Classmate Biography

Rio Linda Senior High School - Rio Linda, CA - Class of 1971

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Bonita Littlefield
(Bonita Littlefield)

Email: dsrtflwr11@msn.com
Originally written December 29, 1999
Last updated November 9, 2009


1971

1976

1996

2004

Education

AA Bus Mgt Sierra College 1994 AA Fin Acct Sierra College 1997

Love Life

Married briefly, in 1972 and 1980. Neither of the exes are from Rio Linda, so I won't bother you with their names. Besides, they're in the past. Life's short and I'd rather think about the future. Some people do better on their own. I've decided that I'm one of them, so I have scratched marriage off my list of things to do.

No children.

One very adorable dog, Camper. She came by the name when I adopted her from the pound and she was one happy "Camper" to have gotten such a good home and loving "mom." When I visit my family in Rio Linda, Antelope, Roseville, and Pollack Pines she is always with me and always welcome in their homes. She's a shepard/chow/? with the prettiest face you've ever seen.

*Nov 2009* I still have my faithful companion, Camper. She's over 15 years old now and like all of us she's showing her age. Traveling is difficult for her now as is staying with a sitter, so until she's no longer with me I will limit my travels to day trips.

New to our little family is Tilly. She's a Blue Healer mix that I adopted after moving to OR in May 2008. She's a great watch dog and very protective. She tries to keep all of my visitors "herded" into the kitchen. One reason for selecting a herding dog was to keep tabs on Camper when she's outside. She's nearly deaf now and I was worried that she'd wander into the woods and not hear when I called her back. Tilly does an excellent job of finding her when I ask her to.


Employment

After graduating mid-term I worked part-time at MarVel Market in a bakery kiosk and as a full-time babysitter until Jun. 1972.

In Nov. 1972 I went to work as a cashier for W.T. Grant's in N. Highlands. Remember them? I left there in May of 1974 to go to work at McClellan AFB.

In 1974 I began my civil service career with the Dept of Defense @ McClellan AFB. I spent 13 years as an Aircraft Instrument Mechanic and 10 years as an Industrial Engineering Technician. I was one of those lucky people who liked my job.

Upon announcement of BRAC closure I requested placement at another gov't facility. I had too many years in to just walk away, but not enough to take an early retirement. I was hoping for placement within the Sacto. area or along the Calif. coastline, but somehow ended up at the Marine Base in Barstow, CA where I am still working as an Ind Eng Tech. I've been here since June 1998.

Hopefully, they'll offer me an early retirement, because, quite frankly, I don't like working for this Marine Base. If they don't offer it, I'll finish out my federal service here and retire in 2008.

*Nov 2009* Woo!!! Hoo!!! I made it. After 33 1/2 years of service I retired from the DoD on 13 Sept 2008. I had enough comp and vacation time to take an extended vacation, so I actually quit working in April and left the area on May 11th headed for my new home in Walton, OR. To read more about my new home please proceed to the RESIDENCE section.

In time I expect to have a part time job, but I haven't figured out what I want it to be. I do know that I don't want it to have anything to do with what I did in Barstow. Also, jobs in this area are pretty scarce right now and there are plenty of folks who need the income, so until the economy turns around I don't want to risk taking a job from someone who really needs it.


Activities

I love to travel. I've been to Hawaii twice, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta twice, Carib. Islands, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. Have also been to or through about half of our states, rafted the Colorado River, saw Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion Nat'l parks, and Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs.

I learned to SCUBA dive a few years ago and love it. I've been diving in Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay (Point Lobos), Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii (off Kauai), Saudi Arabia (Red Sea), and Australia (Great Barrier Reef). Would you believe Lake Tahoe is warmer than Monterey Bay?

In Aug and Sept of 2001 I'll be traveling to Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Germany, Italy, and Greece.

A friend of mine has asked if I'd like to celebrate our retirement by taking a month long cruise around Africa. I told her to start saving her money, because it sounds like a good idea.

Another trip to Australia isn't out of the question. It's a big country and I only saw a small part of it the first time. Maybe I'll make that a 50th birthday gift from me to me.

I also enjoy reading "trashy" romance novels, no particular author just which ever ones sound good.

I'm a Home & Garden, Learning, and Discovery Channels junky. This usually leads me to doing "trash to treasure" projects, home decorating, and small household repairs. I've amassed a pretty good collection of tools and materials. Lynnette Jennings and Christopher Lowell would be proud of me.

*Nov 2009* Now that I'm retired I spend time taking scenic drives and spending quality time enjoying my new home and watching the Siuslaw River flow by. I haven't seen them, but I'm told there are Salmon and Trout in there.


Accomplishments

Though not exactly accomplishments I am thankful that I'm healthy, still have my parents and all of my 5 siblings, scads of nieces and nephews who think their Auntie Nita is pretty great, have a nice home, a decent education, a good job, and I doubt that I'll have to worry about my retirement.

I've gotten to see a lot of places and do a lot of things, like rafting the Colorado River, diving the Great Barrier Reef, and riding a Harley through the Australian Outback.

I've got a lot of good years ahead of me and I'm looking forward to filling them with more of the same.

*Retired as planned on the day after my 55th birthday.


Residence

1978-1984 bought a condo and lived in Foothill Farms. 1984-1998 rented for 2 years then bought a home in Citrus Heights near Antelope/I-80.

1998-2008 I lived in a small town called Helendale in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Lucky for me I can take the heat, because it sure gets hot down here. My home is located in a private community called Silver Lakes. We have a golf course, lakes, stables, parks, etc. I have a modest home with plenty of room for me and Camper to ramble around in and for my family to come for visits.

*Nov 2009* In May 2008 I moved to Walton, OR where I own a small 2 bdr, 2 bath house on the Siuslaw River. Walton is on Hwy 126 between Eugene and Florence, which is on the coast. I'm approximatly 25 miles from the coast.

I actually bought the house in June 2007 after finding it on the Internet. I flew up to check it out and did all of the paperwork by fax and email. It sat empty until I moved in a year later. Shortly after moving in I remodeled to make a 400 sqft mbdrm. What used to be the mbdrm is now my guestroom. I also added a 600 sqft deck that overlooks the river.


Favorite quote:

1. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. 2. Never say never.
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