Manuel Avila

It seems this Covid is becoming like the flu, coming around every year if not more. It has changed the way we live. At our age we have enough problems trying to stay healthy! The good news is we get to celebrate the BDays of Susan Gilliland (Close), Debbie White (Taylor) and Marvin Williams. BDays give an reason to get wild and crazy. Remember when we did not need a reason to get wild and crazy? Did you get wild and crazy and not remember? Take care.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

The New Year is here and we must remain positive. It seems this last year of Covid was more devastating than the 2020 year, personally. On the positive side, the new strain of Covid seems to be less lethal. And, we get to celebrate the BDays of Mary Herrera (Burns) and Dae Lantz. Many of you may not know Dae has returned to the fold and now resides in Tehachapi again. Some of us cannot resist the pull of this mountain town. A toast to our classmates and to the New Year.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Classmates, we seem to be leaving the worst of the Covid restrictions and associated maladies. Seems most people have been affected in one way or another either personally or through an acquaintance. Whatever your thoughts and beliefs about the pandemic, the last several years have changed all of us. Now the good news! Happy BDay to Debbie (Munguia) Knowles, Tom Booth and Jim Wright. If anyone has knowledge of or contact with Tom or Jim, give us an update. Like me, Debbie is still in town and going strong. Well she is going strong. Everyone stay safe.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

A day late and a dollar short seems to be my mantra anymore. I will continue to work on the day late part. Covid seems to be receding but surging at the same time according to the internet. So it must be true. I feel it will be like the flu, cold and other maladies we live with, it is with us to stay. Done with my sermon. Now, Happy BDay to Peggy Melton (Selby), DeAnna Gassaway (Brooks), Dave Edmiston, Sally Warfield and John Marin. Hoist a glass, mug, bottle, carton or jug of an alcoholic beverage, milk, soda, sports drink, protein drink or water, whatever does not interfere with your medication(s) and celebrate their special day. Take care everyone,  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Hope you all are doing well and not being affected by the current rash of Covid infections. Here in CA Covid seems to have taken a back seat in the news to inflation, high gas prices (highest in the country) and rising interest rates. Most of you are too young to remember gas prices in the $.20 range. The good old days! Now, to the important business. Happy BDay to Kathy Bermudez (Forcum), Shirley McCain (Nelson), Susan Willard (Whitten/McPhee) and Janette Sanders (Ashworth). The good news is we are still closer to 70 than 80! There are some days I feel closer to 80. Everyone take care.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

I think I am on time this month for the BDays salutations. I do get to them eventually. This month we celebrate the BDays of Mary Ursua, Dennis Yearton and Russ Ary. Raise a toast, eat your favorite sweet food or eat a complete meal to celebrate in their honor and yours. The news says Covid is on the rise again so be careful out there. I know I have enjoyed not having to wear a mask as much but age makes me more susceptible. Even you "younger" people need to be careful. Since getting out I have been able to talk with Glenda Killingsworth Ursua at Little League softball games. She looks great and still has her sunny attitude. You all take care. Manuel

Manuel Avila

Another month gone. Covid still raging. Inflation up. Gas prices up. Food prices up. But we are still around! Yes, more of my days are spent around doctor's appointments but I am still around! Classmates, we have seen many changes in the last 50+ years and they have been amazing. Most of them even an old grouch like me has appreciated. Still working on the "smart phone" concept though. Done!

Today is the day to celebrate Yolanda Vasquez's (Gum) BDay! Take the day to think back to grade school, Jr. high and high school and try to remember the BDays celebrated in class with classmates and friends around. Happy days and happy thoughts. Toast Yolanda and the memories.

