Sharon Mendoza:  

I graduated from NHS in 1974. I went on tp get my Associate of Science degree from Bakersfield college. I was involved in anumber of singing groups and led an explorer post in High adventure.I graduated from BC in May 1976. I went to Fresno State where I lived in the Dorms.In Spring 1977 I lost my dad to cancer. I then spent the summer at Lake Sequoia where I met my husband Jeff. We were engaged in Oct.1977 and Got married in Aug 1978. We stayed in Fresno almost 3 years..I only lack an internship to complete my Bachelors degree. We moved back to Bakersfield in July 1981. Jeff eventually got a job with the county and is a Social worker supervisor. I have worked at various jobs and we have two children Janelle and John.We also have two dogs.Riley is our German Shepherd, and Bella is our Rodesian Ridgeback.We have a cat named Moonlight who is a domestic shorthair cross.We attend church and are involved in Bible study and various ministries. I am involved in pet therapy with Riley.I take him to various skilled nursing facilities and retirement communities through the SPCA. When I was 38 I had Hodgkins Lymphoma. I had surgery ,chemo ,and radiation .I have been in remission for almost 15 years. I have participated in many musical productions at Canyon Hills Church and in various choir activities. I continue to raft,camp,fish, garden and read .I used to do a lot of backpacking with my sister and her two children and my two children. We have many wonderful memories of the backpack trips.Unfortunately,while in high school I severely injured my knee and eventually had to have it replaced in 2001. I will always cherish the memories I had of 37 years of backpacking the HighSierra,catching Golden Trout, and the many wonderful people I got know during that time.Our dogs always backpacked with us and they always kept a watchful eye on the four children and let us know if we had any wild animals around. In all that time we never had a problem with bears or people. We have had bear encounters camping ,but never backpacking. I have a friend that I fish with on occassion ,but often I go by myself. I mostly trout fish in the upper Kern River and the eastern Sierra . Every year my sister and I spent four days in the eastern Sierra enjoying the fall colors .It is unbelievably beautiful and there are photographers everywhere. We always take the dogs with us.The nights are often down in the 20"s .We camp in various places in the summer and in the summer our two families plus friends get together for a raft trip down the Upper Kern River as well as a BBQ at Riverside park. We also get together for Christmas and other holidays. I also do volunteer work every week at the Bakersfield Pregnancy Center. I have always volunteered at the school my children were in as well as various ministries within the Church. In 1982 Jeff and I were short term missionaries in Bolivia. It was an eye opening experience for me and we really saw the Lord working .When we came home I realized no matter how poor Americans are they are extremely well off when compared with Bolivia and any other third world country. I am glad I got to spend the time In Bolivia ,it made my understanding ...Expand for more