This morning we got ready for the Trailblazers dance, which started at 11:15 a.m. in Paramount. We decided to leave early to be sure to get there in time to visit with people before the dance. The freeways ran smoothly, so we arrived early, but so did several others. We wondered how many people we would recognize at the dance. It turned out that we knew most everyone, either from our former membership in the Trailblazers or because we had danced with them other places--including at Hemet with Romney last weekend.
Our friends John and Peggy arrived during the first tip, but after that we always danced in the number one spot opposite them in number three--just as we had done many times when we lived in the area. It felt good to be able to pick up where we left off, even after more than four years.
We talked (and danced) with a couple named Chris and Joni. Evidently they've been Trailblazers for years, but had dropped out of dancing for nine years, so we hadn't met them before. They are very interested in RVing and are planning an extended road trip this summer in their motorhome, including dancing in Spokane at Nationals, so we are hoping to see them there. Joni teaches, but they hope to retire and travel in a year or two.
We danced with John and Peggy, of course, and our squares also included Dave and Heidi, Les and Carol, Bob and Peggy, Charlie and Lorraine, Craig Shucker and Barbara, and Jim and Pat.
We were lucky to be dancing to Ross Howell--one of my very favorite callers. This was the last time he would be calling for the Trailblazers, because he had decided to limit his calling to east of the Mississippi. He said he didn't want to do any more red eyes (can't blame him for that).
Ross called a really good dance and got plenty of applause several times. There were six squares on the floor--nearly twice what this dance usually draws. That's a real tribute to a wonderful caller.
After the dance we invited John and Peggy over for lunch an a tour of our new home. We had tomato and roasted red pepper soup and Tillamook grilled cheese sandwiches--and lots of conversation. John's brother Harry and his wife Denise have moved to Texas. They shut down their electrical work business because of the crushing downturn in construction, so John was pushed into retirement.
I called and talked with Nanci this afternoon. She has her cell phone by her bedside in the hospital. She sounded a bit groggy from the pain meds, but otherwise is in very good spirits and doing well. She's hoping to go home Monday or Tuesday. She joked that she has to get home because she has company coming (that would be us--but only if Nanci is feeling up to visitors. We're planning to stop on our way up to Spokane. The plan was to stay with Tom and Nanci for a few days and then travel with them to Nationals, but all that is up in the air now, depending on how she is progressing and feeling.
Our walk today took us across Trask Avenue to this interesting memorial to the Pacific Electric Railway--the Red Car system that provided mass transit service to Southern California from 1901 to 1961.
Here's the location of the corridor, which may be developed again for mass transit use.
We drained our gray water this evening, using a garden hose to run over to the sewer opening. It worked really well, but was slow. A motorhome pulled in to use the dump station just before we got started, so we went inside to wait. They took a long time to dump and disappeared inside the rig leaving the sewer hose attached. Finally the RV host went to talk with them. Diane later reported to us that they were taking showers and probably washing the dishes. Likely they are among the homeless. She says they bring different people with them to shower each time they come. She tries to be accommodating, but can't let them camp by the dump station and use the Elks water forever.
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