'65 Newsletter

'65 Newsletter

I started this project and soon realized that it was a huge undertaking! It is a work in progress and I will gladly give of my time to make this a GREAT newsletter that our class can be proud of. This is your newsletter, so let me know what you would like to see here and I will do my best to make it happen. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. What have you been doing? Where have you been traveling? New grandkids? How have you been dealing with this year's winter? I need your help... so send me some recent pictures so I can post "Now and Then" photos. Don't be shy... I'm sure we have all aged very gracefully! You can e-mail me at: stgreg241@yahoo.com

Send me your announcements to post.

From Leslie Farr. May 8, 2011

Q: How can you be in two hemispheres at the same time?

A: Stand on the equator in Ecuador!

In January, my sisters and I had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador to visit a niece. Renting a condo in Quito, we explored the capital and traveled to nearby regions. Quito has a wealth of historic, centuries-old colonial buildings built on steep, narrow streets. Wrought iron balconies hang over the ground-level storefronts. Sightseeing different parts of the city was easy via El Trole (the trolley, 25¢) or taxis. In a country where most people do not own cars, the public transportation was easy and economical to use. To visit Mitad Del Mundo (Middle of the World) and stand on the equator, it was a 30 minute, 50¢ bus ride. (By the way, commodes do not flush in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere.) Sitting near the equator, the sun rises and sets at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in Quito every day of the year. The temperature is about the same all year long, too, at around 65 - 70 degrees.

Our $2, 1½ hour bus ride north to Otavalo took us to the greatest Andean market. In the Plaza de Ponchos, we haggled and bought Otavalan textiles and indigenous crafts. The bus ride to Baños was fascinating. Traveling through the area called The Avenue of the Volcanoes, fertile farmland, and into the beginnings of the jungle, the bus stopped in almost every town and anywhere alonside the road to pick up riders. In Baños, I enjoyed a facial and massage and a visit to the Thermal Baths (the town is at the foot of Volcán Tungurahua, a volcano which spewed debris just a few weeks ago!). Hiking, biking, rafting, and kayaking were also available.

Ecuador was a wonderful place to visit: I hope to return to explore the southern part of the country around Cuenca. Located in the Eastern Time Zone, (a 3½ hour plane ride from Miami, FL), there is no jet lag. Their currency is the American dollar, so there are no exchange hassles. In fact, food, lodging, and other purchases were very inexpensive, making the trip extremely affordable. Equadorians, comprised of many indigenous groups and those of Spanish heritage, are friendly, helpful people. And, of course, I couldn't go to Ecuador without seeing the Golden Bears!

from Dick Weaver :

To let everyone know,
Since Estelle's death July 4 I have been dating a nurse from Cleveland,where I grew up. We have known each other for about 40 years her name is Darlene Thomay.As of August 12 she and I will be getting married in Appleton,Wisconsin where she grew up. We will get married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Appleton. We are looking at houses and are hoping to live in Sandusky.

Rick Gordon Richard Lee Gordon
02/06/11 03:56 PM

We've had more snow than during the past decade but never more than three or four inches (the old Honda can handle that!) J.C. is at about 2000 ft. - - 20 miles to the north and east of us is the Blue Ridge at about 3500 ft. Those poor guys get some serious weather near the Parkway. Thirty miles west of us are the Cumberlands at 3000 ft........we are in a bowl of really outstanding mountains. If I can use a panning lens sometime, I will shoot you guys some spring scenes of the highlands - damn, they're great!
Unfortunately, one of Linda's eye retinas detached last week and she has gone through a couple laser treatments - it has re-attached but she still sees shadows and bubbles. Gettin' old ain't no fun. My wife has been writing for a weekly journal that has allowed her to use her considerable writing talent on. If you're interested in taking a look at any of the last five or ten issues free, go to NEWSANDNEIGHBORONLINE.COM Their photographer is pretty good and the staff are mostly our age - old pros!

Hi Don, Just came home from our neighbor's where we watched the Super Bowl and found your email. We moved to Colorado in 2002 and ran a B&B for 5 years. It was great fun, but lots of work, so when folks came to us asking to buy--we sold
it. Our daughter lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her Kiwi husband and our two beautiful grandkids. Our son lives in Jhongli, Taiwan and teaches English there. We have made the decision to make the move to NZ. Now we need to sell the fantastic house that we built overlooking the spectacular La Plata mountains here in Durango. If you, or anyone you know, would like to have an amazing first or second home in the West, with whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowmobiling, just to name a few of the things our great little college town has to offer, check us out on owners.com. Go to Durango, CO and 115 South Elk Run and you'll see shots of the house and our scenic surroundings. Believe me--nothing could blast us out of here except two Kiwi grandkids--and when you see the pictures, you'll understand.

Best to all, Marianne Kayes Gilliam