SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

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We just spent a week in Los Angeles staying with Joannie's maid of honor, Nancy, in her LA guest house. She and her husband Steve have a lovely home just minutes from LAX which the Rose family has been using as home away from home for the past year. Both Adam and Ben have taken advantage of their hospitality as well as Dwight & Joan.
While we were there we also were able to catch up with many friends in the LA area. We met Judy and Paul on a cruise last January and Suzy Lee is an old friend from Dwight's Sears days. Her late husband Chong and Dwight worked together on the luggage line in the 80's. We also had dinner with Joan's cousin Jerry and family.
We took a great tour of the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Joan's father came back from Europe after WWII on the ship. In it's heyday as a cruise ship it held 2300 passengers and 1100 crew. During the war 15,000 to 16,600 soldiers were transported to Europe. On the return voyage prisoners or war and injured soldiers made the trip home. At the end of the war this beautiful ship brought war brides and their children to the US. The tour was great and at the end of it Dwight and I went up to the first class lounge, had a drink and toasted my dad.
Now we are in Arizona where we have also visited with friends and are looking at golf course community homes. The weather is great and we have woken every morning to sun since the drive down from Monterey. This is what the quest has been all about: family, friends and sunshine every day!

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Photos

Nancy & Steve
Venice Beach

Paul & Judy
Huntington Beach

Suzy Lee
Laguna Nigel

Comments

[Chris Yuenger]

Sounds Wonderful!
Joan & Dwight - I can not believe how long you have been gone already and all the things you have done. Sounds like there is never a dull moment for you 2! Keep enjoying your time and don't forget to come back to us in Illinois one day. Our weather is warming up this week so it is not all bad! Miss you, Chris

[Karina]

Safe Travels
Loving your adventures - you've seen some great sights. Sorry we're not still in AZ to greet you. Enjoy the sunshine and the golfing.

[Beth]

Miss you guys!
Hi Dwight & Joan! We miss you a lot around here - especially during the big snow storm. I can remember being helped by Dwight so many times during big snows. FYI, we got a snowblower this year, so I was able to pay it forward! Looks like you are having a wonderful time in your travels. Keep posting, I love reading about what you're up to! Beth

[Marilyn Woidat]

none
Good to hear from you as it has been a long time; leaving you up in Wash. with Dwight 's family in January. We had a storm that delayed our departure for Kiawah. Our neighbors were going thru a rough time that week. They lost a 21/2yr old great grandson and greatnephew suddenly from H3 N3 virus. Terribly sad for all of them. Our trip down was uneventful. We saw our last snow on the ground north of Indianapolis which had ice covered trees from an ice storm they had while we got the big snow in Chi town. We had 20 plus inches which required having to shovel half way down and then snow blow it. A neighbor saw this as she drove by and told us to use their big blowe. This was a gift from heaven as we were about to tackle the end of the drive which was waist high with plowed snow. UGH. Enjoying great weather in Kiawah this year. Jim and Charlie arrived safely in Costa Rica after leaving on a red eye flight Tues nite in a horrible rain. Nice to know where you are. Are you going to the NBA All Star game Sunday? Love, m

[Ken Bower]

Howard Hughes
While at the Queen Mary, did you happen to walk over to the building that housed Howard Hughes' famous flying wooden ship? That is truly awesome to walk into that building, and suddenly be confronted by this plane suspended from the ceiling, in ths humidity controlled hanger. Keep those travel reports coming. They are really appreciated by this 81 year old codger... Love to Joan. Travel safely. Hope to see you soon. Ken and Alice Bower