Manuel Avila

Larry, I am telling you it is/was your BDay and many, many more to come. I do this before the Old Timers Picnic because I well remember last year when I was late for his BDay greeting! Most of you probably did not know this but Larry and I were two of the premier runners of the class. I believe I mentioned before we made a connection at the back of the pack, running the mile in 7th grade PE. When you do not have to prove anything, you can slack off performing non essentials such as coming in at the head of the pack for the mile. Probably the only one who might have a clue what I am talking about is Larry but this is my chance to ramble. I sincerely hope you are all doing well.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Hello everyone! I have been watching the news and the extreme weather happening across our country. He in the West we have the drought and fires in the forests but in the east it is raining enough to flood. Wherever you live, stay safe. Now I remember why I opened this post! It is time to celebrate the BDays of our esteemed classmates. A tip of the hat, or libations if you are so inclined and able, to Patricia McCain (Crawford), Steve Helms, Paul Moore, Roger Longcrier, my good neighbor, Tom Thompson, Carolyn Kirkendoll (Johnson), Ray Koehler, Bob Warner and never ever to forgotten again, Glenda Killingsworth (Ursua)! Quite a few classmates born in August! And let us celebrate the memories of classmates gone before us.

I was thinking one day, I can hear the groans, our BDays should also be a celebration to our parents and especially our mothers. That day was not an easy one for them. You all take care, be safe and enjoy life.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Once again I hope this monthly message finds you all in good health. Happy BDay to Sheila McTyre (Williams). Keep her in your thoughts and maybe tip one like we, or at least John and I did in the old days. Take time to remember classmates who have gone before and celebrate their memory.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Thanksgiving has passed again and I am thankful  we are able to celebrate another one. It does seem that all the stores seem to overlook this part of the Holiday Season. Has anyone else noticed Christmas ads are starting to come out before Halloween? Even my favorite shopping store, Costco, does this. I seem to remember, old and rusty as it my mind may be, all of the mayhem started after Thanksgiving. Irregardless, is that a word?, it is my pleasure to wish classmates Susan Gilliland (Close), Debbie White (Taylor) and Marvin Williams a Happy BDay! When I write these celebrations of life, I sit at my computer listening to old rock and roll and think of times passed. Many good memories there of Tehachapi and some humbling ones also.  Everyone take care. You will be hearing from me again. Manuel

Manuel Avila

Happy BDay Mary Herrera (Burns) and Dae Lantz! You and our class made another rotation around the sun and start the journey for the next one. Are we wiser? Possibly. We are certainly older and experienced. Take the time to reflect on the past 70+ years, what we can remember, and celebrate the joys as well as the disappointments we have experienced that make us the unique person we are. Happy New Year everyone!

Manuel Avila

Happy BDay to Debbie Munguia (Knowles) and Jim Wright. As we are all entering a new decade of our lives, I know I pause to reflect some of the decisions I have made. Some good and some bad. I am thankful I am able to still make some good and some bad decisions. Mostly I try to make more good decisions based on all the decisions I have made. I am very thankful I am still around to make any decisions. Tip a glass of your favorite libation to the current BDay celebrants and to yourself for still being around!

Marvin Williams

Well I can't let Manuel drink alone, I will raise a toast to the birthday gals & guys, as my Grandpa used to say "at my age any day I wake up and don't see the bottom of grass is a good day." I'm not near as talented a writer as Manuel so I'll keep this short. Good health to you and yours, live well, laugh hard and love harder.

Manuel Avila

Marvin, I am glad to have someone to drink with! I was beginning to think I was becoming an alcoholic drinking by myself. Now, if we could get others to make comments! I agree with you and your Grandpa about waking up. Take care all.

Manuel Avila

Do not know if any of you are keeping track of the weather in Tehachapi besides the ones who still live here. But, it seems to this old mind with only my long term memory on which to rely, the weather has returned to the old days of snow and cold weather for days. Seems we did not have near as many snow days off from school as they do now. We also did not have the communities of Bear Valley, Stallion Springs and Alpine Forest with all the kids living there.

Now for the good news! Happy BDay to Peggy Melton (Selby), DeAnna Gassaway (Brooks), Elaine Spellman (Brister), Dave Edmiston, John Marin and Sally Warfield. A tip of the glass to you all!

