Monday, July 30, 2012

A Hike With the Bluebirds!

Back in the dark ages, I belonged to a group called Bluebirds - we were the younger part of the Camp Fire Girls, and I think we joined in first grade.  We were girls who went to the same elementary school together, and basically grew up together.  I was able to get together with two of them, Erin and Jenny, on my trip - I don't think I've seen them for 20 years or so! We planned on a hike and lunch (again, how much do I love that I can think of doing a hike without a second thought?!) on one of the days that Barbara had to work.  Erin and Jenny came to pick me up and we spent about an hour talking, while waiting for the fog to lift.  It was great - just so much fun to catch up in person...somehow our yearly Christmas cards don't quite do it like an in-person visit.

We went to Wilder Ranch, which is just a few miles from Barbara's house - and like the forest of Nisene Marks, another gorgeous place that I had no idea existed!  We walked through the old buildings before heading out onto the cliff path, where we hiked for about two hours.  I will say that we entertained the idea of sunscreen too late (the bottle was back in the car), and we all ended up with a little souvenir of our hike in the form of red skin...someday we'll learn!  It was a great day - here's some pictures, new and old:
Jenny and Erin headed to the carriage house; interior shots.  Of course now I wish I'd made them pose on the buggy!
Such a pretty day to enjoy the gorgeous scenery!
Old friends - I'd say we all are looking pretty fit and healthy and I love that nothing is slowing any of us down!
Where the sea otters hung out - I especially liked that the one guy in the lower left had his own private ledge...

And now, a blast from the past - my 11th birthday party:
Me, Erin, Jenny and my cousin Tara - blowing out the candles on my cake that was decorated with M&M's - yum!
I had a slumber party - we slept in our camping trailer.  Hanging from the top bunk, because, why not?
A little lawn-dancing with Jenny...
Opening presents - my parents gave me a record player and a bunch of 45s!  Some of the records were Bill Hailey's Rock Around the Clock (yes I'm old but that was an oldie for even ME back then, lol), Brand New Key, Smoking in the Boy's Room, and Cher's Dark Lady.  Quite the eclectic assortment - I wonder how my mother ended up choosing them?

Finally, here's our fifth grade class picture:
 Center row, blue dress - me, then Jenny, then Erin - dang, we were so little!

Fun memories, and a great day spent with two (very youthful) old friends!

15 comments:

  1. LOVE THE PICS.
    love the reminiscing and yet still am looking and searching on your blog for where I sign up for a tutorial on the collages :-)
    PIC MONKEY?

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  2. OMG so awesome. And the pictures of you guys as kids are so GREAT!!! Aren't you so glad you stayed in touch with everyone?

    Hee, my little Girl Scout troop has essentially been recreated on Facebook. We are all friends there but one girl; even our leader is on it. LOL!

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    1. What a great idea, to recreate your GS troop online!

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  3. Another trip down memory land, complete with pictures. Love it! Yes, so nice to be fit enough to able to do fun things without fear that your body will hold you back!

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  4. What a fantastic day and so cool that you still keep in touch with your friends. I don't have contact with anyone I went to school with.

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  5. So glad you got to catch up with more childhood friends and memories! You know what I love the most about the "oldie" photos? It's so great to see little girls actually dress like little girls in knee socks and oxford shoes!

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    1. So funny, Helen - I didn't know until years later that my school district actually had a dress code and we girls HAD to wear dresses! Luckily, I liked them.

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  6. I was a Bluebird too!! And another great place that I never heard of. Looks like a fun place to visit. Love the old pics of you too.

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    1. Glad to know you were one of the cool kids, Debby, and not one of the girl sprouts, as we called them. Plus, the Bluebird uniform was much cuter. ;)

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  7. What an awesome reunion! You all look fabulous and I love that you chose to take a hike.

    I was 10 in 1978 - I wanted Billy Joel's 42nd street so bad, and was so thrilled when I got it! My sister wanted the Bee Gee's!

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    1. That Billy Joel album was Barbara and my favorite! Only the Good Die Young was our song, and we can still sing every word by heart! Love the Bee Gee's, too - ah, 70s music! :)

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  8. You ladies look fabulous and I love the carriage house! So cool!

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  9. Hi Shelley. I LOVE the old pics and the fact you still get together with old friends. OMG...I had the Dark Lady 45 too!!!!!! I wonder if my parents still have it... Have a great Monday.

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  10. Love that you got the chance to reconnect in person! I'm sort of dreading the time that my best friends and I will be scattered all over!

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