Classic Photo: Jeri in the Kitchen

We had just recently moved in to the house on Newlin Ave in Whittier on February 15, 1978 when I took this photo of my wife Jeri. Our daughter Meranda was born three month later in May. Some days it seems like yesterday and on other days it was a lifetime ago. Nothing is perfect but God has been good to us. Good memories!

Lunch at Parker's Lighthouse in Long Beach

Jeri and I took my mother to Parker's Lighthouse at Shoreline Village in Long Beach for lunch today. It's difficult for her to get out but she is a real trooper. It was a good day for her.

I really like eating here. The food is good and the view is great. We were seated with a great view of the Queen Mary.

We started out with a shrimp cocktail. I had a small bowl of chicken, seafood and andouille sausage gumbo, and Jambalaya. Jeri had the fish & chips and my mother had a burger. After she was done with her burger she said, "I enjoyed the burger, it was good and I'm not complaining but If I had a choice between this and an In-N-Out burger, I would take In-N-Out!" Make of that what you will.

Classic Photo: Jeri and Andrew De La O

This photo was taken, circa 1986 at the now, long gone Grinder Restaurant in Whittier, California, while celebrating our daughter Meranda's first communion at St Mary's, also in Whittier.

Happy Anniversary to my Wife Jeri

When you are young you cannot see the future. You see only today. When you meet someone for the first time you have no way of knowing what the future holds. You cannot imagine the children being born, a house filled with noise of all kinds; crying, yelling, fighting and laughter, You cannot imagine a lifetime of meals cooked and years worked to complete a new found dream.

You cannot imagine the pride and joy of raising those children, watching them as they grow into good solid adults. The bittersweet joy of watching them one by one as they marry or as they join the service, or do whatever it is that young people do when they begin to start their own lives.

You have no way of knowing that your grandchildren will complete your life in a way you could never have imagined and that the loss of one of them would give you a grief that you never knew existed.

You could not conceive that somehow - that a God you once took for granted - would guide you through a long lasting marriage, even with all the difficulties that comes with a marriage.

You cannot conceive of all those things that will take place in your life and that someday you will be looking back at all of it and realize that God has Blessed you in a way that cannot be put into words.

No you cannot imagine!

Happy Anniversary to to my beautiful wife Jeri, my partner on this journey called life. I love you

Newlin Avenue

This photo of my wife Jeri was taken in the summer of 1978 in the backyard of our home on Newlin Ave, a couple of months after Meranda was born. I can't even began to tell you how many parties we had at that house. The cops showing up two or three times a night to shut us down type of parties. Kegs galore.

The back yard might not look like much but we had free rein with the house and the yard. The landlords could not have cared less what we did as long as we paid the rent on time. I always had the feeling of living somewhere far away, somewhere out in the country.

We were in our early twenties and beginning our lives. It was a special time and it was a special place, both the neighborhood and the people.

The house is gone now. It was torn down in 1987 and a two unit apartment was built in it's place. The house is one of our family's favorite memory. Nothing last forever.

Softball at Sorenson Park

   

We spent the day with Meranda, Mariah and Maddie this past Saturday at Sorenson Park watching Mariah's softball game. My granddaughter Mariah is a fierce competitor. She gives 100% of herself during a game. She has a passion and a big heart for her sport. Like all true competitors she does not lose easily. That's the mark of a winner. Never accept defeat. Jeri and I are proud of her! She's becoming an all around young athlete. She is also on the basketball team at school!

Nothing keeps a kid on the straight and narrow path like sports. I don't care if it's baseball, basketball, football, track and field or boxing. It builds confidence, character and self reliance. Old fashioned values maybe but still important. It also keeps them too occupied to get into trouble. (Just a personal opinion)

Bahooka Family Restaurant Has Closed it's Doors

Bahooka Family Restaurant in the City of Rosemead

Earlier this month, on March 10th, Bahooka Family Restaurant in the city of Rosemead, closed it;s doors for the final time. Bahooka was the last of the Tiki/Polynesian style restaurant in the area, that I know of. It was somewhat of an institution in Southern California.

We first went there on September 12, 1977. I remember the date because it was my late sister Evelyn's 28th birthday. My parents, my brother Dennis, along with my sister, Jeri and I went there to celebrate with her . I can;t remember what I had but it was probably ribs. The inside of the  restaurant was filled with fish tanks and every exotic fish you could think of, of all sizes.It was a unique, one of a kind restaurant and I'm sorry to see it close.

About a week or so before Bahooka closed, Jeri and I stopped by for old time's sake. I'm glad we did. Most of the people there, including us, were walking around, taking pictures, trying to preserve as many memories as they could. Nothing last forever.

Jeri and I at Bahhoka 2013

My sister Evelyn, me (Randy), Jeri and my brother Dennis (1977)

My parents Andrew and Anita De La O (1977)

Teenage Jeri Huizar (De La O)

 

My wife Jeri on the right. It was 1967, and from the looks of the Christmas Tree, it was the holidays. She was 16 years old. They were at home listening to music and dancing when this photo was taken. Her sister Rebecca on the left and Mary Helen in the center. this is the only photo we have of Jeri in her teens.

Baptism at the San Gabriel Mission - 1982

This photo of Jeri, Andrew and I was taken 30 years ago, in 1982, at the San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, California. The occasion was our son Andrew's baptism. The Godparents are Sergio and Denise Billings. Seems like yesterday.

The Godparents: Sergio and Denise Billings with Andrew De La O