Celebrating our 50th wedding Anniversary
Richard’s 74th Birthday
November 1, 2015
AMA Waterways Boat Cruise
From Prague, Czech Republic to
Paris, on October 24, 2015 to
November 6, 2015

One week to the day, upon our return to Boulder, Paris was struck by ISIS terrorists, leaving 129 dead and 325 injured. We feel very fortunate to have gotten out of Paris before the attack and travel turmoil. Since we had just been in Paris and had such a wonderful time in cafes and sightseeing we couldn’t imagine what that attack was like for the City of Paris and France as a whole. Our hearts go out to all of the people there.

We were particularly excited about our upcoming boat trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary on the 6th of November. We had never been on a riverboat cruise so we were really looking forward to the new experience. Richard’s birthday was on the 1st of November so we would also be celebrating his special day

Kay Winburn Seale & Richard Seale Celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary and Richard’s 74th Birthday – November 1, 2015

10/24/2015, Saturday – Day 1 of our trip (allowing for time and date changes.

Stephanie picked us up at 8:00 a.m. for our drive to DIA. We arrived at 9:00 and were on the 12:52 p.m. flight to Chicago. We arrived in Chicago at 4:15 p.m. and then headed to Brussels, Belgium at 8:20 p.m. We arrived in Brussels on Sunday, October 25, at 8:30 a.m. We departed for Prague at 4:35 p.m. and arrived in Prague at 5:55 p.m. All in all, our trip took 20 hours and 30 minutes which includes getting up at 6:30 a.m. in Boulder, driving to the airport and all of the connections between Chicago and Belgium.

10/25/2015, Sunday – Day 2 of our trip and Pre-Extension, Czech Republic

 Welcome to the Czech Republic and its magic capital, Prague. When we arrived in Prague, Czech Republic we checked into the Intercontinental – Prague hotel for a wonderful two nights and three days stay. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic and is known as the historical “city of a hundred spires”.

Since this was our second visit to Prague we had ideas of exactly where we wanted to visit as well as just randomly enjoying our surroundings, with its restaurants, cafes, and monuments. The legendary Charles Bridge was a must see as we ventured into the Old Town Square and the historic city which includes the Astronomical clock. The food, wine, and beer were delicious.

Many buildings have been restored since World War II and it is a very modern city. WW II brought many suffering Jews to Czechoslovakia and, sadly about 70% of the Jews became victims of the Holocaust. The Czech Republic broke with communism in 1989 to establish a new economy.

Prague has become a major tourism site since and businesses are thriving.

To read more of Kay’s travelogue, click here: 50th Anniv. River Boat Cruise.

After graduation in 1961 I spent a carefree summer with my friends at Huntington Beach and prepared for college. I started Citrus College that fall, majoring in Business and Psychology and graduated with an Associate Degree in 1963.

Christmas of 1962 I met the man who would become my husband, Gary Filer. Gary moved to Covina from Michigan and had attended Northview High School. We first met at the A&W in Azusa and by September 1963 were married. Our first residence was located on McKeever Avenue in Azusa and our second, on First & Vernon.

In 1964 we welcomed our first son, Gary II while I was attending Cal State LA. I graduated in 1965 with a BA and settled into being a mom and wife.

By 1966 we bought our first home and moved to Covina. At that same time we started our own business, Optico Glass Fabrication in San Dimas. We kept busy with the business and welcomed another son, Matthew, in 1968. And in 1972 we were blessed with a daughter, Lisa Michelle.

I worked as a bookkeeper for our business and watched it grow to become one of the nation’s highest-rated West Coast precision optical companies. During those years we
couldn’t get away from Optico for extended vacations, so we joined a camping club and were then able to take the kids away on weekends. It was a great time and good solution to our problem. The “kids” still talk about those fun camping trips in the motorhome.

In 1977 we decided to move to Massachusetts where Gary would build and run United Lens in Southbridge. While Gary was busy with United Lens, I started working for Hyde Manufacturing Company, which makes knives and Stanley tools.

We bought a beautiful home on rural Old Farm Road in Sturbridge, just in time for the big blizzard of ’78 that left us stranded indoors for four days. It was a much different life than what I was used to in California.

The country life turned out to be ideal for our family of five. The kids loved the snow and the abundance of lakes and rivers. They attended regional schools just a half hour from home. We especially liked the access to all of the New England states. We could visit seven states in one day. And Boston was a great teaching tool—Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, The Old North Church and The Freedom Trail. Our favorite destination was Cape Cod, which was only an hour away from Sturbridge. From Cape Cod we could take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

      
                   Massachusetts                                L-R: Lisa, Matthew, Gary II,                                                                                                   Mary & Gary Filer

You just never know what life will bring. Gary died suddenly in 1980 while deer hunting in Maine. After he passed away I went back to school and in 1982 earned a BA degree in Business Administration from UMass Boston. Since I still had three children to support the business degree really helped boost my resume.

