"Our Day"

By Art and Myrl Parra

34th Week of the Year 2003, Part 1

August 20 thru August 22

WEDNESDAY, AUG 20 - THOUGHT for the day - As for God, his way is perfect….Psalm 18:30

Some minor alterations in our planned day took place and it all worked out for the best. We managed to get a haircut, pick up the coats at Barry Asher’s shop, pick up frames at the OCBA office and then spend the bulk of the afternoon in a meeting with those staging the big Hanging Party on Saturday. All details were discussed and agreed upon and we were home shortly after 3 p.m. Now it is just wait until Saturday and for the big show. Jiggs had a nice ride with us and enjoyed it very much and Myrl’s cat works were laid back because of the hot weather, which was a bit cooler today. Shark flipped a fin for "good morning" and "good night." Thursday and Friday will be a matter of birthday greetings from family and friends, which will drag over until after Labor Day. That’s for starters on No. 34.

THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY AUG. 21 and 22 - THOUGHT for the Day - Thou hast also given me the shield of they salvation….Psalm 18:35

HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY TO ART!
Daughter Artha brought a full coverage report about the Smith Family….`beautiful.' The verbal report was performed in the wonderful confines of our living room here at Manana. It was nothing short of sensational and coming from the mouth of a proud and loving Mother, what could be better? What a privilege it was to be brought up to speed with this large and active family is at this time. Son Matthew and family have been in Utah for the past week taking care of important items pertaining to the happiness of Natalie and daughters Matti and Hanna as well as their canine family. They are now back in the southland at their new home in Mission Viejo. Next comes Jason and his wife Heather and children, Jason Jr. and Ashley. Jason took his examination for the California Bar and was hired by the firm handling the tests. It is not known at this time if he passed the rigid test but we do know he is reporting for work next Monday.
Congrats to the next official Attorney at Law in the family. They too have a new abode in Mission Viejo. Amy Lynn was the next on the report line and again the Mittons are living in a new home at ground level
instead of 34 steps toward heaven. Amy is doing wonderful in her pregnancy with a daughter due in October. Amy is more beautiful than ever and husband Garrett is showing his delight on being a Father soon. Mark Jr. is the only report that causes us any bad concern. The handsome victim of a horrible disease and wife Deidra have rented an apartment a short distance from Scripps Hospital in San Diego in order for Mark to have the comfort in knowing he is close to any emergency help he might need. He is handling this crisis in his life like a warrior, as Deidra supports his efforts. Youngest son Nathaniel is doing his LDS Missionary stint in Toronto, Canada and doing very well, according to reports from the LDS Missionary President. And to top it all, Artha and husband Mark, will take off for high ground on Sept. 12 for a camping vacation on the banks of Mr. Whitney. Both are looking forward to this outing, so well deserved. Thank You Artha, for the gift of love by providing this valuable information about the Smith Family activity. Please express our love to them all. We had a great lunch from the Sub shop to top off the day. Again, thanks Artha for the lunch and pajamas. Right now it is 1:40 a.m. on Aug. 22, so I made it to No. 90 and I have already been greeted by a loving wife, who sleepily said, " Happy Birthday, you made it." Because we felt the need of some very quiet time, the plans for lunch with friend Dennis Chase has been placed on hold. You see, tomorrow is going to be an exhausting affair what with the Hanging Party, so rest takes over for this Aug. 22. In fact, this can also be the report for Friday as it will just be a matter of resting for the big show on Saturday. GOD willing, I will be ready for a report to you all which will be sent on Sunday rather than next Wednesday. Thank you for the Good Thoughts on this, my birthday, in advance.
HOLD THE PHONE!!!! BIG SURPRISE!!!! I thought this would be a quiet laid back birthday, but here is what happened. I came down the stairs at 5:45 a.m. to a birthday greeting and hug from my wife, who led me to the blue chair to sit down. She said the coffee would be ready in a few minutes. She started reading me this daily journal which I brought down with me. Jiggs gave forth with a loud bark, and when I said "what’s he barking at?" Myrl said "the front door is open, and he saw a dog go by." She continued to read the daily journal, and upon finishing it, my head was being rubbed. I thought it was my wife giving me an early morning birthday head rub, but she said "Honey, I’m sitting over here on the little couch." I said "What?" She repeated what she said to which I replied "Then what’s rubbing my head?" That’s when Barbara Turner leaned down and gave me a kiss and hug! She sneaked in, bearing pastries, to be here when I got up. I laughed until I thought I’d fall off the chair!!! It was truly a big surprise! We got some coffee and pastries, and here comes Norma to join us for a VERY early morning celebration! What a wonderful way to start a 90th birthday day! Carol Ann called not long after, and when I told her what happened, she said "I KNEW Barbara would beat me to it this morning!"


‘OUR DAY’ 34th week Part 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23 - THOUGHT for the Day - And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: Genesis 2: 15,16

Please bare with us as we relate what took place this important day. Rather than rewrite it all over again, we are ‘pasting’ the web site and bowling newspaper article submitted yesterday. It covers it all.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! ORANGE COUNTY

