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16 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | JUNE 2023 By Connie McDonald, Resident My amazing mom, Elaine Pfuehler, just turned 100 years young on May 14, 2023. We had a huge party for her at The Mexico Café in Temecula with 57 guests attending. She is very active for her age. You might see her on her daily walk around the Paseo. My mom was born on a dairy farm in Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Mom was an only child for seven years until her sister, Lois, was born during a violent thunderstorm. Mom saw a lightning bolt and was told it was the stork bringing her sister. She was elated. She grew up with a "two-holer" on the farm. In the dead of winter, they had to go through the snow with a lantern to the outhouse and brush the snow off of the "two- holer" before they could sit down. The good ole Sears catalog provided the toilet paper back then. Mom said the thin black and white pages were the best as the colored ones were too thick and slippery. Mom taught all subjects for grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse for one year. One of her students brought in letters that she received from California stating how beautiful and warm it was. That's all it took to convince my mom to move. She and her friend, Janis, made arrangements with a lady who was traveling to Los Angeles and needed passengers to help with the gas. This was during World War II and everything was rationed. Everyone in the country worked together and sacrificed so the veterans could have the materials they needed for the war. Remarkable! Mom and her friend joined the driver and started the trip in a small sedan. It took 10 days of driving as they stopped along the way to see sights and find a motel early each day. Remember the little motels on Route 66 with the bright neon lights? When they finally arrived in Los Angeles, they didn't know anyone. They had little money left; no jobs and no place to live. But they were determined to stay. They found a tiny one-bedroom apartment to rent, and they both found jobs immediately as jobs were plentiful during the war. My mom and dad, Larry, got married after the war in 1946. They moved to Anaheim and welcomed three children — me (Connie), Bruce and Boyd. Mom was pregnant with Boyd at the same time I was pregnant with my first son. We would go grocery shopping in my little Volkswagen with the two babies. We had more fun; I honestly don't recall where we put the groceries. After my dad died in 1987, Mom was contacted by her former fiancée, Varge, from 1943. Forty-six years had passed, but they married in 1989 and spent 16 years together until Varge died in 2005. They spent their time together traveling. Mom has led an interesting life and she is a wonderful mother and friend. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. My Mom President of the United States ...... 29th Warren Harding ...................................................... 30th Calvin Coolidge U.S. Population ............................. 110 million World Population ......................... 1.9 billion Popular Movies............................. e 10 Commandments (1st) ...................................................... e Hunchback of Notre Dame Average Yearly Income .................. $1,300- $3,226 Average New Home Price ............. $4,580 - $7,750 Average Monthly Rent .................. $15 Average New Car Price ................. $570 - $640 Gasoline - gallon .......................... 25 cents Postage Stamp .............................. 2 cents Eggs - dozen ................................. 55 cents Milk – gallon ................................ 28 cents Coffee - pound .............................. 27 cents Bread - loaf ................................... 10 cents Butter - pound .............................. 47 cents Lettuce - head ............................... 10 cents Beef Pot Roast - pound................. 10 cents Movie Ticket ................................. 25 cents Women's Shoes - pumps ............... $1.29 pair Women's Dress ............................. $2.59 Men's Shirt .................................... $.80 - $1.25 Vacuum Cleaner ........................... $48.00 Gas Range ..................................... $77.00 Refrigerator .................................. $49.50 Washing Machine ......................... $125.00 Fun Facts: 100 YEARS AGO BACK IN 1923 Do You Know???? .......... Correct Answer By Connie McDonald

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