During the summer of 1985 we decided, as a family, to move back to California. Fortunately, we had not sold our house in Covina, so the kids and I had a nice home to return to. My older son stayed in New Hampshire where he had been living and working. The two youngest children wanted to go back to California, but didn’t care to make the long drive with me, so they flew to California and stayed with family and friends. I ended up traveling alone with my two dogs, while towing a 5’ x 8’ trailer that contained our clothes, pictures, etc.—anything that would fit. The rest of our belongings and furnishings were sold to help fund the move.

AAA had mapped out the northern route for me so that I could see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Badlands, Yellowstone, the Madonna Inn and Big Sur on the beautiful California coast. The only time I was scared was when I was driving the hills in Yellowstone at dusk and the buffalo were running across the road. It was tough stopping with the trailer behind me.

When I stopped in Yellowstone for the night, there seemed to be only one option for lodging—a romantic cabin in the woods. It had a fireplace, a rustic wooden porch swing and a view of the lake—perfect for a couple. It was the only time on the trip that I felt sad.

I still had my dad and sister and best friends in Azusa and Covina, who were all anxious for us to come home. Moving back to Covina would be an easy transition with our extended family and friends.

When I think back to that trip and the alone time on the road, I’m surprised that I was so brave. I was a woman on a mission to provide family and stability for my children.

The new chapter in our lives was exciting. I was able to land a job right away, thanks to my business degree. In 1987, with my children settled and my employment stable, I decided to “get out of the house”. I saw an article in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune titled “Checkmate”—a way to meet people (sort of like computer dating today). The dating service had separate catalogs for men and women, complete with bios and all of the information needed to meet someone you might be interested in. You actually had to prove by documents that you were single—not a bad idea for today’s singles.

I signed up and received my first catalog of men. The instructions were to call a person you might be interested in meeting (there were no photos) and make a date to meet for coffee. I called three men and met each of them—all were very nice. I had crossed Ed O’Flynn off my list as he was so much younger than I (15 years). Ed, however, called me because I was tall and liked country music and the ocean.

We met at Stuart Anderson’s in Azusa. The attraction was immediate for both of us and we never looked any further. After dating for a wonderful year, one day he showed up at my workplace in the City of Industry and asked me to marry him. He proposed in the parking lot with all of my coworkers watching through the windows. It was like a fairytale. He presented me with a stunning 3-carat diamond engagement ring. I said yes and we started planning our wedding.

On March 4, 1989 Ed and I were married in Long Beach aboard the Queen Mary in the beautiful Royal Wedding Chapel. We were honored that so many of our Massachusetts friends were in attendance, as well as my California friends and classmates.

    
Mr. & Mrs. Edward O’Flynn        Edward O’Flynn & Mary Eagle O’Flynn
March 4, 1989                                     Anniversary photo

We spent the next two weeks aboard the Nordic Prince, visiting the Caribbean Islands– a wedding gift from Ed’s mom and dad. After the wedding we lived in my house in Covina and sold his house in Hacienda Heights.

In 1990 we bought a big house in Chino Hills (we still had two teenagers at home) and have been here ever since. We love The Hills. The kids have all moved on and have families of their own. Gary II has one son, Gary III, who is now 12. Matthew has three children, Matthew II, 21, Justin, 11 and Andrew, 7. Lisa has one son, Jacob, who is 11.

Over the years Ed and I have traveled extensively. We cruised to Alaska twice and cruised back to the Caribbean three more times. Nine years ago we bought a condo on Maui and spend two weeks there every summer. Ed has a few more years to work and then we will probably retire there. The only thing still on my bucket list was Graceland, so Ed surprised me with a trip to Memphis and Nashville two years ago—my favorite trip of all time.

     
            Mary & Ed – Maui                  Ed O’Flynn with grandson – Maui

Again, you never know—just as well I suppose because three years ago I lost a kidney to cancer and then less than two years ago I beat colon cancer. I have been blessed. Ed was there for me, taking time off work and staying in my hospital room, only leaving my side if one of my children could be with me. When I was released from the hospital and Ed had to go back to work, my son, Matthew, took time off from his job to take care of me at home. Thankfully Ed, our children and grandchildren have been healthy.

I have never taken lightly how blessed I am to have been given the chance to be happily married again. Ed and I will be married 27 years March 4 this year.

    
                                      Mary & Ed’s Grandchildren

John and Nancy Baumann decided to have an impromptu 4th of July BBQ at their home in Dana Point — probably their last get-together before the big move to their new home in Arkansas later this summer. Thank you, John and Nancy! The celebratory champagne was wonderful, the burgers and side dishes were delicious, but we missed John’s guitar playing. Guess we’ll have to take a trip to Arkansas to enjoy his music.

