Goodbye to an old friend

Pleasant Ridge Elementary School said goodbye to its last batch of Roadrunners this year.
After 50 years of operation, the need for budget cuts was too great to keep PR afloat. It makes me sad.
Three years ago Pleasant Ridge was facing closure. I sent a letter to Mrs. Rooney (Gallager) to share my feelings at the time. Here's some of what I wrote:

....My mother just mentioned the possibility of P.R. closing in the next year. I am saddened to think of our beloved Pleasant Ridge closed. It holds many fond childhood memories for my family and me. All of my five siblings, from Trevor (who will be 39 this year) down to Adam ( who is 28), attended Pleasant Ridge. We all have so many experiences there that are part of our personal histories. It is the place that helped make us what we are.

I have many memories from my own time there, and in the subsequent years when I would visit my mother. If I close my eyes I can visualize opening one of the the heavy double doors that led to the office.The hot outside air would mix with the distinct air from inside the main building. I used to soak in the change of temperature in the cool, dark foyer. I loved looking at the bulletin board to see which students had artwork displayed. Before lunch, the office would smell of hot lunches. There was always a loving and familiar face to greet me: Gayla, Mrs. Fowler, or any of the teachers passing through. I guess that is one of the hardest parts in the prospect of Pleasant Ridge closing. The staff has changed a little, but has always been outstanding and a constant source of support.

Visiting there has always brought a feeling of returning home. That is the benefit to growing up in a small community. We tend to have familiar faces in familiar places doing familiar activities. I loved making acorn bread on Pioneer Day, or enjoying the end of the year assembly on the outside stage, or having the Fun Day BBQ in the front - down near the fence.We even had a hot air balloon launch from the soccer field. I cannot imagine how much time was spent outside on the playground. I know the crunching sound and feel of the gravel, from hopping off a swing. I know the feel of the bars in the jungle gym. I know how hot the pavement gets in the spring when we would play four square. These are memories that have lasting effects. I felt like I could be anyone and do anything. I was inspired by the atmosphere created for me.
As an adult, I realize that these places of safety and freedom for a child are rare. I know that I am not the only student of Pleasant Ridge to feel this way. I want Pleasant Ridge to last longer. There are more years of imagination to spark and of dreams to fulfill in that very special place. I wish I had children to send to Pleasant Ridge, but I do not. I know that there are many parents in the community who do. Please allow them the time and opportunity to try to save their school. Pleasant Ridge is worth the effort.


I know that my little letter wasn't the reason it stayed open, but it still felt good to write it. I am so grateful that the local kids had a few more years of Pleasant Ridge magic. More than anything, I want to say thank you to the fantastic faculty through the years. It's amazing how little things changed. Thanks for the memories -you terrific old school.





















Trev's kindergarten teacher Mrs. Byerly, Mrs.Tucker, Mom, and Cindy Tucker


Mr. McVicker, Mr. Smart, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Hale


Mr. Reynolds and Mr.Butler



Patti Evers, Mrs. Hunt, Pete, Mom, Mrs. MacTaggart, Al, (and a lady I don't know)


The sweet janitors Pete and Al



The old stage now


and then... (Laura or Lissy getting an award)


Mom, Curtis, Lissy, & Adam 10 years (or more) ago

It is fitting that Pleasant Ridge is closing because I cannot imagine it without my mom. After 27 years, Mrs Sanders is retiring. Mom is an integral part of PR. She was never scary or stern. She is quick to laugh and smile, yet she still was clearly there to teach and help kids. Students respected and loved her. She has been the recipient of many hugs followed by, "You are my favorite teacher."
Mom, you're my favorite teacher too.


Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

USS MIDWAY

On my overnight in San Diego last week, I finally went to tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier. It was in service from 1945-1992.
It was pretty awesome afternoon with my crew.

Oh, Mexico

It sounds so simple I just got to go

The sun's so hot I forgot to go home
Guess I'll have to go now
-James Taylor

I had a fantastic week in Cancun, Mexico with my friends Liz and Kristine. We stayed at a Westin. Not too shabby of a view from our room, eh?






swimming in a cenote

Chichen Itza and Ek Balam













Good times

The Happiest Place On Earth

I love road trips. I think because I can fly so easily, I miss the conversations and interactions of hours on the road. Almost two weeks ago some of my closest friends and I headed to SoCal for the weekend.We rented a house in HB and spent a day at Disneyland and day at the beach.

The boys really hadn't been to Disneyland since childhood, if at all.
They were really good sports.

(Why is it that girls still want to be princesses?)


Pu-lease. What am I saying?! The boys got into it just as much as us girls:


We thought we'd have a bit of fun....






California Adventure was a great break from the larger crowds at Disneyland. Plus, Soarin' over California just makes you (me) proud to be from the Golden State.





It was a fantastic time with really great friends.

Peruvian Adventures

I just returned from 11 days in Peru. It was trip full of majestic views, gourmet food, loads of laughter, panting (out of breath) hikes, and all modes of transportation.
I can't believe it's already over.



Me, Tara, Amber, Amanda, and Kimberly in the Sacred Valley.




You don't even know how much I LOVED holding this little guy. It was only 4 days old. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. I almost cried. (I 'm not kidding.)



I still am not 100% sure- I think this is a baby llama, not a alpaca.




Kimberly, Tara, Amanda, and I glamming (or hamming) it up in the main square in Cusco, Peru.
In actuality, there was a real photo shoot with models going on at the same time. (Some of us couldn't resist striking a pose.)

Peru is full of Incan ruins. Every place we visited was really interesting (and each seemed to be in the shape of a puma - or so we were told. Numerous times.)





Machu Picchu

I know this looks superimposed, but it's not. I was really there in Machu Picchu.

We spent the night in the Amazon. We had a lot of different animal encounters.









This is a view from an island on Lake Titicaca.




Christopher, who lives on a reed island on Lake Titicaca


All in all, it was a fantastic vacation.



(Yeah, we said at the time, that this may look a little like that Wilson Phillips album cover. Good times.)

Birthday blessings

sunny skies
fresh snow
tall trees
favorite tunes
txts
birthday serenades
nephews singing
good food
great books
fun friends
loving family
peace

Funny Business

Today was a hilarious day at work.
My Captain and First Officer are really friendly and funny; we had a great rapport from the start.
Rick (the FO) had serenaded the plane at the start of each leg.
After boarding, but before we pushed back on our last flight of the day, he told the passengers that he had proposed last night - to me!
He then sang," You are so beautiful to me...."
The passengers LOVED it.
Combine that, with the fact that he got down on one knee and sang "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling."
It was hysterical.
(Of course I was beet red.)
People were txting their friends and congratulating us.
I didn't have the heart to let people know that it was all a joke. Mainly I just smiled, laughed, and said thank you to all the well wishers.
(Someone did ask if this was "for real" and I honestly answered no.)
It made for a fun day.
This is why I love my job. I work with lively people who make memories instead of just making time pass.
[By the way, Rick is happily married with two children. We (the crew) all knew it was just for fun. I told him it's a good thing that it was our last leg, because there would have been retribution.]

This was about as bad as the time a fellow flight attendant told passengers that I had just signed a record deal! It was just before Christmas, and he sweetly shared the news with the passengers. He asked them to ask me to sing a Christmas song. It was a through flight (multiple stops) so the requests continued all day long.
I felt awful turning down so many sweet requests from grandmas, parents, and children.That flight attendant got me. I could never top his brilliant trick.
Like I said - Fun times abound.