“I got my first pair of glasses here when I was 12. I have very vivid memories of being here, putting on my little glasses, and being like, ‘Wow! Oh, fun! I can look across the street and see the individual leaves on the trees!’I did not want glasses, but after being able to see, I got excited about them. And that’s when I decided that I wanted to do this when I grew up.

I worked for a large group in the area that does LASIK, cataract surgery—just a huge office. I worked for them for four years. Then my husband’s job brought us to Colorado, and we lived there for a few years, and then his job also brought us back a few years later.

I was looking for a job, and a lot of healthcare is being owned by bigger and bigger corporations these days, so I was not interested in getting back into that again. I was interested in more community—a small-town, private practice. I found out, actually through a contact lens rep, that there was an opening available at this office. Mike, the owner, also owns another location too, said he was looking for somebody. And I was like, ‘You’re kidding!’

So I came back to work at the office where I got my first pair of glasses and it’s been great. I love it. We’re available to provide eye care to the community, to tourists who break their glasses—and help kids see the leaves on the trees.”

—Claire Diekema, Harborview Eye Care