a college professor - which I believe I would be good at when the writing becomes lean, as it will, but for now I am mom, wife, friend, daughter, and SPA-ite and that is enough.  Keep doing good work everyone.  I miss hearing about your everyday lives and I miss being a part of them.

Tamra Hopton (Rodgers)

P.S. The one who dated James, wore glasses and braces, was permanently attached, as if by glue!, to Julia, played soccer until her asthma lungs could stand no more, had a horrible crush on John McChesney, and really, really, wanted to be remembered.