Interviewed by Vonnie Alto, Regional Coordinator
Cindy Filer, our newest member, joined JASNA and our region on April 27, 2025 and a few days later, attended our Spring Tea.
Cindy was born in western Pennsylvania and moved to Oregon at the age of 23. She has a B.A. Degree in Accounting from Youngstown State Ohio and worked for 41 years at the Portland post office--performing a variety of jobs including delivering mail, providing customer service at the window, but mostly sorting mail on large machines.
When Cindy first moved to Portland, her first friend belonged to the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) so Cincy joined SCA too and had a lot of fun playing knights, lords, and ladies. Her dear friend also introduced Cindy to contra dance which became a lifelong interest.
In midlife, Cindy discovered vintage waltzing and ballroom dancing at Norse Hall. Round and round she went, twirling in the elegant ballroom which led to learning smooth ballroom dance as dance became her life.
Then Covid struck and the music stopped. Cindy was now lost without dancing as a pastime. Having never been much of a television watcher, she sought out the library and began reading English and French history--subjects sorely neglected in her college business curriculum.
Cindy had always loved books but now narrowed her focus to Jane Austen and the Regency era.
Cindy found our region when she started thinking about what she wants to do as she heads towards retirement and realized that she needs friends like Jane Austen.
A few months ago, she researched Jane Austen on Wikipedia to learn more about Jane. The films adapted from Austen's books are her favorites and she watches them over and over again. As she scrolled down through the entries, she discovered JASNA.
When she saw our Spring Tea advertised on our website, she thought that it would be a fun and inviting occasion to meet the Janeites. That's when she contacted our region with the most charming subject heading in her email, "Perhaps I want to join." As I read her email, I knew she was a devout Janite.
Cynthia attended our Spring Tea on May 3rd at the Good Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Beaverton where Collins Hemingway spoke to our region. She had a delightful time meeting our Janeites and said they are all so lovely and interesting! She also enjoyed our buffet potluck, particularly the delicious treats. She loved the beautiful centerpiece flowers and the live piano music from the 2005 motion picture of Pride and Prejudice which transported Cindy into Jane Austen's Regency era.
She kindly volunteered to host our upcoming meeting.
Now that Cindy is in her later midlife, she finds that much of today's world no longer appeals to her. She savors the gentleness of partner dancing, beautiful music, sensitive films, the feel of quality paper in a book or letter, fine words, lovely fabrics. And, of course, the company of thoughtful, like minded new friends like us Janeites.
Cindy also loves gardening, horses, cats, and dogs. She hopes to someday knit and would like to do more skiing, kayaking, and horseback riding. She still also enjoys contra dancing and smooth ballroom dance.
In her dreams, Cindy is a cowgirl at heart, and now, also a Janeite!
Cindy was born in western Pennsylvania and moved to Oregon at the age of 23. She has a B.A. Degree in Accounting from Youngstown State Ohio and worked for 41 years at the Portland post office--performing a variety of jobs including delivering mail, providing customer service at the window, but mostly sorting mail on large machines.
When Cindy first moved to Portland, her first friend belonged to the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) so Cincy joined SCA too and had a lot of fun playing knights, lords, and ladies. Her dear friend also introduced Cindy to contra dance which became a lifelong interest.
In midlife, Cindy discovered vintage waltzing and ballroom dancing at Norse Hall. Round and round she went, twirling in the elegant ballroom which led to learning smooth ballroom dance as dance became her life.
Then Covid struck and the music stopped. Cindy was now lost without dancing as a pastime. Having never been much of a television watcher, she sought out the library and began reading English and French history--subjects sorely neglected in her college business curriculum.
Cindy had always loved books but now narrowed her focus to Jane Austen and the Regency era.
Cindy found our region when she started thinking about what she wants to do as she heads towards retirement and realized that she needs friends like Jane Austen.
A few months ago, she researched Jane Austen on Wikipedia to learn more about Jane. The films adapted from Austen's books are her favorites and she watches them over and over again. As she scrolled down through the entries, she discovered JASNA.
When she saw our Spring Tea advertised on our website, she thought that it would be a fun and inviting occasion to meet the Janeites. That's when she contacted our region with the most charming subject heading in her email, "Perhaps I want to join." As I read her email, I knew she was a devout Janite.
Cynthia attended our Spring Tea on May 3rd at the Good Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Beaverton where Collins Hemingway spoke to our region. She had a delightful time meeting our Janeites and said they are all so lovely and interesting! She also enjoyed our buffet potluck, particularly the delicious treats. She loved the beautiful centerpiece flowers and the live piano music from the 2005 motion picture of Pride and Prejudice which transported Cindy into Jane Austen's Regency era.
She kindly volunteered to host our upcoming meeting.
Now that Cindy is in her later midlife, she finds that much of today's world no longer appeals to her. She savors the gentleness of partner dancing, beautiful music, sensitive films, the feel of quality paper in a book or letter, fine words, lovely fabrics. And, of course, the company of thoughtful, like minded new friends like us Janeites.
Cindy also loves gardening, horses, cats, and dogs. She hopes to someday knit and would like to do more skiing, kayaking, and horseback riding. She still also enjoys contra dancing and smooth ballroom dance.
In her dreams, Cindy is a cowgirl at heart, and now, also a Janeite!