I'm am sooo happy that I came to the mini-reunion in Las Vegas and visited among the 70 in attendance. Carol and Gene Yannello hosted me splendidly! I hope to come with my twin brother Harry to the 50th as he lives about a mile from where we grew up in Burbank. I did not think I would recognize anyone after 40 years (true), but after this visit I feel that we had a very good class at Burroughs and people who care about others! The Website, Bio pages and pictures are great, as well as the care and prayer page. Thank you all for persevering, finding us all, and trying to get us back together. We were nurtured at a time when our surroundings were simple but safe, and a little naïve, but it did not hurt us. I am grateful!

Six months after getting married, we moved to Alaska "to find our fortune and come back and spend it!" We found our fortune all right, but one that would not bring us back, but one that guided us throughout the rest of our lives. Has anyone heard of the Baha'i Faith? It is a religion that promotes "unity" of all the religions, all races and all national backgrounds. (Look it up on the Web, if you want. www.bahai.org ). After 22 long winters, and with 2 sons, one in college and one coming with us, we moved to Guam in the Mariana Islands. My husband worked for Moore Business Forms designing forms and had the whole of Micronesia as his territory. During 39 years of marriage, I was fortunate to travel, sometimes with my husband and children, to different parts of this globe, meeting the beautiful people of the world (villages and cities all over Alaska, Canada, Australia, Micronesia, Philippines, Samoa, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea, England, Germany, Norway, Finland, Poland, Portugal, Mexico and many others). When people ask, what was my favorite place, they are surprised when I mention PNG (Papua New Guinea). Why? Because the people have a thirst for knowledge, and are eager to learn from anyone!

My goal out of high school was to find "happiness" whether I was rich or poor! And I have found it - yea! My life has been so enriched by the peoples of the world that I have met and interacted with in many countries. The local peoples of the lands visited have taught me the most, maybe because I am a simple person and have a heart and drive that wants to share in life's experiences. Some have been a bit hairy - like the time because the villagers were late in picking me up to catch the Ferry, they instantly took me in a motorboat to meet up with the Ferry. Picture me "moving as fast as the Ferry but in the little boat, balancing on one leg and reaching with the other to the "lip" of the big Ferry and having a strong man reach way down and grab my arm to pull me up, just as my legs were spreading further apart and almost falling into the water". I'm grateful to be alive to recount the story and have shared it with my grandchildren!

I remember a little girl in Western Samoa that said, "my grandmother taught me that 'what you love' may lead you to hell, and 'what you hate', may lead you to heaven." (pretty wise, eh!?) I have been privileged to meet His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, King of Samoa, who became a member of the Baha'i Faith, and stated that his forefathers were the first ones to embrace Christianity. I asked if He ever told others that He was a Baha'i? (My lesson learned - "Yes, if they ask! You see, I am King, and as King the people should follow what I say, BUT this is not the Baha'i way, as each person should investigate truth for himself. If they become Baha'i because I am Baha'i, they will not live according to one law, because they will not have love for it?") Another wisdom gleaned! He is the last of the traditional monarchy; a parliament runs the country now.

In Papua New Guinea, (PNG), I walked the river beds, climbed the mountains and went to villages few white people get to. One place was called Ofaru Taku. (I renamed it, Too-Far-To-Go-To!) I had a bit of the flu, but went on the hike, straight up the mountain for two hours. When reaching the top, my guide said, "don't sit down yet, they are bringing the oldest woman (45 years of age) of the village to meet you". As she came with outstretched arms and tears running down her face, I extended my arms to hug her, thinking that was what she was going to do to me. Instead, she patted me all around below the waist, (way below the waist!). My male guide said they do that to all people, because they believe that is where all life comes from!" I asked what is she saying, "ai ya, ai ya, etc." He said, "She is honored that a white woman of your age would come to our village". Boy, another lesson, "instant love, no prejudice!" (I was about 45 also, but with bleached platinum hair, she thought I was much older! As a hairdresser for over 30 years, I decided to keep it blonde so that when I got older, I would not see the grays, ha!).

I now live near Seattle, WA and volunteer at the Brighton Creek Baha'i Conference Center. My three grandsons, and one grand-daughter live close by, and are the delight of my life. They range from 12 years of age to 6 years. My husband is gone out of my life now. A bit of a shock, but life goes on. I guess I believe, "you can't always control what happens to you, but you can control 'how you handle it'".

This is turning into an epistle! Enough said! Just know that each and everyone of you is special and unique, and we can all learn from each other. In closing, I must honor my mother for teaching me that "a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet!'"