Tag Archives: Montebello

Round Robin Photo Challenge ~ Childhood Memories

It’s time for another visit to the Robins for a photo challenge. This time the theme is Childhood Memories. I do not have any keepsakes from my early childhood. No dolls, no trinkets, no toys, no stuffed animals. I do have lots of memories, though. Some of those are fading as I grow older so these challenges are good for me to get the ole brainwaves working.

I was born in East Los Angeles. My parents were Russian Immigrants. We moved East to Montebello Gardens when I was 1. While we lived on Oak Street in Montebello Gardens (Pico Rivera) my 3 older siblings and I would walk to the Montebello library to check out books. We’d head to Whittier Blvd. and have to cross this bridge over the Rio Hondo River to get to the library. It was approximately 2 miles each way. The library was located at Montebello Park.

The library was located at Montebello Park.  I spent many happy hours looking at all those books and trying to choose just 4. Reading is one of my favorite childhood memories. I loved to look at and hold a book in my hands and read it. When the bookmobile came to my elementary school I would shake with anticipation for my turn to go into the mobile library and decide on what books to borrow.

We moved from Montebello Gardens across the river to Montebello when I was in 5th grade. This is our house on Los Angeles Ave. When we lived here until 1971.

This was my high school. Montebello High home of the Montebello Oilers. There are lots of fences around the school now so they can lock down the school. How sad is that?! That’s a reality of our times. No fences in the 60’s!

The football field that I spent most Friday nights at during football season in high school. I’m on the right standing.

To see more Childhood Memories visit the Round Robin Photo Challenge Blog and click away!

 

Montebello Dear Old High ~

It’s almost Monday so it’s time to post mosaics for Mosaic Monday with Mary at Little Red House and post something blue for Blue Monday with Sally at Smiling Sally!

On Thursday last week I met 2 of my sisters at the high school we all graduated from for a Homecoming Reunion BBQ. The school was unveiling a 100 year celebration mural and giving tours of the school culminating with a BBQ and entertainment from the band and Cheer Squads. Our high school colors were and are blue and gold so it was easy to have lots of blue to show you.

Early in Montebello’s history there were oil derricks on the hills that surround Montebello, that is where the Oilers came from. Our school newspaper was Derrick Diary. Our mascots were Ollie the Olive.

This next photo was taken in 1968 of a group of my friends standing in the same courtyard that I took one of the photos in the mosaic above. You can see that the building hasn’t changed except for some fresh paint.

Didn’t we dress reasonably back in the 60’s for school? :0)

The Auditorium is exactly the same and the lockers are the same but the courtyard with the blue umbrellas is new.

After they unveiled the new mural the pep squads let helium balloons go up into the sky.

 

This was just downright scary to watch. I kept wanting to yell “CATCH HER!”

Have a great week everyone!

 

Homecoming!

Today two of my sisters are meeting me at Montebello High School for a Homecoming BBQ. It’s special this year because our High School is celebrating their 100 year anniversary. Kathy graduated in 1964, Vera graduated in 1966, Fred graduated in 1967, and I graduated in 1968. It wasn’t easy following my older sisters and brother through school because they were a lot more compliant and successful then I was. I’d always hear comments like “you aren’t like your sisters”,or “I thought you’d do better because you are a Bagdanov”. My sister Kathy was G.A.A. president. My sister Vera was Valedictorian of her class, a wiz in mathematics. Back then there were no calculators and you should have seen her work that slide rule…amazing. My brother Fred was ASB president. Our 4 younger brothers and sister graduated from high school in Whittier. Was it Monte Vista Lana?

I’m looking forward to meeting a couple who I’ve met through my blog who graduated in 1951 and 1954. I’m also hoping to see other people I haven’t seen for 41 years.

Have a great Thursday everyone.

Friday’s Fave Five ~ You Can Go Home Again…

It’s time to pick your favorites from this past week! Thanks to Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for hosting this great exercise.

Here’s some of highlights from this past week.

I never thought I was a morning person but the older I’ve gotten the more I’ve enjoyed early morning and seeing the Sunrise. I’ve been out with Dear at dawn and by myself at dawn this week and it really is a glorious time of the day…

It was very cool to go to the Camarillo Ranch House on Sunday for the celebration of Adolfo Camarillo’s 145th birthday and see these famous Camarillo White horses.

During the celebration they had the great old Victorian house open for tours. I enjoy walking through and seeing the architecture and period pieces in all the rooms. I’d love a breakfast room like this…heck, I’d love a formal dining room like this. There is a very grand dining room just next to this room.

So you know the saying “You can’t go home again” well I met up with one of my best friends from high school in our home town for lunch this week. While we were there we decided to drive over to our alma mater and take a photo. We also drove down memory lane to each of our childhood homes to see what they look like today.

On the way home from our lunch I took a detour. This was the First United Christian Molokan Church on Lorena St. in East Los Angeles. As a child and pre-teen my family spent lots of time here. My grandfather was a preacher/elder at this church. I am grateful and thankful to God that He led my father and our family out of this religion and into His marvelous grace filled life. My father responded to God’s call on his life and trusted Christ as his Savior at the Billy Graham Crusade in Los Angeles in 1963.

If I was still a Molokan and as a married woman I would maybe dress like this for church…

I spotted this Molokan lady while I was in Montebello yesterday. She’s probably on her way to a lopsha lunch after a funeral.  She’s wearing all white and after the graveside ceremony you go home and change into your white outfit for the funeral meal.  Lopsha (Russian noodle soup) is usually served after the graveside service. Borsch is more typically served at weddings.

I really enjoy traditions and I participate in traditions. BUT I have to step back and evaluate when my traditions become my religion instead of relying on what Jesus did for me on the cross. For me worship is all about Jesus.  From time to time it’s good to seriously evaluate what I am worshiping.

And now I’m off to see the sunrise and then a  fun time is afoot. I’m picking up Willow and meeting Sara (another local blogger) to tour the Getty Museum. We’re going to be exposed to some great works of art. Have a great day everyone and I’ll come around to see your favorites later this afternoon.