Date: Fri 18-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

snapshot-Barbara-Field

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT BARBARA FIELDS

Occupation: My husband and I have a small business overhauling aircraft

engines. We both went to school for it in 1973 - Atlanta Area Technical School

in Georgia. I was the only girl, and out of 25 people, only my husband and I

and eight other guys "survived."

Family: My husband, Lee. This December 30 we will be married 24 years. I have

a sister, Caryn Schutzler, in Seattle; my mom, Jean Bell, lives with us now.

Pets: Pooky - a mix-breed [previously] homeless dog we saved; and Lincoln,

named after my favorite president. Lincoln is so smart, and was also homeless.

She did a "centerfold" for Playdog magazine. We believe in saving dogs.

How long in Newtown: This year it's 20 years.

Biggest change: Sand Hill Plaza. I wanted a miniature golf course here and I

was told that wasn't in the character of Newtown. But it's fine we have a jail

and toxic waste dump instead of entertainment.

Idols: Lucille Ball - I have her characteristics. Lucy, Lindbergh, and

Lincoln.

Hobbies: I used to knit and crochet. Now we go on [motorcycle] rides. Every

year we go on vacation to major amusement parks - King's Dominion, Cedar

Point, Hershey Park, Las Vegas. We go on all the roller coasters. We went on a

stand-up one - it looks horrible but it's really comfortable. We went

para-sailing in Seattle right on the lake. I fell for my husband in a big way

when I was learning to sky-dive in 1969; he was flying the plane. We've also

been on sea planes, elephants, go-carts, skateboards, bicycles as modes of

transportation. I have my limits: No bungi-jumping, hang-gliding, or hot-air

balloons.

How long have you been riding a motorcycle: Since 1981. I knew how to drive a

standard shift car. So I just went out and practiced in some abandoned

aircraft field. I'm the one who got my husband interested. You could go 150

miles on a gallon of gas. I have a Honda Gold Wing. At one of the amusement

parks we went to I go with a puppet, an orangutan. We named him Clyde because

my husband's a big Clint Eastwood fan and there was an orangutan named Clyde

in one of his movies. I put him on the back of my bike and thought, "This is

cool! It looks like a passenger." I have a cow that I dress up, and puppets

with hats. I dress them up for the holidays; one Christmas, Clyde was "Born To

Be Jolly." I like to make people laugh. I wear buttons on my back when we go

to church so people will sit behind us - we sit way up front. They say things

like: God makes me happy; Hi, I can't remember your name either; Deliver us

from ego; I may be getting older but I refuse to grow up.

Organizations: I used to belong to the United States Parachute Organization,

and Women on Wheels - WOW. But I just like to do my own thing.

Personal philosophy: When I grew up, my father was in the service and I moved

around a lot; that made me more independent and able to cope. I try to put

myself in others' shoes and extend myself. Standing in the grocery store line

I'll turn to people and talk to them and smile. I like to be different. You

should be your own person and not what everyone tells you to be. Christianity

is a big part of it, too. I try to find the good in every situation.