Dianne Wetherbee

Partial Transcript: Emma: This is Emma Stillman interviewing Dianne Wetherbee on October 15th of 2020 at, um, I'm at Oberlin College and she's at home in Plymouth Massachusetts. Diane and I are going to discuss her education and the ways in which she feels it prepared for, for dealing with life beyond the classroom. Dianne, may I proceed with the recorded interview?

Dianne: Please do.

Keywords: Consent; Introduction; Release

Partial Transcript: Dianne: Keep in mind that I did not have a happy childhood, okay? Um, I can remember being an infant in my crib and seeing my mother look over at me and the image I saw was of what you would call a witch. Now, I don't know if that qualifies me for psychiatric help or whatever, but they have to stayed with me for 74 years. And that's really weird. Um, other than the witch? Hm. Uh, being, not being able, not ever sitting on my dad's lap because my mother believed that all men were dirty. Um, and I really never had much of a dad and I slept in my mother's bedroom for my whole life till I was 19.

Keywords: Parents; Unhappy childhood

Partial Transcript: Dianne: Um, well as a child, I'd moved, well places within Waterbury I moved. But after I was married at 19, stayed in Waterbury and until I met my, my husband now, uh, I only went to actually Quincy. And then now I live in Plymouth, which I love.

Keywords: Home; Moving

Partial Transcript: Dianne: Okay. I, as you, you and I talked about before I have ADD, which influenced my life more than I realized. Um, I, that also led to a series of jobs where I couldn't focus. I was unable to focus because I didn't really know what my problem was. So my jobs were nothing exciting. I, uh, I I've always been artsy, fartsy. Um, I got to jump around just a little bit. I, what I could have been, I could have really gone head, head over heels into the art world, but I didn't cause I did get married, but I had a partial scholarship to RISD [Rhode Island School of Design] after one year of college. So that was kind of where my focus was arts, but I did everything from, uh, working in a photo studio, doing coloration. I worked in, in stores sales. Um, I was a floral designer, which I really enjoyed. I, that was more recently. Um, but nothing that, you know, will make you sit up and take notice, I guess. Which is unfortunate because what I wanted to do and what I did do were totally two different things.

Keywords: Art; Dreams; Job

Partial Transcript: Dianne: I spent my life being called chubby and the lump and I wasn't smart. And I found out that even though I was an only child and barely could cross the street at 12 years old, that I was living on my, I could live on my own and make friends and, and get myself to classes and socialize. And it was just too wonderful. And I wish I had stayed, but I didn't.

Keywords: College; Dreams; Dropout

Partial Transcript: Dianne: I've always been good at drawing and painting and it’s probably the only thing I've ever been good at. I spent a great deal of time doing it from the time I was like four years old. Um, that was it. I mean, that was basically all I really enjoyed. I, um, just trying to get the right words out. I continued it again, you know, into school and I found myself veering into, veering toward the arts again, no, in my jobs. Um, I, I could know the maths, forget math, forget, you know, anything of that sort. But I had to stick with art that made me happy and I felt accomplished on of course years ago.

Keywords: Accomplishment; Art; Happiness; Interests

Partial Transcript: Dianne: The, I wanted, the underdog was important to me. I wanted to work for the underdog. I knew I wasn't any better than anybody else, but I went out of my way to be involved. Um, whether it was organizations or just one-on-one to take care of people who weren't taken care of.

Keywords: Convictions; Humility; Underdog

Partial Transcript: Dianne: When you find like-minded people, you just stick to them like glue because they're a source of my comfort and my happiness, along with my pets. And, um, yeah. I don't know what I’d do. God, I hope none of them ever leave. And they all have a little something different to add to the, you know, to add to the interest. It's, it's like a soup, you know, you put all interesting things in it and then you get something wonderful in the end. And that's what they are. I mean, I loved them and there's, I don't have a lot friends. I, I, it's kinda weird. Um, uh, I have a tendency to make everybody think that I'm their best friend and I don't do it purposely. I just like people to be happy, you know?

Keywords: Friendship; Human connection; Motherhood

Partial Transcript: Dianne: I do believe in the goodness of people. And even though there's a lot of evil around, I believe I'm every day I meet someone or a lot of people that really are good people. They make, make things the world go round. So I I'd say that. Um, and my, my animals. You know, the purity of them and my friends and laughing with them. Um, I'd probably say that's it. I mean, nothing specific, but there is goodness in this world.

Keywords: Animals; Goodness; Humility

Partial Transcript: Dianne: You can't look to the past though, but I do sometimes, and I think what I wanted to do and what I never did accomplish, and those are, that makes me sad. Um, cause it's like at 74, I don't know how much more I can do right now, but I just, as a little aside for you, you're young, you give it your all honey. Cause I think so much of you and your parents too and don't let anything hold you back. Cause I that's what I did. I, I was married at 19 to get away from a bad situation and I got into another bad situation and then I got married a second time, more, more for security than anything. And that's another bad situation. So, um, you be a leader, not a follower. Okay? And take care of yourself.

Keywords: Conclusion; Passive; Regrets