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Julie Olsen

60's: WWU/Long Distance Operator - Seattle and Bellingham. Travel to Calif. and Ontario, CA
70's: Long Distance Operator - Bellingham
1st Marriage - Michael Swietzer 71-76.
PNW Bell Opr
Certifications: Greenhouse/Nursery mgmt, Horticulture; Pesticide Operator; Studies: Herbalist; Native plants. Groundskeeper.
1976 - Tree Frog Services (gardener)
Also, sail maker, organic gardener
Late 70's Early 80's
After divorce from Michael in 1976, employed with WA St Nursery in B'ham, Haines Tree and Spray, TFS, WWU as a Gardener II.
Met Logger Brian Steeves from Hood River, OR in 1978. Quit job w/WWU. Travel and live in Hood River and several locations in SE Alaska. TFS functions in Hood River and Alaska. Also, work in Seafood production - mostly Icicle Seafoods in Petersburg, AK. Final employment in Petersburg was TFS and the Cemetary groundskeeper and gravedigger. Left Petersburg in 1981 after burying a TFS client. Continued my Pesticide recertification training thru out OR and AK. Also, studied Native plants in OR and AK. Left Brian Steeves in 1980.
1980's
Returned to Bellingham.
Activated TFS [continued pesticide recertification] and became employed by Icicle Seafoods where I reached Quality Assurance Technician status.
Mid-80's
Left Bellingham for Seattle with my new beau Wesley Ferguson from Anacortes. We both studied and worked in the next 5 years. He as a motorcycle mechanic and me general leading up to Landscape Architecture at UW. Lots of ups and downs during this time trying to study and work. I spent 4 summer seasons with Seattle Parks and Recreation to have monies for school. Part way thru the LA program I became disenchanted and quit.
Early 90's
Wes and I return to Bellingham. I had property from my first marriage to attend to and to rethink my future. Decided to sell my property, so we could have our first ever home in 1993. Then we bought our dog Soleil; a Norrbottenspets - Scandinavian "barking bird dog".
From 1994 onwards, Wesley and I have been involved with parents and friends who have fallen ill or dying.
2000's
Wes' parents and my father have died. We were fortunate to be with them during their illnesses.
I've been a participant of the Caregiver Support group for the last 5 yrs.
Soleil is currently 14. We 3 walk in the forest and harbor parks near central Bellingham several times a day. We pick up trash and stuff others have left behind on our walks. We also oberve wild life and native plants.
Wes and I are not employed at the moment. Wes has been volunteering at ReLectronics for several years as the Mac Curmudgeon. I've been involved in Norwegian Rosemaling since 1999 and over the last few years added an interest in Chinese Brush Painting and Calligraphy.
Not much else to say at this point in time.

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