April 27, 2003 - Crescent Blues: In 1979, Bruce [Trimble] and I decided to do "something different." We joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Gambia, a tiny country located along the Atlantic coast of Africa, running inland on either side of the Gambia River and surrounded on three sides by Senegal

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Gambia: Peace Corps The Gambia : The Peace Corps in the Gambia: April 27, 2003 - Crescent Blues: In 1979, Bruce [Trimble] and I decided to do "something different." We joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Gambia, a tiny country located along the Atlantic coast of Africa, running inland on either side of the Gambia River and surrounded on three sides by Senegal

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 8:51 pm: Edit Post

In 1979, Bruce [Trimble] and I decided to do "something different." We joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Gambia, a tiny country located along the Atlantic coast of Africa, running inland on either side of the Gambia River and surrounded on three sides by Senegal



In 1979, Bruce [Trimble] and I decided to do "something different." We joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Gambia, a tiny country located along the Atlantic coast of Africa, running inland on either side of the Gambia River and surrounded on three sides by Senegal

Mary Trimble: The Adventure Begins Now

Mary E. Trimble -- writer, Peace Corps and Red Cross volunteer, and intrepid sailor of the South Pacific -- proves that life and adventure begin whenever you choose to make them happen. Where some parents of a certain age complain about their empty nest, Mary and her husband Bruce took up deep sea diving, then realized a life-long ambition to work in Africa. And that was just the beginning.

At a Women Writing the West Conference last year, while being held captive on a paddle-wheeler in the middle of the Sacramento River (don't ask; that's a story for another day) Trimble shared a few of her tales of real-life daring. I knew then that Crescent Blues readers would want to know more. Genre fiction celebrates the most adventurous aspects of the human spirit. What could be more appropriate for a genre magazine than to celebrate a late-blooming adventurer's life?

Crescent Blues: What you've accomplished boggles the mind, but I know you have a family as well, right?

Mary Trimble: I have four grown children, five grandchildren, and a husband. And for many years, I enjoyed staying at home, being a mother and homemaker. I baked, sewed, gardened, was very involved at church and thoroughly cherished that period of my life. But, there came a time for change.

Crescent Blues: What kind of change?

Mary Trimble: Well, for me it was time to do something different. So I joined the work force, venturing into the outside world after my two boys and two girls were grown or nearly grown. I worked at a professional deep-sea diving school. I felt myself growing and "holding my own" as admissions director in this internationally known school.

Crescent Blues: Wow, that sounds pretty exciting, but that just marked the beginning of your adventures. What happened next?

Mary Trimble: In 1979, Bruce [Trimble] and I decided to do "something different." We joined the Peace Corps and served for two years in Gambia, a tiny country located along the Atlantic coast of Africa, running inland on either side of the Gambia River and surrounded on three sides by Senegal.

Crescent Blues: How did your children feel about that?

Mary Trimble: Our kids were very supportive of our African tour of duty with the Peace Corps. They were grown or nearly so. While we were there, we corresponded with them on a regular basis and did everything we could to make it their adventure too. Although Africa has never been appealing to the kids, they are fairly used to us being drawn to "different ventures."
We all agreed we'd rather starve than listen to 17 hungry, whiny kids.

Crescent Blues: What about you? Was Africa a place that appealed to you?

Mary Trimble: I was thrilled. At long last, I was able to fulfill a life-long dream of going to Africa.

Crescent Blues: What did you do in Gambia?

Mary Trimble: I worked in a 32-bed bush hospital setting up desperately needed record keeping systems. One of the great problems in Africa is keeping supplies on hand. I saw people die of tetanus and other serious infections because of the lack of medical supplies. In many instances, these supplies were available, but had simply run out because there was no systematic inventory replacement from the capitol city, Banjul, 250 miles away. Bruce worked with a UN well-digging unit replacing traditional wells with deep, cement-lined wells in the many villages in the upper-river country

Crescent Blues: There is so much in the news about unrest in the African countries that it seems a dangerous place to be. Were you and your husband ever in physical danger? Or did your stay progress as planned and send you home without a scare?

