pictures

Carolyn at Breakfast , on her birthday with Linda in the background

Vicki, Carolyn, Nurse Nancy, and Kathy

Anna, Norma,Gini, Carol, Vicki on the Catalina tour

Ginny and me

Part 2

Tonight, I'm reminded of my roomate fall quarter our senior year Ginny Lingren Edwards.
Ginny was "the pretty girl". The one who always seemed to be having fun and dated all the cool guys. Ginny has such a great laugh and everyone around her seem to have fun.
When we started planning for our cruise, Ginny asked if we could room together again, for old times sake. So we did.
Ginny is the one in the big white hat in the upper left of the picture. She helped me plan the fun stuff for the cruise and asked the questions win the door prizes each day at breakfast. Every night we lay in bed laughing trying to figure out what silly things we could ask our friends the next morning so everyone eventually would win a door prize. Ginny also did the planning of the 2 excursions we took while on the cruise.
The first excursion was billed as Catalina Island Land and Sea, almost sound like a dinner menu right? The sea part was billed as an open bottom boat to view the sea life. Well, we had a great time laughing together and watching through the large fish bowl type thing in the middle of the boat to view fish that looked very much like carp. it was great. We then took a bus tour of Catalina, learned alot about the island , history, business and that Natalie Wood drowned just off shore!! We spent the afternoon sightseeing and shopping or going back to the ship.
Pat Roe Laube, the one just left of me in the picture. had purchased a student nurse doll in the SPU bookstore somewhere around 1969. She brought the doll , whom we named Nancy, we took pictures of the doll in every situation we possibly could . She is dressed in the student uniform that we wore. Thanks Pat for adding to the fun.
Now back to Ginny. She has seen her share of the good, the bad and the ugly in life , as all of us have by this time in life. She has 3 children , one severely disabled. Yet , My Ginny, is still fun , still laughs with gusto, loves God, loves her children and loves her husband. Thanks, Ginny, for rooming with me once again. Thanks for the memories old and new.
"Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold."

The 60's Chicks in Person Part 1

These 16 women in the picture above are the marvelous, beautiful, friends I call the 60"s Chicks.

We met each other in 1966 when we became freshman nursing students at then Seattle Pacific College. Now University. We were anxious, we were eager, we were idealistic, we were afraid, we were excited but we were mostly young. We struggled through all the things that all young college girls struggle with. It was the 1960's so our world was really changing. The role of women was up for grabs. And the notion was rampant the God was Dead! The Hippie movement was alive and well . The military draft had just assigned lottery numbers to all our male friends. The war in Viet Nam was raging. We all had friends there who we wrote to regularly. We all lost friends there. We worried that the guys we dated had a low draft number-- maybe they would go too.

Beyond that we had things to learn. We learned to make beds so a quarter would bounce on it. We learned to give shots starting with giving them to each other. We learned that nursing students do NOT skip class, do NOT fall asleep in class and do NOT EVER get a "C". We NEVER could stay out late because we started in the hospital at 6AM. In our college days the guys were not allowed on our dorm floors. The girls had "in hours". 8:30 pm during the week our Freshman year. Midnight on weekends!! The guys who lived in the other side of the dorm loved to pull the fire alarms at 3 AM. We girls were requires to file out of the dorm ( I lived on the 5th floor) until the Housemother called an all clear. The guys? I just remember them lining their windows watching us all tromp through the night in our pajamas and curlers in our hair..

It was really during these long hours in dorm that I began to really know these girls.

Joyce Lager , the first girl I met when I went to preregister for classes. She lived in the Bellevue area and I lived in Boulevard Park so we could commute easily to early registration. She was sweet and kind. She didn't show that she was nervous. I thought she was very smart. ( and she was). She lived in Hill Hall too 2 floors below me, I think.

She became my friend who I would go to for reaasurance and encouragement. The one who could always make me feel ok even if I'd done something really stupid. She was the one who didn't always like the boys I dated and would tactfully say so!! Joyce is at the bottom right of the picture in a green shirt, right next to me.

Joyce is now Joyce Anderson, still works as a nurse, is married to a PHD, The mother of 4 children, 3 girls ,1 boy all college graduates. Her oldest daughter is finishing a residency in OBGYN. She has 2 grandsons . A Connor, too.

The bond of women who knew you "when" before life happened and who love you still after much of life has happened. The connection that is still there even though the communication wasn't always. Friendship is the most amazing thing.

When I sat down tonight I had intended to write about the cruise and the wonderful time we had together in one post, but then the memories came. It will be several more posts before I'm done, I believe.

I do , however remember turning 20 with these girls. Now next week I will turn 60( all but one other already have so I am almost the youngest) How quickly we went from Freshmen nursing students to "The 60's Chicks"

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain"

Thank God for my 60's Chicks

Long time gone

Since my last post about Memorial Day, I have been busy with travels family and business. I went on a mission to Dominican Republic in July, Montreal and Quebec City with my sisters for a "back to our roots" trip in August, A marvelous reunion cruise with friends fo 40 years in September, A trip to Lake Havasu , Arizona to judge the Ms Senior Lake Havasu pageant, Hosting our week long company retreat at the Oregon Coast. Nashvillle, to accompany 3 of our Skilled Nursing Facilities to receive their national Quality Care awards and finally to the Grand opening of our newly built Prestige Assisted Living in Manteca, California!!!!

It has been a busy year but now I am home. I am looking forward to blogging the fun stuff now.

