Lynne Harvel Jennrich

I began work as a newspaper reporter in Richmond, Virginia, the day after I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was infected with the newspaper bug as a volunteer reporter on the college newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel (where I met my future husband). In my 10 years as a reporter I covered Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, author Norman Mailer, political activist Shirley Jackson, actress Mia Farrow, Yale University President and author Kingman Brewster, Virginia State Senator Harry Byrd, and I covered ever so many farm boards and police stations. After I stopped chasing fire trucks and ambulances, I worked my way through associations (the American Newspaper Publishers Association, American Automobile Association, and National Association of Secondary School Principals) and began freelancing as a writer and editor when I had children. I thoroughly enjoyed my 25 years of freelancing, but gave it up to take a full time job (benefits!) when my youngest graduated from high school. I spent four years (unhappily!) in an office editing technical reports for a military and public sector consulting firm. This May I once again took up freelancing, and I love it. I feel I’ve come home again. My husband and I celebrated our 33 anniversary on September 11 (yes, our 30th was in 2001!). He has been a life-long journalist with increasing specialty in energy and natural gas until he took a job with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission two years ago. Our son Tom, 27, works in business development for CSC. (We accuse him of cruising the Internet all day; he tells us he can find the answer to any question.). Our daughter, 23, is an environmental scientist for URS Corporation. (She is a tree hugger who samples ground water on a secret installation’s rifle range and picks bugs out of streams to determine the degree of pollution). I spend my spare time going to the theater, doing yoga (a handstand, no less!), and taking classes in whatever interests me. I read lots and watch no television, which means I have difficulty carrying on a casual conversation. My most favorite adventures have been a hot air balloon ride (a gift from my children), an elephant ride (a gift from me to me), and doing a handstand (a gift from God!). I’m just your average, middle-aged, middle-class, round-peg-in-a-square-hole sort of person. I love it!