A Little Bit About Me

When people ask where I’m from, I usually smile and say, “How much time do you have?”

I was born in Central Washington, but as a kid growing up with a Coast Guard dad, we moved every few years—bouncing between Washington and Florida four times! One of the most memorable places we lived was West Seattle, where my dad served as the caretaker of the Alki Lighthouse. If you ever visit, check out the two houses at the front—we lived in the one on the right!

We moved back to Central Washington when my grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer to spend as much time with her as possible. My grandparents owned a cattle ranch in Ellensburg, and we settled nearby while I finished school in the tiny town of Kittitas, where my graduating class had just 28 people.

So many folks I meet in Duvall share a similar story—growing up in a small town, drawn here because this place feels like home. I feel it too. That’s part of what makes Duvall so special. Even those coming from bigger cities are falling in love with the charm of a community where everyone waves, and strangers quickly become friends.