Mary Trimble: No, I wouldn't say that. Toward the end of our two-year stay, a military coup d' etat brought things to a screeching halt. We happened to be down river on business in the capital city when the fighting began. All roads were immediately closed as the rebels took control. From where we staying, we were able to walk to the American Ambassador's residence and take shelter there. Little did we know we would be there for the next eight days. The rebels and nationalists both brought people to [the embassy] in their efforts to avoid civilian casualties. Besides Americans, we had with us Indians, Swedes, Germans and other expatriates without an embassy of their own.

Crescent Blues: I hope the residence was large or that the number of people was small.

Mary Trimble: No, just the opposite was true, I'm afraid. Our group swelled to 118 in the relatively small house. It was the ambassador's own home and nice by local standards, but not a mansion by any means. It was a rather simple, single-level home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living room, a dining room and a kitchen. The ambassador himself was in the embassy in Banjul the entire eight days, unable to leave his office.

Crescent Blues: I'm pretty sure there wasn't a supermarket nearby, so what did you do for food? How did the embassy manage?

Mary Trimble: Shortages of food and -- even more serious, water -- were a constant worry. The country was entirely shut down and with it electricity (which also generated our water supply) and grocery stores. We were proud of our Peace Corps personnel (about 30 of the 52 in-country). We took lead positions in every facet of the hectic eight days. Bruce, the only licensed radioman in the group, took over all radio communication with the embassy and Washington, D.C. I kept track of those who were with us and what country or agency they represented. Calls from all over the world flooded the American embassy and they would contact us to verify the location of stranded people.
We both quit perfectly good jobs, sold our home, bought a sailboat and realized Bruce's dream of sailing to the South Pacific.

Crescent Blues: When my three kids were young and still at home, we had only one bathroom, so I know what congestion is. I've got to ask: How did you manage with 118 people, only two bathrooms and practically no water?

Mary Trimble: With a crowd that size and with a seriously dwindling water supply, it soon became obvious that we couldn't waste water flushing toilets. A Peace Corps contingent dug latrines in the Ambassador's back yard. Most of us had been living without running water anyway, and we showed those who weren't used to roughing it how to take bucket baths.

Crescent Blues: What about food? You said there were shortages, how did you manage to feed the group?

Mary Trimble: My Peace Corps boss was in charge of the kitchen and most of her helpers were Peace Corps volunteers. A U.S. [Agency for International Development] Mormon family staying with us donated their two-year emergency food supply, and a group of four men sneaked out one night (we had strict instructions not to leave the house) and raided the family's larder. The adults existed on two small meals a day; children were fed three times daily. We all agreed we'd rather starve than listen to 17 hungry, whiny kids.

Crescent Blues: Usually when rebels try to overthrow the government, there is fighting -- and fighting includes weapons of war, such as guns large and small. You said you had strict orders to stay in the house, was that because of the gun battles between the opposing forces?

Mary Trimble: Of course, during all this time heavy fighting raged just outside the compound. Time and again we had to dash under tables for safety from close-by shelling. During the day mattresses covered windows to avoid the spray of broken glass. We flew the American flag day and night and remained neutral throughout this civil war.

Crescent Blues: What happened to end it? Were you rescued by outside forces?

Mary Trimble: Finally, with the aid of neighboring Senegal, the worst of the fighting ended and we were evacuated out of the country. After two weeks in Senegal, we were allowed back into Gambia at a border crossing halfway down country. The capital city was still too dangerous for us to enter. For our remaining one-month stay, the country and our jobs were not the same. Rebels had confiscated all vehicles. The hospital's ambulances (Range-Rovers) were gone; all of the vehicles at the well-digging shop were gone or damaged beyond repair.

Crescent Blues: Now that I can breathe again, I'll ask more questions. Easy ones, I hope, like what did you do when you returned to the United States?

Mary Trimble: After returning from Africa, I attended college and took three years of computer science and business courses. 1981 was still the infancy of the computer era, believe it or not, and I was the first person I knew to have a home computer. After that, I worked at Safeco for a number of years as a programmer/analyst and then the adventure bug bit my husband and I again.

Crescent Blues: Oh, no. What this time? More danger? More fighting?

