“Joan Knutson,” just saying her name brings a smile to my face. When we were babies, our families lived next door to each other in Fullerton. So I guess we started playing together as toddlers.

We moved to Anaheim when I was 2 and her family moved to the far end of town. I remember Mrs.Knutson bringing Joan over to play. Joan lived an adventurous life! She had a wild imagination! It was during the war so we were searching for Nazis a lot of the time. Now you have to understand, I played alone most of the time and only read about adventures. I was a very cautious child. 

explore it. We peaked through the cobwebs hanging from the open window and I remember the fear in the pit of my stomach but Joan spotted something in the corner, partially covered with an old dirty tarp. Joan was inside before I could say “no, we aren’t allowed!” I was scared but followed her inside. She pulled back the tarp to reveal a rusty old bike with flat tires. She thought it was great and knew I had never had a bike.

We ran home and she talked to my dad, saying how he could fix it up for me. And she would teach me how to ride. Nothing was impossible for Joan. Well, that’s exactly what happened. The neighbor was happy to get rid of the old bike and my dad painted it, sprayed silver paint on the handlebars, added a basket and bell. It was beautiful to me! And Joan and her brother taught a scared 10 year old how to ride. I’ll never forget that exhilarating feeling of the wind in my face as I suddenly realized no one was holding the bike anymore!

There were many adventures with Joan but I want to share one more story. We grew apart as teens but always sent Xmas cards and wrote little notes, keeping in touch even after we got married.

asked if we could meet up. I hadn’t seen her since we were kids. Joan and Chuck and their 8 kids arrived for our little beach party. The kids became friends and we talked and laughed for hours.