Lyric Rillera

Posted on: Nov 03, 2023 at 4:33 AM

My husband and I are continuing to make adjustments to the challenges of a rapidly evolving COVID world. Our much anticipated 25th Anniversary Cruise to the Caribbean morphed into more modest and extended scenic road trips.(sigh!) However, we are still both upright and in relatively good health. My husband’s involvement with Rotary and the Library Board keep him occupied. I am active with the Dayton Celebration Chorus, and continuing with various writing projects. Our days are restful and filled with activities we choose - even if that means an occasional afternoon nap! I’ve found that living a purposeful life doesn’t mean that I have to have a specific purpose to accomplish each day. Detailed “to do” lists have been substituted with a prayers of gratitude each morning and thoughts of a few things I can do to enhance the day ahead. I seem to be entering a new chapter of my life - perhaps harkening back to childhood when long bike rides down Napa’s country lanes and dreaming under verdant oak trees filled my days. If so, I’m content.

Posted on: Aug 14, 2022 at 3:06 PM

Beth, Happy belated birthday and best wishes for a wonderful year ahead. Just read your updated profile. I didn’t remember that you raised your sister’s two children after their untimely deaths in 1977. You and your husband are incredibly special human beings to have done so. Finally, I too miss Claudia and my occasional visits with her in L.A. I last heard from her by letter in late 2021where she suggested we have a long phone ‘chat’ to catch up. It wasn’t meant to be. Again, all the best for you and your family this year.

Lynn, Happy belated birthday. Like you, I just celebrated my 29th. (Hah - just kidding!) You look positively stunning in your photo. Sounds like you’re active and doing well.

I hope that all of you are doing well and enjoying the summer. What a challenge 2020 was! Five members of my extended family contracted COVID-19, but only one had to be briefly hospitalized. Thankfully, all of them have fully recovered. My life was “on hold” for much of that year as many events (including a family wedding) had to be canceled and rescheduled. There have been some unforeseen blessings. For example, I joined a university chorus - made possible by Zoom. It is good to be involved in music again! I am also writing fiction - this time in the YA (young adult) genre. Just for fun and my younger grandchildren who still enjoy stories about fantastical creatures and other worlds. May your days ahead be filled with shared experiences, adventures, and new discoveries.

Posted on: Nov 03, 2019 at 4:34 AM

My husband and I receently downsized from our woodland home on 5 acres to a townhouse in 'civilization!' It is a relief to have access to services like city water (as opposed to wells) and landscaping. We're settling into our new 'normal' of full retirement. He's still active in Rotary and other similar civic organizations. I'm on the Board of the Noble Circle Project. This is a local group that provides supportive services for women cancer survivors. I am also still writing in various genres - now entirely as a form of creative personal expression.

I've heard from a variety of friends and family members concerned about the dual challenges of the May tornados that caused extensive damage in the greater Dayton region and the recent shootings in our downtown entertainment district. Fortunately, none of our friends and family members were directly involved and am extremely grateful this is the case. We are actively involved as donors and volunteers to assist members of our community who were.

Posted on: Aug 12, 2019 at 1:04 PM

Posted on: Jul 29, 2017 at 10:10 PM

Betty, so sorry that I'm missing out on all of the fun this weekend! Looks like you, Jana, and others on the reunion committee have put together a wonderful variety of events for our classmates. Just a brief personal note . . . I remember you fondly from our various shared activities during our school years including Rainbow Girls and the newspaper staff. I'm so happy you were able to follow your "dream" to become a professional writer and have a successful journalism career. Best wishes for continued future success.

Posted on: Jul 29, 2017 at 9:39 PM

Martha, so glad that we had a chance to at least "chat" during one of my last trips to Napa. I haven't been back "home" after we sold our family house on Young Avenue in 2012. Many thanks again for sending me the information about the renovation of the Uptown Theatre. I have many happy childhood memories of Saturday afternoons watching B rated family films and cartoons while eating 'penny' candy and popcorn. I'm so glad that we were able to serve in Rainbow Girls together during our High School years. You were always so confident and poised during our various activities. I see by some of the brief notes here that you are on the verge of retirement. I've "officially" retired, but have a few clients that I am still assisting. My plan is to have everything completed by the end of the year. Sounds like there are other life changes in the future. Best wishes, and I hope you are having a great time this weekend!

Beth, it's hard to believe that years have gone by since we had dinner with Claudia during one of my donor visits to Los Angeles. It was fun catching up on the 40+ years that had passed since our time as friends during our school years in Napa. I enjoyed traveling and "sharing the good news" about higher education to interested and involved university alumni. However, I'm now glad to say "retired" when asked my occupation these days! I hope that all is still well and that you are having a great time this weekend.

Pat, I was surprised to learn that another 1967 NHS graduate was liiving in Ohio! I met my husband and his three adult daughters on a cruise with my mother. I was working at UC Berkeley at that time and he "commuted" from his home town of Dayton to visit me. Eighteen months later we were married in Napa and moved to Ohio after his daughters were married. That was 20+ years ago and I'm now a 'step' grandmother to six great kids. We are still living in the same house in the middle of an old growth forest in Sugarcreek Township. I too have learned to use various types of equipment and we co-own a very old tractor with a neighbor. I'm unable to go to the reunion this year, but hope that you have the opportunity.

Posted on: Jul 27, 2017 at 10:35 PM

Kathy, I'm so glad we were able to share time together over dinner during one of my trips to Napa a few years ago. It was great hearing about your 'journey' since our school years together. I enjoyed learning all about your experiences as an elected official for Napa County - especially since your name appears on our marriage license as Recorder! I hope all is well and that you have a great time at the reunion.

Claudia, so glad we were able to reconnect during one of my university donor relations trips to Los Angeles a few years ago. I recently came across an old box of mementos from our school days together at Redwood Jr. High. It contained some of the notes we wrote back and forth to each other during class along with one from our teacher Ronald Gustin asking us to stop talking so much! I'm surprised we ever made it to High School! I hope you have a wonderful time at the reunion this weekend.