Lurelle Robbins

Life has taken many unexpected turns to things and events I would never have imagined.

After College at OSU I worked for Dana Bratton's dad at the Malheur County Assessor's office. Gary Winchester and I worked there and decided to move to the Willamette Valley where we worked for Linn County Assessor. I had the distinction of being the subject of 1 or 2 articles in the Albany Democrat Herald where I was loving referred to as a turkey. I Became a volunteer Fire Fighter in Vale, while working for Dana's dad. From there I decided to become a Paramedic working 24 hour shifts at first 15 days per month and then 10 days per month. I worked in Corvallis, Albany, Portland and San Diego until 2002. I have seen the seedier side of life, one time in Albany being threatened by a young gangster type and I never wore my name badge again, Lurelle are you kidding there aren't too many of us so I figured it would be hard to hide. I have delivered babies and celebrated with the happy families and I have consoled parents when their children succumbed to childbirth and trauma. I rescued victims of life's hazards and helped people extricate themselves from little situations, like how to do I get this bum out of my house, you know the one I brought home with me last night when the haze of alcohol made him appear attractive. I have worked along the US Mexico border with the Border Patrol, with the Coast Guard and with LifeFlight.

I love the travel memories with friends in on the beaches and exploring Mexico, taking a 30 minute scuba class in Spanish and then going overboard with scuba gear and all was not the best choice; I being a poor swimmer, Gary Kurtz and I used to hide behind trees so we missed the bus to swim lessons in Parma.

Exploring Europe with family and my 80 year old Grandmother, we arrived in Amsterdam about 4-6 hours behind schedule, Marianne Hopman met us and helped us to our hotel... where upon opening the door to our room we were met with the screaches of a surprised couple already occupying the room .

Sitting in the aisle of the bus on the narrow mountain roads of Peru and Bolivia was frightening and sleeping on the bank with the "cayman" (alligators) seemed equally dangerous. There is more to this story but will let it go for now.

I also had the great pleasure to travel to Latvia with Southwest Medical Teams to teach Advanced Cardiac Life Support. This was shortly after Latvia seceded from the Soviet Union, and the doctors were paid $80 per month while the ambulance drivers were paid $100.

Now I am back in Portland owning and managing apartments and consulting on Health and Nutrition.

Before we meet I will have taken a Cruise from Barcelona to Italy and back and look forward to the reunion.

Freshman Year Richard Beck and I were taken blindfolded out into the country and dropped off, as it turned out just a short distance from my house. I think my cousin Craig had something to do with that.
Junior Year in Ag Class (FFA). The teacher who I only remember as Wally had no control over the class. We would burn pepper with the welders, lock each other and sometime Wally in the storage closet.

One day, I think it was Ken Cannon who had been overhauling a pickup. When it would not start we all pushed it around the school grounds until it started. We jumped on and rode around until of course someone in control caught up with us. From that point on we sat in Detention with Mr. Calhoun and later my uncle Merildean Robbins took over the class for a short time before year end.

I did not have my paper finished for Balou's class so I left it home. He made me go home and get it. ugh! "F"

Carter made fun of my name and when I refused to do what he wanted he had me stand with my nose on the chalk board.

Ron and I would drive in to the night class with Mr. Swisher. I never seemed to finish the book reading so Ron would tell me the rest of the story and I would have a good passing grade.

So the memories flow.