Bob Starting

Bob drove an MG convertible as a bachelor, and he loved it.We went to a bowling Alley Lounge on Ventura Blvd. They had a great band, and Bob was an excellent dancer, I loved it. We danced most every dance. Then a polka was played and Bob asked if I would like to try and I said sure. The polka had been my favorite dance. We had a fabulous night, and Bob took me home, and gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek. I was happy.

Work was busy a lot in outer space products. He worked a lot and had been there for several years. We made friends at work and life was good.

One day Bob asked if I would like to go on another date,Of course I said yes. He said that the Celtics were playing at the Forum in Los Angles. He drove his MG and he wanted to stop on the way and get car washed by Robot wash. Of course he had top up and all buttoned up and secure. I stayed in car while he put money in and started wash and got back into the car.

Guess when we were in there talking as robot circled the MG and then the soap started and were we in for a surprise. More suds and soap came inside the car and continued to soak us. We were laughing so hard we cried. When Robot stopped Bob drove into parking space and we could not stop laughing. Bob finally said what do you want to do? I said let's still go because as we would drive there the wind would dry us off.

So we drove down freeway with soap suds flying everywhere and all that passed us thought we were crazy. We did dry off. Of course Boston lost the game. Bob and I were so happy with funny bath we had inside of car.

After about a year of going together Bob bought a Chevy white with black top and it was automatic. It was shortly there after Bob asked me to Marry him, and of course I said yes. At that point he suggested we get a one bedroom together and we did near Reseda Park. The apartment was small but we fit all into it, I believe it was furnished. It was nice and warm.

We adopted a small puppy named Snuffy who fit in my hand, He was sort of a yorkie poo and different shades of grey and black. One night Bob and I were watching tv and Snuffy was about 3 months old. We loved popcorn while watching movies.

All off a sudden I saw Snuffy moving his head looking into the kitchen all the while getting strange looks on his face. Finally I could not stand it I got up to look.

The ha ha ha was on us. Bob had forgot to put cover on the popcorn and it popped all over kitchen. That is why Snuffy was acting funny and looking. We sure had a lot of laughs.

We started to plan a small wedding at a chapel in Encino. Bob asked Gary Clemmons to be his best man and I asked his wife Ginny to be my maid of honor.The four of us went everywhere together.

Life starting with Bob

One day early at work , I left to take car and get all my belongings from
our apartment in Resedea, CA . Figured Bill had just got to work in
different building , and would not know I took car and used it.

So I took all my stuff to an efficiency apartment for $97.50 a month, I could afford that . I Got car back to work and parked in same spot figured I would be safe.

I walked back into my department and stayed late to make up time I was moving. Well as I opened door to my work room, I heard someone say, "Better Late Than Ever ". That was a gyro scope expert in the other department. I worked on the re-work side of room. Their side was a clean Room.

The next day a gal who lived near my apartment asked if I would like a ride to and from work each day. Wow, I said that is great, yes. That was Everlyn who lived close to my apartment in Canoga Park, CA. They knew I had been hurt by Bill and were willing for me to start over. But Everlyn had cancer and traveled many places to try for treatment, but was unsucessful.About 5 months later she died in Mexico having treatment.

At my new apartment that was an efficiency which cost $97.50 a month I met Joyce. We became instant friends and went places together.

Life went on for a few months like that , to work and back home. I made friends at my building will quite a few. So life was ok.

We joined a camping club with Ginny and Gary. The club had monthly meetings and we all decided where we would camp in the Mohave Desert for a whole year once a month.

There were some accidents on our trips.One was a roll over in a scout when a pipe slipped and jammed the wheels. I was three months pregnant with Penny Jean.

We some how used the radio and our camp people turned around and rescued us. The window was out of scout but it was driven a 100 miles to be check in an emergency room. Crazy, the Dr., was drunk, well all ended up well.

Then another time we camped along the railroad tracks in Candeleria , Nev. But railroad authorities drove us out. A few of the guys drove around where we were camped and found a farmer that let us camp on his properties.

As soon as we were all in the new spot and a circle, the group started exploring the property.

There was a King Solomon's mind at the top of the small mountain and we drove up there. Half way up the group stooped because road was getting rugged and slanty.

Gary, Bob and I headed up the mountain but scout wanted to roll down mountain side.Gary had us all lean to the drivers side to save us. Gary thought going further would be to dangerous so he found a spot we could turn around safely. And went back to group.

As a camping club we had camping friends that lived in Saugus where the earth opened up and shook their house of of the foundation slab. They were scared, so the club got into their four wheelers and found a way to get to their house. Street were closed and fires were everywhere. We had to help our friends for wife was in a wheel chair.

Each family brought water and food and whatever we had to help.Police stopped us but let us go for they knew our club and the people we were going to help. We all camped there all night helping them as best we could and drove back home.

Bob and I would camp at Yosemite National Park frequently. Then one night we pulled into the park in Bob's MG and put tent up and were sleeping when we heard all this commotion and bears had pulled coolers out of the MG and opened them up with there claws scratched on the top. They came back 3 times after food, and we were scared silly in our tent. After the 3rd time I said to Bob lets get out of here while the bears were else ware.We drove to main gate and parked there and slept in MG the best we could till daylight.

When we went back to tent the signs said do not leave food or coolers around camp sight.We were safe but a little scared.

Well our daughter was about six months old and we lived in a rented house in Van Nuys, CA. We lived at the end of the National Guard runway. We saw 3 or four scary crashes of small planes. If LA airport got fogged in the smaller Western Jets would land at Van Nuys Small runway, They would shake the whole house, and of course wake us up.

Well Bob got up early about 4 AM to get ready for work. We were sitting at table eating breakfast when the big earth quake hit and whole house was shacking, some how we made it to Penny Jeans crib to make sure she was ok. But house was still shaking. It was a horrible disaster.

As a camping club we had camping friends that lived in Saugus where the earth opened up and shook their house of of the foundation slab. They were scared, so the club got into their four wheelers and found a way to get to their house. Street were closed and fires were everywhere. We had to help our friends for wife was in a wheel chair.

Each family brought water and food and whatever we had to help.Police stopped us but let us go for they knew our club and the people we were going to help. We all camped there all night helping them as best we could and drove back home.

Back home we were notified that we had to evacuate for Supulveda Dam had cracked 3/4 of the way down and they feared it would brake and come right down the runway and wipe us out. So we packed what we could and headed to Bob's Mom and dad's in Simi Valley and lived there for 5 days. Once dam was emptied to almost empty they allowed us to go home safely.

To say the least I was petrified everyday when Bob went to work. The house would shake every morning for a few weeks after. So Bob and I decided to move back to Boston where I was from.

Bob's Mom and dad had a fiftiesh Wedding anniversay coming up in August, Bob wanted to be there for that. So we stayed, and after party a few weeks later we had his mom and dad out to dinner. His mom said you are moving back to MA aren't you. So Bob said yes. They were upset but understood.

So we planned as best we could and packed as best we could. Bob thought he figured we only needed a 12 foot U-Haul truck. He was so wrong. So the old camper we had he packed all into it that was left over. So this sort of ends our life in Van Nuys, CA.

Next will be move to Massachusetts.

Justin there is so much more could be added, so when you get to it you can ask questions ok. This is not easy to do, but has to be told. I almost feel you could write a series about my life.