Mary Trimble: Nothing like that. We both quit perfectly good jobs, sold our home, bought a sailboat and realized Bruce's dream of sailing to the South Pacific. It wasn't always smooth sailing, but it was an exciting adventure. One of the roughest passages was along our own West Coast from Seattle to San Diego.
The longest leg of our journey, sailing from San Diego to The Marquess in French Polynesia was 35 looong days.

The longest leg of our journey, sailing from San Diego to The Marquess in French Polynesia was 35 looong days. Most of that time we didn't see another living soul and the sea was ours alone. We manned our Bristol-40 ourselves which meant shifts of 4-hours-on, 4-hours-off around the clock. Oh, but the joy of reaching land The Marquess, Tahiti, Bora Bora, American Samoa, The Kingdom of Tonga (our favorite, hands down), and Hawaii. We sometimes spent as long as six weeks in one country, sailing round to small islands, soaking up the local culture and swimming in the warm, tropical sea and diving among colorful fish and rainbow-colored coral.

Crescent Blues: It sounds wonderful, but since you obviously didn't stay in the tropics, what did you do next?

Mary Trimble: Upon returning from the South Pacific, I began to write. I had the usual magazine rejection slips but then one month three different publications featured my submissions, two sailing magazines and a RV magazine. I was on my way. Today I've had over 350 articles published and just this past year, my first book, Rosemount, was published as an ebook by Crossroads Publishing.

Crescent Blues: For someone as adventurous as you, I can't imagine you sitting in front of a computer and doing nothing but write. Did you find something to do that was both adventurous and, at the same time, a service to the world around you?

Mary Trimble: Well, I don't know about the service to the world part, but my husband and I did find a new interest, one that involved us totally.

Crescent Blues: Which was?

Mary Trimble: I am a staunch believer in the Red Cross and its mission to help people suffering from disasters. To begin with, Bruce and I joined because we live on an island that would be quite isolated in the event of a disaster. We were among the first to join Red Cross on Camano Island, Washington, nearly ten years ago. We do have a bridge to the mainland but all experts say that it could be the first thing to go in an earthquake. In any event, all neighborhoods should be prepared and capable of handling an emergency on their own for at least 72 hours. Hear, hear.

Crescent Blues: You just joined? I mean, there must be more to it than that. What did you actually do?

Mary Trimble: We began to take classes and participate in local events, such as floods, house fires, etc. I was soon eligible to apply for National Red Cross. Bruce works full time so his participation is limited to local work. He is, however, very supportive of me when I go on national jobs and "handles the home front," including my writing business.

Crescent Blues: What do you mean "when I go on national jobs?"
I've responded to hurricanes, tornadoes, major fires, floods (lots of floods) in several states

Mary Trimble: There are many functions within the Red Cross, and it is impressive that almost before the dust settles Red Cross is there, attending to victims of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, airplane crashes, etc. My normal function is with Family Service as a coordinator, which means that we help bridge the gap between when the disaster occurs and when we can get families back to living as normally and safely as possible either in their own home or into new quarters.

To do this we often issue vouchers to them to buy whatever it takes: new clothing, food, basic furniture (beds, bedding, dressers, table and chairs, etc.), vital work equipment that they've lost so that they can return to work (special boots, uniforms, etc.) Sometimes victims are housed in shelters for large disasters; other times we put them up in motels until they can find suitable housing.

Crescent Blues: How much time to get ready do the volunteers have before the Red Cross sends them to a disaster?

Mary Trimble: Normally, the way volunteers respond is that we get a call asking if we are available. If so, we usually leave within 24 hours of our assignment. Red Cross pays basic expenses.

Crescent Blues: So, what kind of disasters have you been assigned to, and where have you had to go?

Mary Trimble: I've responded to hurricanes, tornadoes, major fires, floods (lots of floods) in several states: Louisiana, West Virginia, Kansas, California, Washington and Tennessee. I worked with the Kosovo refugees at Fort Dix, NJ. Also, I've gone to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for disasters there.

Interviewer's aside to the reader: Imagine a long interval here as our intrepid interviewee rushed off to a new disaster. You guessed it -- the one right in her own backyard: the 2001 Seattle earthquake.

