Message Forum

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

I just left Church services and stopping by my office to send Christmas wishes. The weather is beautiful with temperatures in the low 70's and sunny skies.

I am so blessed to have my family and many, many friends. Instead of the usual "everyone getting together on Christmas Eve" as I have done in past years, I am spreading the joy over the next week. I had dinner with 4 of my 5 grandchildren, my son and daughter-in-law on Friday evening, going to my daughter's this afternoon in Long Beach and next Saturday joining my other son and daughter-in-law and grandson in Simi Valley. Spent Christmas Eve by myself reflecting on the glories of God and my experiences over the past year.

Life is Good!

God Bless Everyone and Be Safe!

12/25/11 05:11 PM

#102

Marcia....so happy someone wrote on the forum....I love to hear from people, but most are too busy. It's a shame we all don't keep in touch better thru the year, not just at reunion time. I love reading your comments, keep up the good work. Your life sounds so full of family & friends, that's great for you. IF you ever get back in the area, please let me know, I truly enjoy spending time w/you. Take care and enjoy the rest of the week of celebrating.

Love you girlfriend........Linda Lu

12/30/11 07:30 PM

#103

I echo eveything that Linda said and also thanks Marsha for writing in the message forum! I am wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year in 2012! Please keep in touch 'cause it's only four years until our 55th reunion! Bite my tongue! Did I really just say that. Yes I did and it will come faster than you think. Take care and God Bless you all!

12/31/11 08:23 AM

#104

Yes, Sharon, bite your tongue!!!

I also echo Sharon's wishing everyone a very blessed New Year. May we all have good health, good friends, good food & good wine.....We all need to keep in touch and write old memories here on the forum. It's so much fun to reminisce and talk about our HS days. We are on the downhill side of our lives, as we well know.I can recall what people wore and who they dated, who was in my classes, teachers & what they taught, slumber parties, have photos of many things. At the next reunion, more people need to go thru the famous "tunnel" in the old HS. It's pretty awesome!!! I just remembered that I have 1 or 2 calendars left if anyone thinks they need one.

I invite anyone to comment on here and tell a memory of something that happened in HS that they remember.

Linda Lu

01/01/12 11:13 AM

#105

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

How fast the years are passing! Woke up to a very foggy day in Orange County. It has been foggy the past week. Hope it clears by Tuesday morning as I am "back on the road" flying to San Jose for seminars in Northern CA this week. Fly home Friday night and back to Sacramento next Sunday for the following week. I will almost be glad when tax season kicks off on February 1. Then it is staying in Orange County and working 24/7 until April 15. It is sometimes tiring but I love it and wouldn't thinking of doing anything else like retirement. Ugh!!

Before we know it, it will be reunion time! I wish the New Year to bring happiness, contentment, health and continued well-being to everyone.

Marcia

01/06/12 01:32 PM

#106

I hope the new year has been a great one for everyone so far. It's been so warm here, today it's about 60', and it's JANUARY!!! Hope we don't have ice in June!!! Am thinking about retiring this year. Then it will be more traveling, I hope........Linda Lu

01/13/12 08:19 AM

#107

We FINALLY got some snow!!! We were in TX the first snow fall here, and it was all gone by the time we got home. I guess I'm a little on the different side as I love snow, have yet to get too much We live at the edge of town, so it's beautiful by the woods.Deer going thru the yard are enjoyable to watch. We also see fox now & then. As the new year starts, we look fwd to another year of life on our journey. I challenge everyone in our class who reads this to make a comment. Am disappointed more don't write here and keep in touch. I miss hearing from classmates.

Linda Lu

01/16/12 10:28 PM

#108

You go girl! I am rooting you on and I too hope that more classmates write on our "Message Forum". What's the old addage, "You can bring a horse to water but you can't make him drink". Please write class! I too love to have snow as long as I am on the inside looking out. Love you Linda Lu!

01/27/12 04:57 PM

#109

Well....today was a good day....the girls from the class had our luncheon. We met at Chandler's and there were 12 girls there. Let's see....Sharon, Mary, Betty, Nancy, Sandy, Lynda, Mary, Sally, Sharon, Linda, Karan & me.We all had a great time and the food was good. It's chilly here, but it was good to see everyone again. We haven't met since November. Next month, we're meeting at the Pizza Hut, Fri. Feb. 17th. at noon. So anyone can join us, we're easy to get along/w, even the guys are welcome.............

02/07/12 08:01 AM

#110

Thank you very much Sharon, for keeping us up-to-date w/the news & happenings in Fort Madison. I appreciate you thinking of us all and taking the tme to notify us of things of interest to us all.

Linda

02/07/12 04:23 PM

#111

Dennis Holdgrafer

Hey Linda and Sharon,

i guess we are the only ones doing this this so here it goes.........

Well what did Denny Holdgrafer do for the last 50 years? After FMHS I went to work. I had three very good careers. The first was the oil business..gas stations, truck stops, and C stores....56 in six states. A lot of windshield time and airports. Four children...with the same color eyes, so things were good at home. That took the first 25 years. After that I was in the auto and RV business. That was the next 10 years. And that was fun. And last I was ready to retire and I went to work for a college......and with just a high school education I became one of the directors of the college. And that was the last 5 years. And now I golf, swim, do marathons, and travel . Wow! the was a fast 50 years!

