Date: Fri 14-Feb-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Libby-Payne

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: LIBBY PAYNE

LIBBY PAYNE

Occupation: I'm a dinosaur - I've been a housewife and mother for almost 23

years. I was fortunate that I was able to stay home - it's what I wanted.

Before I was married I worked for ten years in banking and mortgage banking.

How long in Newtown: Fourteen years this August - we're almost natives by now.

It was almost two or three years before I met someone who had been born here.

Coming from Oregon - we moved with my husband's job - it was a culture shock.

The heat had to be the worst. It used to be wet all the time in Oregon from

rain, not the three "H"s...

Something about Newtown felt comfortable. Everyone talks about the flagpole -

maybe that made it seem like it had more of a center than Bethel. Bethel

appealed to us, but we locked on Newtown. Our kids were in kindergarten and

fourth grade when we came here from Portland. The quality of education and

quality of the teachers are so superior here - that's something I think needs

complimenting. Newtown is fortunate to have a number of really excellent

teachers who extend themselves beyond the average.

Family: I live in a male dominated society here. My husband, Paul, two sons,

David, 23, and Mike, 18 - both Newtown graduates, and Bobo, our dog. Everybody

else who's related to us is back out west.

Pets: Bobo - the guy that runs the show. I've never not had dogs. I've had

dogs longer than I've had children. They are such good company and give

unconditional love. How could you not love a dog? He's part lab and part

golden. He's so smart - after one evening [of training] he knew how to shake.

He rolls over, plays dead, and gives you kisses. He even gives you a "hug."

Organizations: I was recently appointed to Newtown Scholarship Association.

I'm still learning, but it's lots of fun. They do really important, good work

with students in Newtown with scholarships. I enjoy that. And I was involved

with Welcome Wagon when we first moved here - but that was years ago. I'm a

big supporter of Newtown High football. I'm a "hanger-on" - my children are

long gone, but I support it any way I can. I still go to games once in a

while. For everything Bob Zito has done, I think they should rename Jenner

Stadium after him. My kids got a lot out of football.

And I belong to Newtown Country Club. I'm a golf fanatic - I've been playing

seriously for ten years. My husband loves golf. I decided, when he retired,

he'd be out playing golf and I'd be sitting in a rocking chair. So I learned

to play. And I just got hooked. It's the only sports thing I've done in my

adult life. I belong to the Ladies' Club Association - and I even wallpapered

the ladies' locker room. People join the country club for two reasons - to

play golf and because of the people.

Hobbies: I collect teddy bears and I knit. I've done several handcrafts over

the years, but I get kind of bored with them. But I always come tack to

knitting. I'm a voracious reader; I read all the time, especially in the

winter when you can't do much outside. I read a lot of true crime, courtroom

drama, spy things, contemporary women's novels. Right now I'm reading an

Elizabeth Berg novel. She has such a real, clipped way of writing. And Anna

Quindlan, you know - the former columnist at The New York Times . I love

anything by her. And I read books about philosophical, psychological, and

contemporary social problems. Next I'm going to read Emotional Intelligence ,

and then a book someone gave me for Christmas, The Soul's Code.

Biggest Change in Newtown: Twice as many people tailgating you! The growth,

the traffic. But otherwise, I think about all the businesses that have not

made it. And that makes me sad. I try to stay local [with my shopping].

Businesses are not getting the support so they can stay open. And then there

are the boarded up storefronts.

Favorite food: I love Main Moon Chinese - I was thrilled when they moved to

town. I like pizza and Mexican food, and I'll try just about any salad. We eat

a lot of chicken. But my first choice is Chinese food.

Personal philosophy: Humor is medicine - that's a big one I live by. When

there are difficult times or painful times, it makes it go down easier. And in

the end, what matters more than where you've been or what you have, is who

you're with. People and relationships have to be the focus of your life. You

are then rich more in terms of the people you share your life with.