Carolyn BLAKE Richmond

We have lived in Simi Valley for the last 44 years. It has been a great place to live. Al and I just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe 50 years has past. When my daughter, Pam, became a grandmother, I guess it was a realization that that much time really had passed.

Al and I have traveled quite a bit. We went on a mission for our church to Quito, Ecuador. We were there for 23 months. That experience made me truly appreciate my family and the things we have. I am very grateful to live in the USA. (I was so very sorry to see that the students of Montebello High hang our great flag upside down)

We have 6 children, 21 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. I like to quilt, sew and read. My husband got me a Kindle for my birthday.

One day I was walking home from school with Linda Perry. I thought it was really great that she would walk with me. When we were about half a block from home the elastic in my slip (remember we wore those big, fluffy half slips) broke. Every step I took the slip kept falling, by the time I got home I could step out of it. I was so embarrassed. My husband and I were living in Quito, Ecuador and the same thing happened (only it wasn't a fluffy slip). I just stepped out of it and went on my way. The things of youth that seemed so important then are just little bumps in the road now.