Geraldine(Pinky) Hopkins-Johns's Locker

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (TODAY) GERALDINE (PINKY) HOPKINS-JOHNS & ENJOY!!

Pinky and Tony.  Wow is it so good to hear that you guys are doing well.  I have missed so many of you guys over the years.  Even as I sit and type, I can see both of you just like it was yesterday.  Any Children, grandchildren?  I'm well retired from public teaching there in Compton, still doing some teaching at our school of ministry here in Apple Valley.  But enough already, just good to have connect, lets stay in touch and maybe something will happen that we can all come together again.  Wow , this is so unbelievable!  God Bless you guys.  Ask Tony if he's still ballin' or trying to, lol. Later Willie 

Girl, these back surgeries, Do they really help?  I keep sayin' I'd never have another but when that sciatic pain shoots down your leg, you are almost willing to do anything.  Linda Beckham lives in Orange County.  Florence talks to her a lot.  She has been dealing with a very sick spouse, but Alvin talks to her quite a bit.  He lives in Las Vegas and she was there one weekend. They called me but I had gone to church and turned off my phone.  I have had a hard time reaching her,but Alvin says she has two daughters.  I don't ever hear about Shirley.  I believe the Billingsleys Loretta and Dietrich still live in the neighborhood.  I believe Dietrich lives in Barbara Jean Kings old house on the corner of Blakeley and 121st.  I have some graduation pictures of me, Mim, Linda and Rosetta, when I find them I will put them on FB or make copies and mail it to you.  I also have a picture of Mim sitting on her VW with a baby, it might be yours I don't remember but when I find that one I make a copy too.  Florences' sister Willa Cook still lives in the home house.  The Tysons' are still in their home house.  Those were such wonderful days the 50's and 60's, the 70's got a little crazy for me but I survived them, thank you Jesus.  But, our neighborhood was sooo cool.  Even the kids behind Centennial used to think we had the coolest neighborhood.  I feel like we were protected in a little bubble for the longest, but after you get grown and start adventuring out to the West Side we became exposed to other things, and for those who had adventurous spirits, like me, you found yourself in a mess.  I will look in my yearbook,(surprisingly I still have it) and see if there are any Arnolds' there.  If you ever want to call me my home # is 254-296-0314 and my cell # is 254-230-5564.  I would really like to have a neighborhood reunion one day.......smooches.......

This is my mothers' hometown and back in '78 she convinced me to move here.  She and my stepfather returned here in 1974.  It's a very small country town.  I always wanted to move back to LA but my two girls who were 8 and 5 at the time did not want to go back to LA and for some reason every effort I made failed somehow.  So I gave up and just figured the Lord did not intend on me returning to live.  My children are now 41 and 39.  One has a daughter 12yrs. old, and the youngest she has a son 8, 9mon. and going to deliver next month another boy.  I'm retired Passport Agent from the US Postal Service.  I don't do much traveling because while working at the Post Office I acquired Bilateral Carpal Tunnel, then I had an injury that caused me to have to have surgery on my elbow, shoulder, upper and lower back.  And, the lower back still causes me a lot of distress and pain.  But, I do travel home sometimes.  I have gained so much weight since I've been off cause I don't do much, and my back won't let me really do the things I like to do.  I was always athletic and active but I know one thing I've got to get out and walk if is only one block.  This month makes 2 years that I've been retired and I thought I would be bragging about the multiple trips to Cali and not to mention several cruises but I haven't been anywhere.  I stay in contact with Linda Herron, Florence Cook, Tony Bell, Deborah Butterfield from the neighborhood.  In 2008 I went to my first reunion it was so much fun, except it was so dark and I really could not see everyone there even when I walked around.  I missed seeing a couple of people who I had been in contact with and we were looking forward to seeing each other there.  They should have had us all stand one at a time and say our name and where we were from at least that way you would have known where they sat.  I talk to Alvin Trunell from time to time one of the guys we used to just hang out and have fun with.  Anyway, tell me about you and be sure to tell Gene I said hello.  Both my parents have passed on how about yours? Be Blessed