After dinner, guests “Captain” Dennis and his wife, Raelynn, invited us to watch the fireworks from their yacht. What a treat!

L-R Burt Franks, Linda Templeton, “Captain” Dennis, host Nancy Baumann, Carol Franks

Burger Chef and host John Baumann

L-R Burt Franks, Carol Franks, “Captain” Dennis, and friends of John & Nancy

Celebrating the 4th – Raelynn and hubby, “Captain” Dennis

Dances with Waves awaits us

Dana Point Harbor

Pelicans waiting for the fireworks

Captain Dennis at the helm

Fireworks display at Dana Point

In July Joanne Srack Mead and her best friend, Judy, rode a train from Simi Valley to Seattle and back– a trip they probably won’t repeat anytime soon. They boarded Amtrak 40 miles north of Los Angeles and arrived in Seattle 33 hours later. According to Joanne, the train food was good, but the roomette sleeping accommodations, terrible.

After a sleepless night, Joanne and Judy welcomed an overnight stay in Seattle, the first leg of their tour. The next few days were filled with tourist-related activities such as the Clipper cruise to Victoria, High Tea at the Empress Hotel, a stroll through Butchart Gardens and a ferry ride to Vancouver.

Victoria Parliament Building

Butchart Gardens Fountain

Vancouver Skyline from Stanley Park

After touring Vancouver they boarded a bus to Whistler, a world-class ski resort and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics. The highlight of their trip was a scenic Peak2Peak gondola ride from Whistler to Blackcomb Mountain.

Whistler to Blackcomb Gondola

After riding the bus back to Vancouver, they boarded a train to Seattle where they stayed the next two nights. They had just enough time to wander through Pike Place Market, stroll along Seattle’s waterfront and enjoy Ivar’s famous clam chowder before catching the early morning train back to Simi Valley– another 33 hours with no sleep.

Seattle Skyline

On June 22 John B’s wife, Nancy, threw a surprise birthday party for him at their home. It was a great party with catered Mediterranean food, live music and a uniquely designed cake that Nancy ordered for the 70-year-old guitarist and former classmate.

“SURPRISE!” Nancy, John and Cheryl (John accidentally locked the back gate)

Nancy & John

Elaine, Cheryl & Janice – Class of ’61

Walt, John & Burt – Class of ’61

 John’s awesome birthday cake

On this special day Nancy presented John with a Martin D-28 LTD edition “Elvis Presley” guitar #143 of 175 (many of us were born in 1943). What a lucky guy!

John in his studio with his birthday present from Nancy

Here’s a little history about the D-28 guitar: Elvis’ original  guitar was made in 1955 and a custom leather embosser made the leather jacket just for Elvis. In 2009 the Martin Guitar Co., in honor of Elvis Presley, made 175 LTDs with leather jackets and about 500 without. Lucky John played his new guitar for his lucky birthday guests. He also played his other favorite flat-top guitar, a Gibson SJ200 (in the ’60s musicians referred to them as the J200). Elvis and Rick Nelson both owned several J200s. John’s LTD J200 was built in 2009.

A little tidbit of info about our classmate– For over 20 years John made his living playing bass for several bands (including his own) in the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas. He now has his own recording studio and a collection of classic guitars, two basses and a fiddle. Besides playing his guitars John also volunteers his time as a DJ for various charity events– including our own class reunions.

To see more party photos click here

Yesterday I joined former classmates, Shane P. and Joanne Srack-Mead for lunch at The Veranda restaurant in Fallbrook, California. It was a beautiful, relaxed setting, the food was delicious and the company, delightful. We all ended up ordering exactly the same thing– spinach salad with an assortment of fresh berries. For dessert Shane and I each enjoyed a refreshing and nostalgic root beer float, while Joanne opted for the more decadent cobbler-caramel layer cake.The night before, the three of us dined at Aiyara Thai Cuisine in Temecula (Thai food just happens to be my favorite, along with Japanese sushi). I ordered the green curry, which I love, and for dessert we all split a couple of coconut creme brulees. I’m getting hungry just writing about the food. Tonight I’ll have to settle for a hot dog and mocha freeze at Costco with Uncle David.

The Veranda restaurant at the Grand Tradition Estate & Gardens in Fallbrook, CA

View from the veranda at The Veranda

L-R: Joanne, Cheryl and Shane

We’re thinking about having an AHS ’61 ladies luncheon in August, somewhere in the San Diego North County area, probably at The Veranda– sort. of a mini-reunion. I’ll be sending out an email soon to see if any of you are interested in doing this.