BOWLING HAS A HOME FOR HALL OF FAME

By ART & MYRL PARRA

La HABRA - Establishing a home for the Orange County Bowling Associations’ Hall of Fame honorees was finally realized by an appreciative crowd on Saturday, August 23rd. The highest respect and honors were bestowed on no less than 63 who have been enshrined during the more than 60 year tenure of the OCWBA and 50 years for the OCBA.
Establishing a home for the organizations was not a walk in the park, and Parra-graphs can speak on that subject with authority. Over three years have passed since several attempts were made to excite a merchant, banker or restaurateur in displaying the photos of those who have been honored on their wall. Originally, Regal Lanes’ General Manager Bob Ferensik subscribed to the idea, as they had a spare room to house the whole exhibit right on the concourse. It was dashed when Regal Lanes changed management which led to the closing of the 72 lane establishment.
The hunt was on again, and after some encouragement from OCBA leaders, the idea became a passion with me, and it became a goal along with my 90th birthday as well as some personal goals.
In the course of an interview with Mickey Curley, General Manager at the La Habra 300 Bowl, the longtime GM of this 32 lane establishment displayed interest in the idea. We were back in business and this time it would become a reality.
That was evident on Aug. 23rd when Juan Garcia, Mayor of La Habra, welcomed the large crowd and read a proclamation declaring the famous bowling center as the official home of the Bowling Hall of Fame.
Curley, who has been the GM for the past 28 years but has been employed by the ownership for 37 years, extended her greetings which was later followed by a similar greeting by Margaret Burch, representing the Burch Family, owners of the edifice since its inception during the late 1950 era.
Curly then turned over the microphone to Bud Pinchot, who served as the Master of Ceremony which lasted almost three hours. Pinchot turned in a fantastic performance at the mike which was done with a heavy heart. His wife, Sally, was at his side supporting each other. You see, their son , Tyler, has been in a coma at the University of California at Irvine Hospital for several weeks following being struck by a passing vehicle while doing his job as a motorcycle policeman. The long standing activist when it comes to bowling and his wife were informed their son was being moved to a Hospice with very little chance of surviving the
accident barring a miracle. Said Sally and Bud, "There is little doubt in our mind that Tyler would want us to keep our commitment and we are going to do it in his honor."
A surprise visit was made by Gloria Loftis, WIBC, ABC and YABA field consultant and Western States representative. She learned of the `Hanging Party' and made it clear she was coming to the big affair. She said, "This is a fantastic celebration honoring the bowlers of the past, present and the future. The Orange County bowlers, as usual, are the pacesetters and this could begin a similar affair for other Ten Pin Associations in the nation."
Bill Huntington, who was installed President of the OCBA two weeks ago, greeted the well wishers on behalf of his corps of officers and directors and included the OCWBA President, Lucile Faw, and her staff.
The La Habra 300 Bowl staff with the blessings of the management had an awesome sight for those who attended this heralded `Hanging Party.' The northeast side of the center was bathed in special lighting and a giant display cabinet was built into the building which will house memorabilia of bowling's history. It will also display the successes of Glenn Allison, who tossed the first 900 series, or three consecutive perfect
Games, in the history of the American Bowling Congress. The ABC was established in 1895 and it wasn't until July 1, 1982 the impossible took place. This was before the restrictions that governed such a fete were
removed and since then there has been a dozen 900 series bowled in the nation.
Some of the achievements of Scott Kraye, the Pro Shop operator at the center, will be displayed.
PARRA-graphs - The Hanging Party brought a few words out of one of the Hall of Famers, R.F. Corderman, Editor/Publisher of the Pacific BOWLER, with comments, "When I was a toddler I
was dressed in blue jeans, with a cap pistol strapped to my torso and a cowboy hat on my head. Added was a rope around my neck with a hangman’s noose. It just goes to prove that at a tender age it was noted I had
noose for news." Yes, R.F. has a sense of humor....One of our own has returned to Orange County. Mike Pinchot was transferred by his employer to Florida nearly three years ago. He is back home to stay along with his family. He said, "California might have its problems but we will take it with a smile. We had enough of hurricanes and ‘hanging chads.’ Give us this kind of `Hanging,' it is more fun. ....Troy Cole, Sr., had to cancel his ticket from Wisconsin to the party. His connection with the U.S. Navy had priority and they had an assignment for him elsewhere. We missed you, Troy.....Helen Petrowski won the `Most Popular Stand in' as she was chosen by two Famers to do their honors. After meeting the personable lady, it is understandable....How great it was to see several of the Famers request their wives to do the hanging of their photo, which included Sally Pinchot, and Christy Asher, a touch of class....The Daughter of Rae Miller, Mary Carrion, stood in for Rae and the daughter of Marion Catalano Brock, Dina, acted on behalf of the late Hank, who created a bowling center dynasty in the southland with more than a dozen establishments, La Habra 300 Bowl was one of them under his guidance as a lessee…..Standing in for Parra-graphs was Barbara Turner, an avid bowler, who made me realize 12 years ago that life doesn’t end with blindness. She taught me through the Braille Institute the ‘art’ of living independently…....Our appreciation goes out to the many who took time to say hello during the festivities and to Mickey Curley for providing a delicious carrot cake, commemorating my 90th birthday on the 22nd.
The effort Myrl and I put forth in making this dream a reality could only have been successful because of the support of Mickey Curley and we want to thank her and her staff all their extensive efforts. Bowlers from other associations are invited to see this display and give some thought to following the action of the Orange County Associations.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24 - THOUGHT for the Day - But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest hereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2: 17

Rest and relaxation was the order of this day. Thank you and we will give some serious thoughts to adding two or three more days, as my blood pressure is moving more towards being normal, which is a goal, now that the Hall of Fame home is history.

MONDAY, AUGUST 25 - THOUGHT for the Day - And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

Yes, we did little more than pick up the phone often, finding ourselves thanking those who called to congratulate us on a job well done. Myrl received calls from her son Jay, and her brother Paul and his wife, Geri. She is one happy camper! All is well on the animal farm.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 - THOUGHT for the Day - And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:22-25

This wraps up week 34 and what might be our last few hours of R & R. Have a great holiday weekend.