By Benjamin Simpson The Mountain Times
Name: Paula Siverly
Place of birth: Portland, Oregon
How long on the Mountain: 25 years
If you were not brought here as a child, what brought you to the Mountain: My husband and I were driving out here all the time to play, a property caught our eye, and the rest happened so fast. It felt heaven sent and still does.
Profession: Home Loan Consultant-Branch Manager, Possibility Squad Powered by Advantage Mortgage
Other professions: I have worked in the financial industry since 1991. I started tellering, and moved my way through the credit unions’ front office positions – new accounts, IRAs and consumer lending and management – by the time I left for the mortgage industry full time in 2006
Favorites:
Movie/and or Musical: Last of the Dogmen and Grease 2
Actress and Actor: Annette Benning
TV show: I have never been a loyal TV watcher
Book: Raving Fans
Type of music: As the wife of an audio engineer, I am always listening to new and different music – whatever feeds my soul. I love so many local artists. I feel you get to hear their story at a deeper level when you connect with them.
Food: Dark chocolate and salty snacks
Hobbies: Volunteering, hula hooping and crafting
If offered a dream vacation, where would you go and why: An African safari. I think it would be a unique experience. The animals fascinate me, and the breathtaking landscape calls me.
Best lesson learned as a child: Hard work opens doors to opportunity
Defining moment in your life or your greatest accomplishment: Three months after we moved to the mountain my husband was in a head on collision due to a tourist hydroplaning across the center line. Our lives have never been the same, but we have made a lot of lemonade with those lemons.
A memorable dinner: Months after my husband and I started dating I joined him for his Grandparents’ 50th Wedding Anniversary dinner at Atwater’s, at the top of the US Bank tower in Portland. Not only was this the fanciest restaurant I had ever been to, they seated everyone by movie character pairings so he was nowhere in my sight. His mother made me get in the family photo. I cherish her insight from that night to this day.
A funny moment from your life that you can share: Hold your breath mommy moments. My six month old son slammed himself against the baby gate and held on laughing his head off all the way to the bottom of the stairs like it was a carnival ride. The adventures keep coming.
If you could invite anyone (past or present) to dinner, who would it be, and why: My Grandmother, because one more dinner would be the ultimate gift and my son could meet her.
Describe yourself in one word: Joyful
When you’re not reading The Mountain Times, what book/author/magazine/other do you read: Anything with recipes in it.
If your life were made into a play or movie, what would the title be: How can I help?
Pet peeve: I like momentum in all things so unnecessary slowdowns make me crazy
Bad habit you’d like to break: Having a messy car.
Famous person(s) you have met, and the circumstances: When I was in middle school, Roy Acuff kissed me on the cheek backstage at The Grand Ole Opry. I have been blessed to feed many musicians from near and far in my kitchen over the years but my favorite was Jennifer Batten, Michael Jackson’s lead guitar player.
Favorite quote: All things are possible
Favorite part of The Mountain Times: the Community Calendar