What's Up:
My volunteer work
includes being the Chair of the Friends Council for the Jefferson County
Library Foundation, being a member of their Board of Directors and being
a member of the Advisory Council for Westerra Credit Union.
Gardening, traveling and hiking with the
Monday Morning Hikers, a group of retired friends who hike or walk every
Monday, rain or shine keep me engaged in life!Retirement has enriched our love to travel.
A recent three continent cruise was an exciting, awesome indulgence that
made me fall in love with people and places far away.
We’ve taken many trips to Kihei,
Maui where John’s dad lives, the most recent being last summer when we celebrated our 40th anniversary
with all of our family at sunset on Kamaole Beach. My Occupation:
I retired from Jefferson County Schools
in the finance/budget department, the last two years as assistant director of The Jefferson Foundation. My Family:
Husband, John Larson, class of 1965. Joan Simeral introduced us during a summer class at the University of Colorado in 1968. John pursued the relationship when he ditched class one day and called me to get the class notes. We went to the old Scotchman on Wadsworth for a “hot cookie” later that evening and that was all it took!
We will celebrate our 41st anniversary this year! Check out his bio, too! Two daughters, Kristanna, and Kara, also graduates of Wheat Ridge High School and UNC and CSU, respectively.
Our five grandchildren keep us hopping and are great at teaching me how
to use the GPS, convincing me to go down the "big" slide at the swimming
pool, and showing me how to catch frogs at night.
What an inspiration they are to keep the “youth” in me active. Many classmates knew my mother, Marilyn Michels, as their Brownie/Girl Scout Leader. After a series of mild strokes, she now lives in an independent retirement facility in Arvada. She certainly provided a lot of opportunities for us in scouting to learn about camping, cooking, etiquette, picnics, crafts, etc. And Teva, the cat,
has been recently joined by Bailey Boo, who hid in our garden shed for
several days before coming out. With no kids at home, they get pampered a lot!
Favorite Memories:
I was totally engrossed in the journey to the 1963 State Basketball Championship and loved to watch the cheerleaders doing back flips and handsprings across the wooden floor before each home game. But most of all, I enjoyed fulfilling the role of “Letter Girl” with the other nine: our first half time show, practicing in Betty Ricks’ backyard to the tune of Saint Louis Blues, and trying to do a routine as Mr. Wallace had the band play at different speeds. I also remember my father refusing to let me go to see the Beatles at Red Rocks with Karen Larson. Tickets were only $7.00, but the reputation of the Beatles was too far-out for this suburban lass. "Those were the days, my friends….."
Forever etched in my mind: hearing the announcement during gym class that President Kennedy had been assassinated.
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Linda & John--Gunga Beach Brazil |
