Class of '65/Friends Summertime FUN!

For WHS Classmates/Friends, "school has been out for Summer for over 50 years!"

Doesn't seem possible that our 50th Reunion was last August . . . . can still feel the warmth and fun of that special get-together!  If you haven't had a chance to read our reunion blog, you can find it on this blogsite . . . hoping maybe we can get together next Summer to make more "grrrrreat" memories together!

This year, Summer officially began on June 20th with a full moon announcing the start of summertime FUN!

Summers in the South Bay was life at it's best! I'm sure we all have some very special memories of days at the beach, garage/patio parties, volleyball, baseball, family vacations, birthday parties, bbq's and so many other summertime activities, which would be fun to share with one another.

So, how about we share some of our summertime memories and something of our plans for this Summer? Thanks to those who responded - - you have "grrreat Warrior spirit!"

- Your Friendly "Kinda-Smoke Signals Blogger, "Angie Ford-Green

We spend a lot of time poolside!

Bob and Angie Ford-Green . . . Like so many of our WHS classmates/friends, Bob and I spent a LOT of time at the drive-in movies and at the beach during the Summer months. Best memories include beach parties, running with the grummin at Redondo Beach Pier, hanging out with friends and getting married on June 10, 1966 - I loved being a "June bride" and still do!!!

We will spend quality time with my brother, Russ, who is moving from Lake Havasu, AZ and who will be here for much of the Summer; my cousin, Ron Pettigrew and his wife, Camille, will be here for a week the end of July; our son, Eric and his wife, Vonda, will be here the first of August.

Our BFF's Sharon Oglesby-Rainieri and her husband, Tony, will be coming for a week beginning August 31st and they got tickets for the Giants/Rockies game in Denver as our 50th anniversary gift, so thoughtful, but we're still rooting for the Rockies!! LOL! 

"Awwww, it's Summer in the Rockies!"

Maggie Little . . . Not lots going on for me this Summer until my slightly smaller than last year's garden starts getting finished, then I will be canning.  Also, this year a friend and I are cooking and putting meals away after pressure cooking them . . . hope that all goes well. 

I'm off to Modesto for a short visit with my daughter, Rikki, for a few days and then just hanging out at home with some ocean camping weekends until October when my sister, Dona, and I are going to drive to Virginia to visit family then swinging North at a Westerly angle towards South Dakota and Colorado then home to Washington. (Angie Ford-Green is hoping they we will find our way to Fort Collins on our way to or from South Dakots!)

This summer I also hope to be able to catch up on going to a lot of our different County Fairs and Festivals . . . seems like there's several somewhere within a couple hours drive all Summer long. Hope everyone has a fun-filled Summer!

Ruth Cassidy-Arneson went to Sanibel Island, Florida, for a gorgeous 5 days in a cottage on the beach with friends. Also spent 10 days with my cousins in Annapolis, MD for a family reunion. Celebrated 2 birthdays, 4 anniversaries and a graduation all in 1 week. The cousins came down from New Jersey and New York. After they left, my cousin and I went to Ocean City for 3 days. That's all for now, but I'm sure I'm not done for the summer! 

Gerald (Jerry) Nelson . . . I’d like to "blow my own horn" and tell you about my latest adventure. I entered and finished the Southern California Motorcycle Association’s (SCMA) USA Four Corners Tour in May of this year, more than 10,000 miles.

This run is listed as  an “American Motorcycle Association” Extreme Tour. The challenge is to visit (by motorcycle) each of the cities in the four corners of the United States. In any order, the four cities are: San Ysidro, CA; Blaine, WA;  Madawaska, ME; and Key West, FL. I did it in that order. 

Once you visit the first city, you have 21 days to reach the fourth city. I finished the tour in 18 days. If I had it to do over, I wouldn’t leave until at least June. In May, I experienced 30 degree weather, icy rain and some hail and snow along the route. You’re required to obtain a gas receipt showing the date, time and location, and a photograph of your motorcycle with your “riders towel” (which has your rider number embroidered on it) in each of the four cities. 

Mainly, I did this to honor my deceased friend, Chuck Farrah (WHS class of ’69). We had talked about riding this tour together, but he passed away before we could get to it.  

Bob and Linda Elliot-Cloer, Lake Havasu, AZ

No cross-country trip this year, shorter trip from Southern to Northern California; lots of family and friends we would like to see. Other than that we have no plans of any kind except our normal boating here in Lake Havasu. I feel like we're boring people (Angie says NOT!)

Gary and Donna Lawson-Schmidt

After our Trans-Atlantic Cruise/ Europe trip, we are rested and now booked on a Canada & New England two- week cruise October 22nd. We fly to Quebec and end in Ft. Lauderdale. The East Coast was the last big ticket item on my bucket list. 

After being in Ireland and Scotland and learning more about their history, I have a new appreciation for the American Revolution and the fact that we won our freedom from Britain. We have the French to thank for helping us, but we paid them back on D Day! 

We will be spending our summer in Lakeside, Oregon. Gary goes out fishing for Albacore often,  when he is successful we do a lot of canning!  Hugs!

Paul and Jan Martin will spend the month of July at the Grand Canyon in our RV, lots of stars!

David and Carol Cannon . . . My mom turned 94 and is doing great. She worked at West for many years and anyone that gave her shit would have to deal with my brother, Paul. I saw him knock some kid silly in the cafeteria line, because he wasn't being very nice to her. The good old days.We are off to Europe next week and will be back at the end of the month. 

Shirley Cannon 94 years YOUNG! 

David and Carol in Kenya

Rick and Cindy Rivas will be in Colorado for 5 days in August to hike Pikes Peak!

Al and Margie Schriver are enjoying their summer in Spokane, WA. There's lots of grass to mow and acreage to enjoy during the summer months. Al got their boat out and ready for July 4th!
Summers are GOOD in their "neck of the woods!"  

Tony and Sharon Oglesby-Rainieri are enjoying a busy Summer RV'ing and spending time in their new home in Indio, California. Their new home and pool is "more than I ever imagined it could be," said Sharon, and they are making good friends and neighbors.  On July 4th they are going to their neighborhood Clubhouse for dinner and a "doo-wop" band. They are definitely living the "good life" and so far handling the desert heat just fine!



THAT'S ALL THE NEWS FOR NOW!Thank you to everyone who submitted their "news" and I hope we get more responses for our next Kinda Smoke Signals Blog/Newsletter that will be published in the Fall. If you have some plans for the Fall, traditions and festivities you'd like to hsare, please email them on to me at rockymtngreens@comcast.net before October 1st - I'll be reminding everyone in September.  HAVE A FUN, MEMORY-MAKING, SAFE AND HEALTHY SUMMER!!! 

A Redondo Beach Lifeguard Station . . . this is where many of us would hang out together!
Happy Summertime Memories WHS Buddies!

"HAPPY SUMMERTIME WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES!"

I was going to post wedding and anniversary dates, but had a bit of a blog gliche and lost the completed section after already deleting all the emails with the information - grrrr, so frustrating!

For all of you who were married during the Summer, CONGRATULATIONS and keep the "fires of love" burning HOT this Summer and ALWAYS!