Anyhow, that's all for now............love everyone!!!!

02/07/12 07:08 PM

#112

Martha Waters (Krueger)

Thank you, Sharon, for keeping us updated on things going on with our classmates. You asked for some posts of something interesting.

Well, in 9 days, I am hope to go to Puerto Rico for 10 days--as usual, alone. I trained there for 1 month 46 yrs ago for the Peace Corps, and thought I would see how it has changed. I hope to stay in youth hostels at $20 a nite like I usually do when I travel all those places. I always thought I would like to go back to PR. Hawaii has never enticed me because Puerto Rico seems similar and they were friendly folk then and I figure they still are. I will get to keep my Spanish updated too.

I had been letting Kayak watch for cheaper flights to Israel, Bolivia & Panama, but now, Iran & Israel are heating up--again, so I don't know about Israel. Anyone want a travel companion--(pay your own way?) :)

Martha

02/12/12 11:46 AM

#113

It is a nice sunny day in Southern CA and with it being February, I am hard at work preparing tax returns and completing financials for calendar year businesses! During Tax Season, I go to Saturday evening services at Church so I can have a full Sunday without interruption. Before February 1, I was able to enjoy a drive to Santa Barbara with the top down, stay the night and refresh to begin the grueling hours my profession demands. This is my 46th Tax Season. 27 years of owning my firm in Costa Mesa! I am pretty proud of that!

The "light at the end of the tunnel" for me is, hopefully, a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica in early May.

Have a beautiful day, stay safe and keep healthy!

Marcia

02/12/12 02:32 PM

#114

Marcia...so glad you enjoy your career, and are very good at it. Wish I coulld put my top down and take a drive, but unfortunately the weather has turned into typical Feb. weather, finally. But am looking fwd to retiring someday and also, putting the top down for a drive....take care and don't work too hard thru tax season.

Your friend....Linda Lu

02/14/12 08:22 AM

#115

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

02/14/12 08:23 AM

#116

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO EVERYONE IN THE CLASS OF '61!!! THANKS TO DENNY HOLGRAFFER, MARCIA CONLEY, MARTHA WATERS AND LINDA KIRCHNER FOR WRITING IN THE 'MESSAGE FORUM'. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD DO IT. VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT DAY!!! AS EVER, SHARON

02/18/12 07:56 AM

#117

Had a great luncheon yesterday w/the girls of our class. There were 12 there and we had a great visit. Sharon Cross joined us....she reitred. Glad to see her, we sang Happy Birthday to her. Next month's luncheon is March 30th. at Vel's Amigos. Hope to see lots here..........Linda Lu

02/29/12 06:54 PM

#118

ALOHA......just got home from a wk. in Maui......was awesome!!! Went to the top of a volcano, very foggy that day, couldn't see much. Whale watching was wonderful. We must have seen over 30 whales, adults and babies. They came right up next to the catamaran. I thought it was scary at first. The sun was warm, the ocearn powerful, sand very fine, flowers and scenery beautiful, and the shopping great. Pina Coladas, Fuzzy Navels really good. Did not like the Mai Tais...yuck!!! Might take up hula dancing!!! Might Not!!! GOT ROCKS!!! Flying all night is for the birds Gas in Hona was $6.00!!! Very tired and have to go back to work tomorrow........ALOHA

03/03/12 08:48 AM

#119

Hey Linda, So glad you had a great trip! Looking forward to hearing all about it at our luncheon at the end of the month! I knew you would love Maui! Hello to anyone and everyone who is out there and I wish more people would write on our message forum.

Also shout out to Martha Waters and I hope you are enjoying CostaRica! Send pictures!

Fondly, Sharon

03/12/12 08:02 AM

#120

Had a wonderful trip to Maui........long plane ride, uncomfortable!!! Weather was great, lots of whales, ocean very poserful, food OK, drinks very tasty, and shopping pretty good. Got some sun and walked miles!!!

Hope eeryone has adapted to Daylight Time by now............Linda

03/12/12 08:05 AM

#121

Guess I didn't proof read myself.......the ocean was very POWERFUL and I hope EVERYONE has adapted to the time change..........oh well fortunately not too many read this so maybe it was over looked!!!

03/13/12 09:30 PM

#122

Linda, you are too funny! I missed your boo boo but as you said not many read our message forum and that is still a mystery to me! Be good and see you soon!luv u!

03/14/12 08:47 AM

#123

Looking fwd to seeing you & everyone at Vel's Amigo's Fri. the 30th., at noon, unless I have the wrong date.

I have bluebirds here already.....Spring has sprung!!!

Linda

03/14/12 09:42 AM

#124

I wish more would take advantage of such a great forum to keep in touch. I think it is our generation. My grandchildren text back and forth all day long.

I am deep in the midst of tax season with 34 days to go to the first individual filing deadline! Of course, tomorrow, the 15th is the deadline for S and C Corps. Took a quick break Sunday afternoon to drive out to Palm Desert to meet clients on Monday morning and back Monday afternoon. It was very nice in the Desert. Hot and crowded. A big tennis tournament was in progress.

Marcia

03/17/12 09:21 AM

#125