Adrian McGregor:  

2019: Life In Temecula Wine Country is such a blessing to both of us. Our ranch has a 360* view of the sky up on the Mesa behind South Coast Winery. We've been married 51 years this Dec. 9th. Den won't let me do canning any longer. He'd rather I enjoy my art passions, my designing of our garden*s Tree Art Displaying of faerie art, rabbits, and my favorite artists' works with hundreds of solar lighting enhancement and share our travels together with our RVing and timeshares. Gardening is a shared enjoyment between us. 5.5 acres of two parts mountain prevents us from ever being bored. We have belonged to two travel clubs for over fifteen years. We now invite friends to camp on our ranch before we start our January outings each year. I still sing gospel occasionally. But, I no longer sing professionally. When I was a children's Librarian , I was known as a Singing Historical Librarian Storyteller for at least thirty years before retiring. It was a delight to work with all ages of students. I demonstrated a few times for the state/county CMLEA Workshops how to inspire reading with music, thus shifting to the right side of the brain enabling more retention. Middle school students used to need to use the Melville Dewey Classification System, which the internet uses as well for categorical subject headings. I instructed it with a microphone system using rap style. It was a privilege to work with children and staff. Dennis loves to fish. We go with a group of friends to the High Sierras twice a year to McGee Creek and to Silver Lake for trout fishing. The wives hangout shopping, crafting, games, etc. and enjoying how beautiful it is to be in God's country. ..........Life is changing...but, my past first. I am blessed by my many influences from my family. My Aunt Helen was a famous singer and hoofer on Broadway; Sang on the radio for years, and loved giving me music lessons. My Cousin, George Carr, was a marvelous pianist and singing coach in seven languages. He trained me for fifteen years. I'll never forget a phone call from him when one of his students, Grace Marque...spelling.. was singing in the NY Gardens, then, taking a tour through the US in the Playboy Clubs. She got accute loss of voice. They wanted me to fly to NY, do her two week gig, and do the Playboy Club tour. He had always been "terrif" and supportive of me. But, when I told him I was seven months pregnant, which I had neglected to mention, he was furious with me. I had been married for three years, doing short gigs, singing for large churches, etc. I had given up the idea of touring with my band in Vegas, etc. under contract, as my wonderful husband and friend, Dennis, preferred me home. Today, I still sing gospel and "stuff" I love. Our grandchildren love music. Singing to our newest grandchildren of 15 months and five months old is grand. Music just seems to "mellow" the soul and give a communication bond of love and trust. My Grandmother, Millie, had an eighty acre farm in Modesto County all my growing up years. This is how a city girl fell in love with the open spaces of the countryside, smelling wonderful animals, milking cows, horses, etc. and the appreciation of growing crops and the sweet smell of alfafa in the fields. Grams taught me how to make a cobler When Dennis and I started our family, we knew we wanted to do it out of the realm of the city. We tried for over twelve years to transfer to Garberville in the mist of the Redwoods. But, his corporate bosses would not release him to work in the sticks. Dennis introduced computers and using a thing called MasterCard plastic instead of money to be used. My Great Great Grandfather is Sgt. Don Jose Francisco de Ortega, who is named in the history books for discovering San Francisco Bay. He was given one of the largest Spanish/Mexican Land Grants in California...after his death. The lands were what you call Santa Barbara County today. The rancho went to the ocean's foam on Refugo State Beach. My Great Grandfather received title to his lands after his death. My father, Walter Betts, introduced me to fishing in the High Sierras. His father and grandfather took him by backpack into the Mammouth area before roads. Dad introduced my husband, Dennis, to fly fishing in streams. We enjoy going to Paradise Lodge in Bishop, CA. and the Mammouth areas. Dennis introduced me to powder and the thrills of skiing. My dad introduced me to horseback riding when I was three. Our family used to ride in Griffith Park every month. I loved it. So, when we moved to our ranch in the Temecula Wine Country, we bought horses for our kids and family. Back then in 1977 there were mostly open mountains and trails without houses and people. We entered our