ELIDA THOMPSON ICKES

I took some aptitude tests in HS that said I should be a secretary. I worked for an insurance company before getting married. I stayed at home until the youngest of three children went into kindergarten. I then went back to work for Holt, Rinehart and Winston, a textbook publishing company starting out on the bottom and ending up as the Office Manager. It was a great company and I had great bosses. I learned to hire and fire and had some great employees working for me.

I always took classes at the local junior colleges and recreation centers taking classes ranging from business practices to child development to learning how to play guitar. I did well in business. I tell my children I am a trained professional when they ask me to do child care and I play in three bands (bluegrass and country). I consider myself to be very lucky. I married the right guy the first time. We have been married 46 years. He retired at age 54 from the Burlingame Police Department and we have been having fun ever since. Best thing we ever did for ourselves was to move to Twain Harte, up in the Sierra, 70 miles north of Yosemite.

Organizations I’m involved with include the Sierra Quilt Guild and the Bluegrass Quilters.

We love to hike and take our motor home on trips. We were in Nevada (our band had a gig in Battle Mountain), Idaho (visiting with friends who bought property there and Oregon (for the 22 Annual Cousin's Party) for a one month vacation with the RV.

We have a cat named Missy who is probably the smartest cat you will every meet. She does several tricks. She travels with us. As of this year she has been to Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and, of course, California.

Favorite movies include Oh Brother Where are thou, Whale Rider, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Fire Down Below (only because our son is in it).

As stated earlier, my husband retired at 54. I worked maybe 3 or 4 years after that. Then we moved to Twain Harte and have been having fun every since. It was a very smooth transition. We love retirement!!!!