Still Waters Often Run Deep (sponsored)

Susan Crowell, wife of Mayor Bob Crowell of Carson City, is a mixture of strength, forthrightness, and intrigue. Susan is an attractive, well-spoken, well educated, and independent thinking female — both as a wife, mother, and citizen of Carson City. The definition of who she really is lies in her upbringing, her education, her marriage, her children, and in her personal interests. All these components interact to make for a thoughtful woman with a definite mind of her own, yet one who wants the best for others involved in all of these relationships.

Susan was born in Hanford, California, but moved fairly early in her life with her family to Fresno, California. Susan would eventually graduate from Bullard High School with the expectations of attending college for studies in elementary education. As Susan's parents told both their daughter and son, if they were bright and capable students then higher education was the pathway to a better life and better opportunities. So the support and encouragement were always there, especially from Betty Joe, the mother. With that home base secured, Susan enrolled at the University of Arizona. However, after two years of college studies, Susan opted for a very different path to learn about herself and more of the world.

Instead of becoming a junior at the U.of A., the young 20 year old set sail for three months with a Whittier College program in California called "University of Seven Seas". During those port stays in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Japan, Vietnam, and India, Susan's eyes, heart, and brain were exposed to very different languages, cultures, customs, values, and attitudes. History opened up as never before. Exotic foods were tasted and shared among different peoples. All of Susan's senses were challenged as she witnessed how so many in the world live day-to-day existences--much like survivalists. Her eyes were opened and thus her thoughts had to go through a processing on the trip and also back home with family, friends, teachers, and others. Her whole life was affected, and ultimately changed.

This sense of adventure, curiosity, challenge, and openness to new and different environments not only would develop Susan into a more mature and compassionate individual, but ultimately would be felt by students in her future classrooms.

And so upon her return to the States, Susan finished up her degree in education at the California State University at Fresno. At the time of Susan's graduation and certification to teach, there was a very brief moment in higher education when life time certificates were issued--Susan received one of those prized documents.

Next, with a brand new start as a young and excited teacher, Susan broke ranks, so to speak, again when she chose to go to the "big" city of San Francisco because that was where the jobs were and the excitement of being where things were happening. She found gainful employment at Mirdoma Elementary School, and this is where she would teach for the next 6 years. She was a success. But Susan would have all understand that just because she left the home front, she did not abandon her childhood experiences or family teachings.

During those decades of the 1940s and 1950s, nearly all children lived in and created worlds of "make-believe". Cell phones, computer games, shopping malls, and sports did not dominate the scene with youngsters as they seem to do today. Kids of that generation played outdoor games like "Cops and Robbers", "Cowboys and Indians", "Leaf Houses", "Old Maid", "School", "Tarzan and Jane", etc.. Sand castles were built at the shore or by the lakeside, bicycles were ridden in the neighborhood, building houses from a deck of cards, playing with paper dolls, creating an outdoor "rock garden" or finding a cozy corner to read a library book were what the kids did for the most part. Therefore, stories about make-believe topics were brought into the classroom to develop and stir the imaginations of the students. Susan's students would learn about the beginning, middle, and ending to a story. They would also learn about chronological progression of a story all while developing details, changes of direction, humor, and surprise endings. That's how to bring fun into learning!

Not to be left out for her students, Susan would also share about her family's three year stay in Germany while her father was involved with the United States Air Force. This occurred while Susan was 7,8, and 9 years old — much the same ages as in her elementary classes. The important lessons of how Susan and her brother made new friendships in a different culture and language undoubtedly left life time impressions on those young ears that were listening and those brains that were processing how their own experiences related to their teacher's when she was their age. Excitement about learning from a teacher often transmits itself in extraordinary ways to young minds and hearts .As Susan was helping her students to develop academically and emotionally, she, as a teacher, was turning into a professional classroom presence--a teacher who truly cared about her teaching responsibilities. She was working with children, not robots. She was working with the future.

Again, going back to her past, this reflective woman saw herself as "quiet, somewhat shy, often a listener rather than a speaker, considering always what I heard". One of Susan's childhood places of solace was under the dining room table while adults were conversing at the table above. Betty Joe, Susan's mother, did not necessarily think that children should be vocal during adult time, but she did allow her daughter to silently be present if no responses were made from under the table. In those times it is true that children were mostly seen but not heard in front of guests. Questions might be permitted later if relevant and not intrusive to an adult situation. A safe hiding place also meant that this daughter would not have to answer questions about herself. Shy Susan often did not want to be put on the spot or in the spotlight by an adult. Under the table in silence was golden...

Growing up in a home where effort and accomplishment were encouraged definitely meant that Susan's interests were considered. Young Susan studied the violin and enjoyed the outdoor sports of snow skiing, water skiing, and swimming. Although Susan never considered herself as truly gifted in any of these areas, she did come to understand that consistency of attendance and practice made her better and better in competitions and in personal focus. Susan's natural determination to learn brought team friendships, a positive attitude, and the intention of "finishing the course". While not an outstanding swimmer, it is this sport that Susan credits with really developing a strong sense of self- discipline which has served her to this day.

