Vivian Russell:
CLASS OF 1969
College Park High SchoolClass of 1969
Pleasant hill, CA
Vivian's Story
My name is Vivian LaRee Wardle Russell. I have been married to my wonderful husband Dean for almost 38 years. We have five children, four daughters and one son, (We had them all within seven years.) We have eight beautiful grandchildren so far, two girls, six boys, and one more baby boy due in October. They are the greatest! Why didn't we have grandkids first? (And then quit) Ha! Ha! I guess it is because we would not be able to send them home.
After High School, I went to California Beauty School in Pleasant Hill. After I graduated and got my Cosmetology License, I worked at a beauty shop in Concord for about 6 months. Then I took a little time off to go visit my sister in Provo, Utah (which is where I met my future husband Dean Russell). I really liked living in the college town so I rented an apartment with five of friends of my sister Iva. The apartment was not far from the BYU Campus. Then I found a job working in the cosmetics department at W.T.Grants. (Does anyone remember when they even had those stores?) I sold cosmetics and wigs, I also styled and fixed wigs for people as needed. (I also made time to date and get to know Dean, which I really considered and hoped would be an investment in my future as well. Christmas was coming up soon and seen as I lived the farthest away from home, my boss said I could go home for Christmas. I flew home Christmas Eve to California. I was only home for four days and then I flew back to go to work. I packed up a lot more of my things to take back to Utah with me, because I figured I'd be there awhile before I could afford to go back to California for a visit. Well, I went to clock in the next morning and my time card was not there. I went to find the boss to see what was going on and he said that he had to lay off several because he said the "Christmas rush was over". I asked him why he did not tell me before I left; still assuming I had a job to come back to. He apologized and said there was nothing he could do. I looked for work until February, but in a college town, there are not many jobs. While looking for work, I continued dating Dean. For my Birthday in February, he took me to a Concert at BYU to see the Carpenters and bought me their album "Close To You". I finally had to pack up and go ...Expand for more
home to California, because I could not afford to pay rent anymore and I was not going to ask my parents for money. After all, I was a grown-up and independent. (Ha Ha) After I got home, I found another job doing hair really very quickly. Dean and I wrote to each other for four months then he called me for the first time since I left Utah (you know starving students don't have money for long distance phone calls). When I answered the phone, I recognized his voice immediately. That really shocked him; he could not believe after 4 months that I would recognize his voice. He told me that his family was coming to California for vacation. My parents were leaving for a vacation to Canada a couple days later, so he flew out so he could meet them before they left for Canada. Well, my mother did not want to be rude and go to bed, so she stayed up and talked with us all evening. Therefore, Dean did not get to ask me to marry him before they left.
I worked at the hospital in the Laboratory for 20 years here in Rawlins, Wyoming where I worked as a Phlebotomist, which is to say I drew blood for a living. They called me "Vampire Viv". It is very different from the Beauty College I got my license for in California. Nevertheless, I loved my job and taking care of the patients.
I have been working the as an Administrative Assistant at the Higher Education Center for almost two years.
It is a completely new world. It is great to learn new things. We should never quit learning.
If you pass through on I-80 between Salt Lake City and Denver, we are right about in the middle. Stop and say "Hi". Russ Pueblo did several years back and it was good to see him again. He lived in Colorado so he stopped on the way home.
I am really going to try to get out there for our reunion. I have not been to any yet. Finances are tight these days, as my husband had a severe stroke almost 4 years ago. The stroke caused him to be paralyzed on his whole right side. He had to learn to talk, walk, and write all over again. He has progressed a lot. We have truly been blessed. He is here and he is mine that is all I care. We have learned and grown a lot over the years.
We have a happy and good life here in Rawlins, Wyoming. Well, that is all for now, I hope to see you all soon.
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