kids into 4-H. They loved the girls, our milking goats. Taking a Library Science Class to get back into the swing of things at college; Found that I liked it and being with kids in school. It is a previlege to make teenagers Finders instead of Surfers on the Net. My Ms. McGregor's Linked Internet Library will be up soon at home. I'll maintain it in my "senior years". If someone were to ask me what most I love about how my life has been lived, I could not give just one answer; My love of God, his kindnesses to me, my wonderful husband and friend, my children, my love to inspire children, my friends, reading, my job of working with children daily, my joy when I sing...and my pleasure of being in the garden on our ranch...the peace working in it and sharing it with guests to our home.. The joy the night stars bring to your heart in our rural country sky and seeing wildlife everywhere each day. We never got to the Redwoods to live. But, we found a close second in beauty within the mountains of Temecula. When life gives me seconds for quiet, I think of you guys...when Classmates welcomes me back to the 60's. Sign my book when you visit. It's nice to see some one's name from the past whose path is crossing mine again. College Just went back this December, 2004 for my sorority's 50th Anniversary. I was their guest speaker. While driving back to the streets of my past, thoughts drifted in and out of my mind. What could I share and tell modern independent women of 2000's? They were so awesome. The whole room was full of questions: What was it like to be at school in the 60's; what were parties and rush like?, etc. It was like seeing a segment in the movie, "The way we were" with Barbara S' and Redford; but with a happier ending. "We are women of the sixities, and WE STILL HAVE A CAUSE." They were amazed that we had to wear nylons and could only wear sandals and pants during semester break. We are and were the rebels of many causes as Julia Roberts displayed so "prefectly" in the Mona Lisa Smile; the movie of a 50's teacher in a traditional woman's college who did not believe a woman's mind was just to be prepared for marriage. After I was given a five minute standing applause as I walked to the podeumn, I was struck with pride that I am a 60's woman! I opened with this statement, " My name is Adrian Bett-McGregor. I'm a 60's woman who still has many causes!" They stood up, again, applauding for another five minutes. The 1960's were an exciting time. Everything was opening up for women. Once we got past the thoughts of romance and finding Mr. Perfect... geographically done by chance, we got into the persuit of life. Today on many campuses, Frat life is limited due to housing, time and costs. Since you all lived the sixities, you know what I spoke about; Dress codes of nylons on campus, no pants except during finals, Kennedy, Vietnam and the loved ones we miss who did not come home, make-up, manners, dating, and frat life; thousands of sorority and fraternities around California and the US. I told my sorority sisters that if I could do one thing over as a 60's person in the twenty-first century, it would be to keep in touch with friends, always. Time flys away too quickly. Before you know it thirty years are gone. They have internet and teliconferencing. And, now we have as well. The Internet can keep buddies closier for real... and not, just in memory. Workplace It has been my pleasure for the last twenty-seven years to hang out with children in the educational system of both private Christian Schooling and Public Education. I've worked as a K-5 singing storytelling librarian, a Referencing Middle School Librarian and at Linfield Christian High School. It has been an exciting time of writing curriculum and helping write the History of Temecula for my school district. When I retire, soon, I plan to help make e-texts of historical books for on-line research, write children's stories, and continue my quest in art. I enjoy doing Web site designing. I plan to start selling my art work, again, when I retire. In September of 2002 I finished a two year project for literacy, which assists children with finding information instead of Surfing for it with previewed Web sites. Watching them enjoy self success is very gratifying. Life as a Middle School Librarian changes hourly. My last full year will be 2005-06. My wonderful husband is older. He's been waiting for me to close the library doors and to keep him company chasing our next twenty years of dreams. I love it that he loves to read, too! He's my best friend, and the love of my life. We love fishing and traveling together.We retired on the same day together, December 30th. Once I'm offically retired, I wi...Expand for more