Like everyone else, there have been the "ups" and "downs" of life. I've certainly had those times, too, but just smile and think of the many good times.

In the Fall after graduation, I started at LACC as planned, but before the end of the first semester, I left Burbank with my family and moved to the then small rural town of Moab, Utah. I got a job at the town bank. Wanting to return to college, the following Fall I enrolled at TCU, in Ft. Worth. I attended for a year, and then joined my family, who had moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. I got what I thought would be a summer job at a bank, but I had so much fun as a working girl in the "big city", that I never returned to TCU. During this period, I met my future husband, Doug Shaw. We were married October 15, 1960, in San Bruno, CA.

Doug has always worked in the airline industry. In 1964, we went on our first foreign assignment to Gander, Newfoundland/Shannon, Ireland. Following Gander, we spent time in W. Palm Beach, FL/Bahamas Islands. We were back in the Bay Area briefly between assignments, and then to Japan. This was truly a wonderful experience for us. I studied the language, culture, and customs. We lived in a rural area about an hour by train from Tokyo. Three times per week, I went into Tokyo for my language lessons. I also taught English. Japan is where I first played golf and it is something I enjoy to this day. I also studied the knitting machine, pattern drafting, and designing, which I also continue to enjoy. During our almost five years in Japan, we were able to see most of the countries in Asia. We spent time with our Japanese friends touring Japan by auto and collecting antiques. We made many life-long friends while there.

Our next chapter opens in 1974. We had left our home in Japan for a visit to Hong Kong, and were greeted with a phone call telling my husband he was needed immediately in Anchorage, Alaska. Little did we know then that we would spend the next 27 years there. Another great experience! At that time, Anchorage was the "Air Crossroads of the World". All the world's airlines stopped in Anchorage to refuel between Asia and Europe, which gave us the chance to see the other side of the world.

We were lucky to have many experiences in Europe. I worked part time at the airport for Sabena Belgian Airlines, and had plenty of opportunity to use my Japanese language. I also began classes at my home to teach English, customs, and culture to wives of airline personnel from Japan Air Lines and Air France. We had quite an International group and all these ladies have become life-long friends.

When I learned we were going to Alaska, I thought I'd have to throw away my golf clubs, but I found a very large and active group of golfers in the Far North, numbering in the thousands. During the summer the courses are so crowded, we had to plan all tournaments by February in order to accommodate everyone. There are four great courses in Anchorage and two others about an hour's drive. I was active in the Anchorage Women's Golf Association, and Past President. I remained active with machine knitting/designing, genealogy, and scrap booking. I bowled on a league the entire time while in Anchorage. I was never at a loss for something to do.

Now, another chapter begins --- Retirement --- After 44 yrs with Flying Tiger Line, which was purchased by Fed Ex in 1989, Doug retired from Fed Ex in May, 2000. Since we did not want to shovel any more snow and we wanted to get back to the "Lower 48", We headed down the Alcan in the Fall of 2000, to Pahrump, NV, about 63 miles west of Las Vegas. We completed building our new home in 2001. Now, we are involved with our community here. We have a golf course in our back yard and I'm able to pursue all my various hobbies, plus many new activities, such as our Classic Car Club, and the Western Re-enactment group (Pahrump Gunfighters) that Doug is involved with. We enjoy all our trips around the Southwest, both on our own and with the Gunfighters.

I wish all my classmates health and happiness and hope to see everyone at the big 50th Reunion…..

BONNIE (HORTON) SHAW