Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

Sharon Tincher (Scholl-Nabulsi)

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!

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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.............

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

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!!!!

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

Marcia Conley (Davis)

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

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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  

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!

Sharon Tincher (Scholl-Nabulsi)

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

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

Sharon Tincher (Scholl-Nabulsi)

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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!!!

ME

Sharon Tincher (Scholl-Nabulsi)

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

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

Marcia Conley (Davis)

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

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

Marcia.....hopefully you will consider a trip back AFTER your busy season if over. Will let you know when the luncheon is happening in May. We love to see new faces, not that the old ones aren't looking good, too. We always have something to talk about and catch up/w. Take care of yourself durring this busy time, don't over-do.

Linda

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

The March luncheon was last Fri. at Vel's Amigos. About 9 there and we all had a geat time visiting w/each other. Next lundheon will be April 27th. at the Ivy downtown. We're all hopng it'll be warm enough to eat on the porch. Hope to see lots of friends there. Don't forget......NOON!!!

Linda

Martha Waters (Krueger)

Thanks, Sharon.  I keep forgetting to go here.  The class of 1960 probably has more energetic people---after all, they are a year older.  And, perhaps, we don't have as much new or exciting news to write about.  :)

For instance, I haven't done much lately except enjoy the early spring & blooming trees & bushes & morels, since returning from Puerto Rico.  And I don't recommend PR, unless one just wants to stay in San Juan or doesn't mind spending lots of money to see the rest of the island.  It was more expensive than Ireland last year!

The main two reasons are:  they have no public transportation like buses, so I had to rent a car, & they have few & far between hotels that cost a minimum of $100 a nite.  I generally travel as cheaply as possible, & that wasn't the place.  I wonder if Hawaii would be less expensive?  Ah, well, one of the benefits of traveling:  one learns new things.  It was an interesting place.  Even food was expensive--more than here.  I don't see how the poor make it.  I ate a lot of beans & rice which is delicious the way they do it.  I can recommend a good youth hostel right downtown San Juan, $25-35 a night.

I have been considering Israel as next place, but don't know when is safest as Iran & they are facing off.  Almost booked a train thru the Rockies to LA, but the next day, when I went to buy it, the roomette price went from $229 for two nites' trip and all meals, to $556!  Summer season started, I guess.

So now, may just take my RV van around thru the Ozarks. There are lots of places to see, and soon it will be time to canoe, if I can find partners who like doing that stuff.  Being a widow is not easy, traveling helps some in keeping the loneliness at bay, but it would be funner if I could find a traveling companion or companions.  

So there, you have an update.  

Martha Waters (Krueger)

Say, BTW, can & how do we get on the class of 60 forum?

Nan Nelson (Hays)

Hello  classmates...hope everyone is having a great spring !  I'm getting " down & dirty" with the planting season upon us.  Of  course,  before that comes , getting the dirt ready can be the biggest chore.  Picking up that spade  and digging can sure be hard  and I don't remember hurting so much afterwards...ha-ha.   I think I'm going to do more  container gardening this year.  Still early to plant much  & no rain in sight.  I hope we don't have another screwy season like last year.  I remember  a very wet spring and a very dry summer & fall.  The plants are confused I think.  There will be allot of praying over them.

I am enjoying my crabapple tree in full bloom right now  and the lilacs are outstanding and perfuming my house quite nicely.   I have some tulips also out.

Well, enough chit-chat out of me for the time being.  I do want to wish everyone a very HAPPY EASTER this coming Sunday.

Hugs to all, Nancy

Sharon Tincher (Scholl-Nabulsi)

Hey Martha and Nancy:

Thanks for writing in the forum with a lot of interesting news. As far as getting on the 1960 website I do believe that it is a closed site. Sorry!

Martha sounds like your travels are taking you far and wide. By the way you might contact Sharon Duncan Strunk who is also a widow and would like to have a traveling companion. She does not have a computer so if you want her cell phone call me and I will give it to you. You are really seeing the world.

Nancy, I admire you planting a garden. I have given that part of my life up as getting up after your down is just too much of a challenge for this "old gal".  If you have a tomato or two that you want to sell when they are ripe give me a hollar. Great seeing you at the 'girls' luncheon last Friday. I am so glad that we do that each month. By the way anyone reading this message is welcome to attend our  monthly luncheons. They are usually the last Friday of the month and start at noon and April will be at the Ivy Bake Shoppe at 7th and Avenue G. Come one come all and if any of you GUYS want to come please do.

Happy Easter to everyone and keep on writing. We love to know what you are doing.

Linda Kirchner (Schrader)

Like Sharon....great to read Martha's and Nancy's comments. Good to hear from others.

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter. We're heading to Nashville, TN to visit our youngest daughter. It should be nice and warm  there, looking fwd. to the trip. Good places to eat  and SHOP!!!

Linda

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