one of the girls - spreading her wings!

from Marilyn Weidler Ulve -

So 50's - all of us

Comparing myself now to the person I was in the class of 1962, I have changed from probably the
shyest person in my class to one of the most adventuresome persons that I know. 

Within 3 weeks time, I have attended a 50's Dance Party which was a tribute to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, wearing poodle skirt, saddle shoes...the works, went to Belize for my son's wedding and after being home a couple days took off for Vegas. I am, as a friend of mine said, "Spreading My Wings" and enjoying life.

Remember my friend Buddy Holly?

I purchased 6 tickets for the front row at Diamond Jo's by Northwood and coaxed the other girls to "dress up" in 50's outfits.  I mde 3 of the poodle skirts myself.  

We had a great time . . . we had "Buddy" and "Richie Valens" sign their autographs on our saddle shoes.

The trip to Belize was quite an adventure...this is the first time that I have been out of the country. We landed in Belize City, then took a 12-passenger plane to San Pedro on the island of Ambergris Caye.  If you remember the song "La Isla Bonita" by Madonna, she is singing about this island. (The Beautiful Island) 


At San Pedro we took a van (the driver drove wildly through the streets filled with potholes and tried not to run over the bicycle riders). The van took us to Wet Willy's where we took a boat to
our resort. During these bumpy rides, I had a very sore tailbone after falling on it before my trip. 
The weather was beautiful, the island beautiful, the wedding awesome.

me - and Ritchie

The trip to Vegas was made especially to see Celine Dion. It was a truly beautiful and awesome
production. The person sitting next to my friend was from Australia and the person next to me was
French, so people from all over the world come to see her perform.

I had a wonderful time in all my adventures…now to think of more to do…hmmm. The bad part was

all dressed up, somewhere to go!

coming home to cold and snow after being in 80 degree weather.

Marilyn

bouncing through San pedro

island girl

bride and groom

my friend Oscar

with son, daughter, and their spouses

with friend Janet in Vegas

all dressed up for Celine Dion

Up close to the stage to watch the Legends

the Luxor where we stayed

the last dance?

You might be able to make this full screen, I'm not sure.  It came to me as a Facebook Post and looked suitable for a blog designed for the Class of '55, maybe, since Nana is a bit older than our group, but her spirit is suitable for all ages.

Nonetheless it seemed to be a good post for the NKHS 62 blog, and until something else appropriate comes along, it may be the last for a while.  Things change, and my stories, at least those suitable for print, are now in a small pile, so I don't have much more to share.

Besides that, this has been about the past, and I'd prefer to have some current and future orientation, for selfish reasons.  Last year we were gone on vacation for 6 weeks, and didn't see our grandkids for another couple of weeks.  At some point our then-15-year-old granddaughter pointed out to her mother that it had been a while since we had seen her, and asked, "Don't they know their grandkids miss them?"

When we drove to Menomonie for an event the purpose of which I don't recall, Dana was upstairs finishing a shower when we arrived, and ten minutes later we heard a clattering as she bounded down the stairs to greet us, wrapping us each in a hug to express her love and/or admonish us for being gone so long. You can see from the photo with brother Bryan and Lonna that she's a sweetheart, and worthy of being our favorite granddaughter.

The point is, her sudden expression prompted me to put together another blog, this one about our past and current travels, including the notes I had already put together from our trip to Florida last spring, photos to match.  I did so to allow them to follow us this time around, perhaps having a vicarious experience as we explore the world, though who knows if they are following it or not.  I guess we'll find out when we get home.

The travel blog takes me away from the narrower mission of the NKHS 62 blog since I can go backwards, forwards, sideways, even segue into side issues, philosophies, and who knows what else.  A different kind of freedom, I suppose, lacking the restriction of "stories about high school days."

So we may be posting notes of interest here at NKHS 62 from time to time, and if you'd like to check into the other one, the title of it is Travels with Ole Holstad.  Click that link to go there if you'd like, or not - to read those posts and get background on the title.  I'm still open to input for the NK blog, so feel free to pass along your ideas if you're so inspired.  Most blogs only last about 5 months, I once read, and we're now at 4 years or so . . . with no economic impetus, just a passion.  Maybe I'm movin' on.

a year goes by . . .

One year ago today we posted the first story about Donald McNamara.  Since then we have been able to locate his photos, on a mission to salute him on the Virtual Wall and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation site, have discovered numerous individuals who knew him, as well as his son and grandchildren.

Now we look forward to renewing friendships with all those who were involved in the story, and a reunion should be held in the next couple of months.

VVMF.org is a website with information about the thousands lost in Viet Nam, with a link to the Education Center now under construction.  A YouTube on the Center shows it is built to commemorate all those individuals.  Here it is -