This month’s Thumpista is Natalie, one of the rare people in this town who can say they were born and raised in Bend! After graduating from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Family & Human Services, Natalie initially set her sights on moving to San Diego or Portland.  But  . . .  an unexpected romance and a great job opportunity (at thump!) convinced her to return to her hometown.

Those who spend any time with Natalie know that she has a tremendous singing voice.  She explains that it all started “… in the 5th grade when I tried out for Alice in Wonderland. I didn’t get the Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum parts, so my parents encouraged me to go back and audition for something else.  I went back, tried out again and got Alice!”  She went on to sing in her high school’s jazz choir and in jazz clubs while in college.

The discovery of vocal nodules prevented her from singing at all for several months and that’s when her talent for whistling emerged. What does she see in her future? Singing and maybe whistling, along with managing a non-profit family services organization, traveling, possibly opening a coffeehouse of her own, as well as starting a family.