Happy Birthday, Bobbie!

Bobbie and her young son

Today is my mom's birthday. She is 66 years old.

Roberta Carol Metzger was born on November 16, 1941, just 3 weeks before the day of "infamy" that marked the entry of the United States into World War II. She was born in Forest Grove, Oregon, a second generation Oregonian of good English-German stock.

She and her family lived in various places in Oregon, eventually settling in Salem, where she went to Leslie Junior High and South Salem High School. She graduated with honors and received an academic scholarship to Oregon State College.

Soon after leaving home for college she met and married a young man from Fresno, California, Ross Cariaga, with whom she would have 3 children. The young family lived in Klamath Falls, Oregon upon Ross's graduation from college. But it was an unhappy marriage, and after 10 years, it dissolved.

Bobbie then returned to Salem with her 3 children. With the help of her parents, Bob and Gertrude Metzger, she raised the kids and went to school at Oregon College of Education in Monmouth, Oregon, where she earned her teaching degree with honors in 1976.

She then moved her family to Redmond, Oregon where she had received her first teaching assignment. Eventually, her beau, Doug Batey proposed marriage, and Doug and Bobbie were wed in 1977.

Bob, Gertrude, Bobbie and Doug

From there, Bobbie and Doug moved to Tacoma, Washington, where Doug worked for Nalley Corporation and Bobbie went back to work as a teacher. Together, they moved to the bedroom community of Gig Harbor where they have been ever since.

Doug and Bobbie have finished their professional careers and are enjoying retirement now. They travel a lot, adore their two dogs, Henry and Junior, and are surrounded by loving family, and especially their grandson, Torin.

Doug and Bobbie: taking in the world, together

So, here's wishing Bobbie a happy birthday, and many more to come.

I love you, Mom.