It's been  a long time since I've communicated here on the website.   Along with this update, I'm including an updated photo of Ralph and I taken on a Normandy beach in France - could you replace it with the one you have on the class page? We spent five weeks in Europe in the summer of 2008.  We'll be returning to Europe next month with a group  of 14 high school students (members of my French Club) - it will be a 10 day tour of Paris and London.  The students I'm taking are from rural New Mexico- and most have never traveled out of this region so for them it will be an amazing adventure!

 

This year, after 37 years of teaching, I will finally be joining the world of retirees (including that of my husband, who is a U.S. Dept of Energy retiree since 2007).   My retirement from the New Mexico Education Retirement system in December  will be my second, after having already retired from the Texas system in 2004.  Plans to travel are first and foremost in our life as retirees.   Besides overseas traveling,  Ralph and I will be taking off on RV adventures all over this beautiful country of ours!   We both share a wanderlust spirit  (mine from having been an Army brat for so long!).  

 

Last February, my six siblings, Mom and I all said our final farewell to our Dad (Arthur C. Stafford, MSgt-ret).   In fact, tomorrow it will be exactly one year since Dad passed away.  He had been a 30 year veteran of three wars, having served in  WWII, Korea and VietNam.   In France, we were stationed in Verdun,  Chinon (went to HS in Poitiers) and Orleans.   

 

Thanks to Facebook, I've been able to re-connect with an amazing number of family and friends - I recommend it anyone who have not yet joined FB!  I've been able to reconnect with classmates from the many schools I attended throughout my life as a military brat including my OHS classmates - thanks especially to the Orleans group FB site initiated by Gregg Steinwand!   I'm also involved in a WSMR KIDS REUNION group  (White Sands Missile Range, a fairly isolated base in southern NM). It was during our tour in WSMR in 1959-60 that Dad and Mom decided to retire in the Southwest, and where I, too, have my made my home. 

 

I also hope to become more involved with the OHS reunions after retirement!  I have been able to experience them vicariously thanks to the many stories, photos, etc  my good friend Dianne Rollegg has shared with me.    

 

My best to you, Dave, and all the ex-OHS'ers!