Ged Bless the 60's Chicks Absolutly nothing like friends that knew you "when"

Memorial Day

Most people today think of Memorial Day as a long weekend, the last of May. I will always think of Memorial Day as May 30th.
My Father always took us to parades and talked to us about the importance of remembering those who have given their lives for our Freedom. As a result of this I always fly the US flag on this day and salute the members of our armed forces past and present which includes my husband.
Thank you to all who care enough about my freedom to give service. Also to the families, especially the children, who live in an uncertain state until that parent walks through the door and into their arms. God Bless you all and God Bless America!!!!!!

On a much lighter note------ The reson I always remember May 30th!!

The weekend of May 18, 1968, I was asked by the then ASSPC President to be the "camp nurse" at a weekend camp for inner city children to be held at a horse camp in Cle Elm, Washington. This request came through his girlfiend who lived on my floor in the dorm and knew I was a Sophomore Nursing student. ( translation knew very little about nursing, but they were covered, as the had "a nurse"?!?)

Friday evening, I was introduced to the other staff, Jon, Suzie, Julie, and Harold Delamarter.
The cute guy with a great smile and terrifc blue eyes. My first memory is him standing at the top of the stairs laughing and teasing me about who knows what. !!!
Saturday dawned, we spent alot of time at the pool. Me in a borrowed 2 piece bathing suit. Borrowed, because my own Mother did not think 2 piece bathing suits were ever appropriate.
I was girls counsellor with Julie and kept talking to her about how much this guy named Harold was flirting with me. Ha----more about Julie later.

Harold was the wrangler of the horses and supervised the kids horse back riding. It was the first camp of the spring so the horses were a bit squirlly, not having been ridden for the winter.
As it happened, 2 girls fell off their horses and right into the barbed wire fences. CALL FOR THE NURSE!!!
Stitches needed------ my evaluation.
Harold volunteered to be the ambulance driver----- in his bright red 1965 Mustang ( the first year they were made)
Into Ellensberg we went with 2 girls in the back seat, must have had releases, not sure . I was just 19 myself.
Came back to camp, girls with stitches in place, me giggling as Harold is very funny. What girl can resist a guy that makes her laugh?
Seats were saved at the dinner table, which was in progress . I was to sit next to Jon and his girlfriend, Harold was to sit next to JULIE. Seems they had been dating and they came together!!!!! Not only could she could she ride horses BUT she could play the piano too! One of my biggest envies.
This is the girl I had been talking to about Harold!!!!! I think I even told her I thought he was cute!!!
Went back to Seattle to the dorm. My best friend had a room over looking the parking lot and you can't hide a red Mustang among college kids cars!! Knew when it went ; Knew when it came back!!!
A few days later, I was sitting on my bed praying. I said" God, I would really like a date this weekend either with ....... ......... or Harold Delamarter"
Before I finished the prayer, the phone rang. "Hello" "Hi, This is Harold Delamarter. What are you doing for Memorial Day"?
'ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, what did you have in mind?"
Our first date was May 30, 1968. We went to Whidby Island , on the ferry to the home of his cousin's boyfriend's parents for a large group barbeque.
I was nervous, he made me laugh, I broke one of his 8 track tapes, and he didn't kiss me!!!
But I still remember the stories he told and how I laughed. Still do on remembrance!!
40 years have come and gone since that first date! I can't believe it.
A stint living in Germany with the Army, 3 kids, 2 daughters in law, 1 son in law, 4 1/2 grand children, building a business together------- now turning 60!!!!
How quickly those 40 years have passed!!!

I am blessed with great memories this Memorial Day, 2008

and that Julie----- Well----- I've heard that he made the right choice!!!

Eight Ring Bearers and a Red Wagon

Six of the eight Ringbearers

This truly is my last wedding post and it is my favorite. It has long been tradition in the family to include all the sisters , brothers, sisters in laws, brothers in laws, and children in the wedding. This became quite a challenge when Sarah became engaged. Sarah has 4 nephews ages 1,4,8 1/2, and 10. Daren has four nephews ages 18 months, 4, 6 and 7. One is a toddler ,one is a non walker. Christy, my daughter in law came up with the little red wagon idea.
Hence the 8 protectors of the rings.
The brides party proceeded down the aisle, the flower girls ( whom we ahd to borrow, no girls in either family)came down the aisle, the bride came down the aisle and the ceremony began. The bride was given away, the Preacher preached, the vows were taken. The preacher then asked" Do you have the rings?" Music flowed from the piano----- Charlie Brown tunes of some sort. A short pause and the 81/2 year old ( the 1/2 is especially important to him) began down the aisle pulling a little red wagon. Riding in the wagon were the toddler and the non walker. Following the wagon , holding hands were the 2 four year olds, then the 6 and 7 year olds. Bringing up the rear of the wagon train was the 10 year old carrying the pillow with the rings. All these boys in tuxedos!!!!! As they reached the front of the room everyone broke into applause.
The walkers stood by their Dads, who were all in the wedding party. The wagon riders were pulled to the safety of their cargivers for the night. And the entire row of bridesmaids breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It truly was a highlight of the evening.
If I had a picture of the wagon train I would have posted it. But the 6 perched on the curb is pretty cute.
Well ,2 Thomas the trains, one trip to Chucky Cheese and 2 trips to the toy store were all it cost this Grandma in bribes!!!! A small joyous price of watching a priceless parade for the love of their aunt and uncle.
Tonight they are still in Tahiti. I have yet to recieve even one of the cards I so kindly addressed to myself and stamped for their convenience. I am sure , though, that my framed picture is sitting bedside in their over the water bungalow!!!!!!!

OK just allow me will you !!! I AM turning 60 this year!!!
Hooray for the 60's Chicks

Table pictures

Guest Tables

Head Table

Daren Insisted taht the wedding party sit with their spouses,significant others, guests etc

34 people at the "double wide"