Karen Bushman:
CLASS OF 1968
Warren High SchoolClass of 1968
Downey, CA
Karen's Story
Hard to believe it's been 45 years since high school. Much more has happened, but here's a summary.
After Warren, I went to Cerritos College and Cal State Fullerton (BS Kinesiology, 1974).
Recreation jobs during college: Downey after-school program 1969-1971; and Recreation Supervisor for the City of Cerritos from 1971-1974.
First marriage 1974-1979.
Worked at Long Beach State in Admissions & Records (Data Entry Specialist) 1976-1983.
Hired to implement Alumni & Donor database for CSULB Advancement office 1983-1985.
Demo'd alumni/donor software for Cal State Fullerton and was recruited as their Database Administrator in October 1985. During the next 24+ years, performed three total database conversions, served under five Advancement VP's, and reported to thirteen different supervisors. During the 13th's tenure, I decided to retire two years earlier than my original plan, and left a week after turning 60. I debated whether to send her a thank you note for expediting my decision since it enabled me to spend a lot of time with my mom in what turned out to be her last year.
Over the years, mom and I had taken trips to Alaska (3), Hawaii (2), Fall Colors (3), Caribbean, Spain & Portugal, Scandinavia plus Tallinn & St Petersburg, DC/Williamsburg/Gettysburg/+, and more -- you get the idea.
On the personal home-front, I've been married to John since 1991. We originally met in 1974 working at City of Cerritos. We maintained our friendship over the next 17 years as part of a group who got together for an annual Super Bowl party that John has hosted since 1975. In 1990, he became "available" (not by his choice), and with some subtle persistence on my part, he fina...Expand for more
lly asked me out to an Angels baseball game (vs. the Royals with Bo Jackson). Because I understood baseball and actually enjoyed watching the game, all the following baseball analogies apply to our so-far 22+ years of marriage: grand slam, perfect game, hit for the cycle, etc. He is my MVP! We love going to different baseball parks (both major and minor league games, plus college ball). Since he retired, he has been an usher at Angels Stadium, so now he gets paid to watch baseball. We've been season ticket holders for Cal State Fullerton baseball since 1991, and I go to nearly all the games. We've been on several baseball trips including the College World Series in Omaha several times. The best present I ever gave John was a week at Angel Fantasy Camp in Tempe with a lot of Angel legends serving as coaches and managers (Bobby Grich, Clyde Wright, Jim Fregosi, etc.) Warren High's very own Rick "the Rooster" Burleson (class of '69) was a coach too!
In 2012, we bought an oceanfront condo in Gold Beach, Oregon (40 minutes north of the California border). We try to spend as much time as possible there, and may eventually relocate, but for now we still have most of our ties in SoCal. My brother Jake (class of '66), his wife, and their three daughters (2 married) are all in South OC or San Diego area. And John's children (who I've known their entire lives) are both local too: his son teaches high school science in Anaheim Hills and his married daughter lives in Santa Clarita.
Well, this turned out to be not so brief, but there's so much more I could have included because 45 years is a long time. All-in-all, life has been good because I'm married to my best friend.
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