My first fear was that the bridge to her island had been damaged. It hadn't. Mary emailed to tell me she was all right and that she would get back to me as soon as possible. That left me with new questions.

Crescent Blues: Mary, would you please tell me, in your own words, how you felt, what tasks you had to accomplish, and what are the major dangers, besides aftershocks, following an earthquake?

Mary Trimble: While the Seattle earthquake seemed a tiny rumble to most of us, for some people it was serious business. I first became aware of that fact when Red Cross called and asked if I could help coordinate relief efforts for King County. I thought I would probably be there just a few days but two full weeks later, we were just beginning to wrap things up.
I've worked hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires, but earthquakes are the most deceptive. The damage may not at first be obvious...

A group of homes sitting high on a cliff in the southern part of the county tumbled over, destroying those homes and threatening the homes below. Many streets became impassable and/or utilities were turned off, forcing people from their homes. Sewer and septic lines were damaged, and in some cases, wells were disrupted, cutting off water supplies. Many homes suffered chimney damage causing unsafe heating systems. In other instances, many older apartment houses were red or yellow tagged, and tenants were evicted. In all these cases, Red Cross helped people with temporary housing needs and offered them help to begin the road to recovery.

Next time, tiny rumble or big, I'll know to begin packing. It was strange, being in a "home" disaster. Although it was too far to commute after putting in 12-hour days, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in Seattle, just 50 miles from my home. I've worked hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires, but earthquakes are the most deceptive. The damage may not at first be obvious so extra caution must be taken before the heating system is run, before relying on the well for safe drinking water, and even before taking an elevator in an older building

Crescent Blues: Now that the excitement is over for the moment, I would like to talk some more about your book Rosemount. I was impressed with the book's simplicity, its universality, and the sensitive handling of the protagonist Leslie Cahill and her painful maturation process. Although I know it was meant for younger readers, I've recommended it both to young friends and their parents. Can we expect to see more of Leslie's adventures, or are you going to turn her loose and go on to other writing?

Mary Trimble: I've finished the first draft of McClennan's Bluff, a sequel to Rosemount. I've had fun watching Leslie Cahill mature -- but growing up isn't easy and now she has gotten herself into another mess! I'm reading the book, chapter by chapter, to my critique group, and then will look for a professional reader to give it a final nod before sending it to Crossroads.

Crescent Blues: That's great. I'll be watching for it. How about other writings? Have you had any time for that?

Mary Trimble: I've also resumed my article writing. I found I missed the instant gratification I've experienced seeing my articles print-published. Also, it's something that my husband Bruce and I do together, which is fun. This summer we're going to the Yukon, which should yield three or four magazine articles. I don't think I mentioned it, but Bruce does all the photography for my articles, which really helps sell them.

Crescent Blues: Your first novel was electronically published -- and given your background in computers that isn't an unexpected way for you to go. Still you must have some thoughts about that medium. What do you see in the future?

Mary Trimble: What I seem to be focusing on right now is seeing e-publishing come into its own. I have a feeling of being on the verge of something very big, but not quite knowing just how to get my arms around it. When I'm not on assignment with the Red Cross, I'm at my computer several hours every day working on promotion, but I'm hoping that one day soon e-authors will have definite avenues to follow to get the word out.

Crescent Blues: What do you think other authors can do to best polish and refine their own works? Or what have you done for yourself in that area?

Mary Trimble: What I'd like to say to other authors: I think the most important thing I have done for myself was to help form a critique group. Our group of 10 members meets three times a month to share our work. We've refined our by-laws and procedures to ensure that our group meets our needs. Our most important rule is that we critique on how the piece is written, not the subject matter chosen. There's nothing like reading work aloud to a group of peers to realize the impact -- or the lack of it -- your work has on a group who has your best interests at heart.

Patricia Lucas White

Patricia Lucas White's latest fantasy novel, Prophecy Be Damned, was just released by Atlantic Bridge. Two of her fantasy romances, the Sapphire Award-winning A Wizard Scorned and The Godmother Sanction, can be ordered through Hard Shell Word Factory. Her recent contemporary, PS, I've Taken a Lover, is available from Lionhearted Books.



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Story Source: Crescent Blues

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - The Gambia; Writers

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