Manuel Avila

Good Morning all. Note of interest. I actually witnessed the tail end of a catalytic converter theft! Two guys were running into a car as I was driving up to their stopped car. The car made a u-turn in front of me but did not have a front license plate so I could not write anything down for the police. I did stop and notify the Victims. Sad. I read this in the News but it is different to actually see it. Now the good news! Happy BDay to Kathy Bermudez (Forcum), Shirley McCain (Nelson),Janette Sanders (Ashworth), and Susan Willard (Whitton/McPhee)! Let us all celebrate these classmates with a toast and well wishes. Take care. Manuel

Manuel Avila

Good morning to all. This fine day commemorates the BDay's of classmates Mary Ursua, Russ Ary and Dennis Yearton this month. Raise a toast and cheer to them. I know Marvin also is with me on the toast part. I hope the month and months leading to this day have been kind to you all. Be safe and enjoy life.

Manuel Avila

Happy BDay to Yolanda Vasquez (Gum)! Another day to celebrate and have a toast to and for a classmate. I do not know if Marvin imbibes in alcoholic beverages any more,or any less, but lift one or two with me Marvin! I hope all is well with our classmates and their families. The last couple of years have been a roller coaster of emotional and economic situations for the country and myself as well. At this point, I am doing my best to weather each day and month as best I can. Along the way, I try to have fun and make each day count. I wish all of you good health and good fortune.  Manuel

Manuel Avila

Here we are with another BDay for my old friend Larry Morphis, A toast to you and Happy BDay. I can remember paying it forward with you for BDay toasts in the very old days! We used to get many toasts in on one night. I hope the rest of you classmates are having a good year and weathering the heat. Tehachapi has been having what I consider warmer weather than what I remember in Jr. and High School days. I am told by "experts" it is global warming. I notice on the news from Bakersfield the temps reached 113 but no one talked about global warming then. You all take care. Manuel

Manuel Avila

Here we are again for BDay salutations. This is a busy month for BDays! Happy BDay to classmates Patricia McCain (Crawford), Steve Helms, Paul Moore, Tom Thompson, my neighbor Roger Longcrier, Carolyn Kirkendall (Johnson), Glenda Killingsworth (Ursua), Ray Koehler and big Bob Warner. I only tipped one libation for all the names because if I did it for every name, I would be unable to do salutations next month. At my age the healing process takes much much longer! I talked to Carolyn for a bit at the Old Timers Picnic. It was a good conversation. She is still riding horses which I tried once and decided it was not for me. Falling off a horse is not the same as getting tackled by someone at ground level. I see the smiling face of Glenda most every Friday when I go to breakfast with some old guys. Anyway, Happy BDay to all you youngsters! Manuel

Yolanda Vasquez (Gum)

A big "thank you " to Manuel for making sure he sends each and every month birthday greetings. Although I'm sure he enjoys the celebrating that goes along with the wishes. I also attended the Old Timers Picnic this year and had such a great time. I got to sit and eat lunch with Manuel, Debbie Knowles, and Larry Morphis. Later I visited with Roger Longcrier and Dae Lantz. I encourage you if you get a chance to attend one of these picnics. It's like a giant reunion.  Debbie and I told Manuel that we would try to join some of his conversations so he didn't feel like he was the only one posting since he no longer has John. I did see that Marvin joins in from time to time too. I hope everyone is doing well and that life is good. 

Yolanda
 

Manuel Avila

Greetings to you all! It is time to wish Happy BDay to Sheila McTyre (Williams), our lone celebrant for the month. A tip of your favorite libation to her and best wishes. I also wish all of you a good day, month and rest of the year. You all take care. Manuel

Marvin Williams

I guess I've left Manuel hanging on the Birthday toasts for the past few months, Happy belated birthdays to all I have missed. We will be in town later this week, not sure yet how long we will be staying, hopefully we can all get together for coffee and a chat, we will busy until Monday the ninth but should have some free time after that .

Manuel Avila

Well People, I done it again! I forgot to wish Happy BDay at the end of the month! My blame, excuse and irresponsibility is based on driving at night out of town resulting in late bedtimes, advanced age faulty memory, geospatial disorientation and general malaise. If anyone out there understands what I just typed, contact me and explain it to me! Now down to business. Happy BDay to Susan Gilliland (Close), Debbie White (Taylor). Marvin Williams and a belated BDay to Glenda Steelman (Lewis) who joined the Forum last month. May the Holiday Season find you all in good health. Good to hear from Marvin in the Forum! Keep up the good work my friend! May all of you Classmates enjoy the Christmas and Holiday Season. Manuel