Cindy Gardes:
CLASS OF 1979
Blackfoot High SchoolClass of 1979
Blackfoot, ID
Washington State University - Business & EconomicsClass of 2000
Pullman, WA
Shelley High SchoolClass of 1979
Shelley, ID
Cindy's Story
Love to hear from old friends and classmates. Currently living part time in Richland, WA area and Charlotte, NC area. Graduated from Washington State University--Business Management, Marketing.
My husband, Brian, and I enjoy traveling the U.S. and the world for business and fun. September 2008 we spent three weeks in Spain/Andorra--for fun. Other great traveling opportunities have included: Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, France, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Mexico, Belgium, and Canada. Right now--I cannot believe I'm admitting--I am tried of traveling (several plane rides across the country--mainly Boise--lately). I have, however, enjoyed visiting my brother, Craig, and Curtis Olachea while in Boise. (They are doing great.)
My daughter, Mandy, works in the Richland, WA area; and my son, Christian, attends UNC-Charlotte and enjoys officiating college sports.
Our family enjoys white water rafting and camping. Last October (2007) I nearly lost my life while white water rafting the Upper Gauley in WV. The damn was open full throttle, making the five Class V+ rapids expecially dangerous. The first Class V rapid decided to pull me and my brother-in-law into the high velocity water with under-cut rocks. When I was finally able to get near the raft, one of my husband's best ...Expand for more
buds from his Maryland high school pulled me into the raft. (Our guide, "Skippy," pulled my brother-in-law into the raft.) After completing that rapid, Skippy got the raft in a bit of a "cove" while I upchucked water and started breathing again. The only way out of that area of the Gauley is down the river. So, after a short "recovery," our raft with all of us paddling, headed to the next Class V+ rapid--Pillow Rock. Yes, this rapid flips many, many rafts, but that did not stop our guide from ensuring we went high on the "pillow" giant boulder so we could tap the boulder with our paddle! No, we did not flip. Yes, I stayed in. But, we did recover some paddles and a rafter from a raft behind us. While on the river I learned a kayaker had died the day before, on a Class III rapid, and a woman got caught/died in an under cut rock less than a month and 1/2 earlier. The paper I signed--stating I could die or lose a limb--before rafting this wild river was not to be taken lightly.
As you may have guessed...I did the camping trip, but did not join Brian and gang for the Gauley this year.
With this experience and losing my father, a niece, and my best friend at Blackfoot High...all to serious illnesses, I choose to cherish life and the many people that have/are made/making my life a wonderful life! Thank you dear friends.
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