Returning to Susan's decision to set up residence in San Francisco was a momentous decision not only for her teaching experience, but also it put her in the direct path of the United States military again — but not with her father. The U.S. Navy was about to appear at her doorstep. As the story goes, Susan had a roommate, Mary, who had attended Stanford University. The season was New Year's Eve and Mary had been asked to attend a gala party to celebrate the new year. That year was 1967. As many visitors or residents of San Francisco know, the weather can play havoc in the way of fog, rain, and mist making driving conditions hazardous. Such was that night. Mary would have to drive the family's car in order to meet her date and her father was not in agreement because of safety for his daughter...and probably his car. So Robert Crowell, the young Navy ensign who had asked his fellow classmate, Mary, also a recent graduate from Stanford University to accompany him on this night of celebration, was left with an empty "dance card" so to speak. Mary had been such a logical date because she and "Bob" had been classmates at Stanford and were comfortable together.

However, the Navy was not deterred. Bob asked Susan to accompany him, and without hesitation, fog, mist, and rain in the Bay area, Susan accepted. Whatever it was about this young Navy officer that intrigued Susan cannot quite be recalled. Perhaps it was the handsome uniform, chemistry, the fog, or the New Year's celebrations, but the two new acquaintances decided to stay in contact with each other even though Bob would be going to Vietnam on recent orders. The two wrote back and forth. When Bob returned to the States via San Francisco harbor, he saw Susan although both were dating others at the time. Well, these San Francisco "meets" were becoming quite regular as Bob passed through the city by the sea on his way to visit his family in Carson City, Nevada. More importantly, the chemistry was still there for both of them!

The rest is history. This "blind date" turned into marriage on December 18,1971. Again, Susan found herself changing locations from a favorite city in California to a western capital. This time she came eastward into Nevada for Bob to join his father and brother's law firm as a partner. Indeed, she was coming home to family and a welcome that would last for many years. If Susan thought that a classroom full of elementary students was a challenge, then having four children of her own should be easy. Yes? Definitely not! Caroline came first followed by Brad, David, and Todd. Susan's hands were full, but she loved that time of raising her children all be it was hectic. Like most busy mothers who wish for some private or personal time just to catch their breath from laundry, preparing meals, reading books, playing games, changing diapers and general housework, Susan too hoped for those moments to come her way.

However, with a very busy attorney husband in a successful family law firm, those times of father support would be difficult to come by. But to Susan's surprise, Bob was more than attentive when he could be with his four little ones. Susan tells the story of Todd, the youngest, when Susan left Todd to his father's supervision. Todd explained to his dad that they needed a pig as a pet. Without blinking an eye, father and son went shopping. Upon Susan's return, her eyes popped to see Todd and Bob showing off "Arnold" to all of the neighbors and anyone else who cared to make friends with a pig. Susan's first thought must have been "Oh no, another mouth to feed!", but she also began to realize that little Todd had persuasive abilities that no one had noticed before. Could he be an aspiring attorney?

Wherever Susan's family would take her, she gives her husband full credit for providing her with the special opportunity to be a full time mother. Bob would recognize that a choice existed--career or motherhood, but Susan chose the roles of wife and mother without regrets. Wise parents also understand that there cannot be 2 bosses at home, especially when one is out of the home most of the time. And Bob gave complete trust to Susan to rear their children--all four mostly at the same time.

For Susan, and therefore for Bob, Susan's values of well-mannered children, kindness toward others, having dinner together, and valuing higher education were pressed into each child's personality. Susan allowed her daughter and three sons to investigate their surroundings which is very difficult to suppress anyway with children's natural sense of curiosity. She wanted them to love the outside as well as the inside of their world when it came to sports, seasons of the year, and books. Susan's own personal library reflects her many areas of reading interest which she felt was important for her children to see and be a part of if possible. Reading helps develop thinking and discussion, and Susan wanted her children involved in more than superficial talks. She wanted some depth. However, both Bob and Susan were very much aware that not every child has the same level of maturity so as parents they were careful not to let their four young ones hear discussions that could upset or worry beyond the youngsters' years of understanding. Again, wise parenting.

Finally, as a woman Susan says that she has always felt independent. She made her choices without pressures being applied. Even as the mayor's wife, she is still not inclined to define herself. Now that she no longer has the parenting and household duties, she enjoys traveling with her husband and is supportive of his "hands-on" approach to his re-election campaign.

The couple have recently traveled abroad to Israel, Tel Aviv, but for the most part Susan keeps her public and private life centered around family and friends. Her warm smile and social graciousness reveal a woman who is comfortable with the past and with herself, but at the same leaving the door open for new learning and new experiences. During this interview Susan quietly expressed some deep views of our world, views that she holds private so far. Perhaps this lady of intrigue, this reader of history, this woman of strong character and convictions will share some day the rest of her story, but for the time being, as the expression goes, "Still waters run deep".

Carol Paz's columns appear exclusively on CarsonNow.org. Please email comments to npazcar@aol.com or visit the Women to Women website at womentowomennv.com. She welcomes your comments.

Click here for more information on Sponsored Stories.