Carl & Pat Drow

As I sit here in our front patio reflecting on our laid-back lifestyle; weather perfect, not too hot nor too cold, serene and peaceful, and surrounded by good friends, I thank the good Lord for leading us here.  I’m sure most of us Gyros feel the same way.  Our two new members, Carl and Pat Drow (their name rhymes with “grow”) must feel that contentment as well. They are childhood sweethearts who have been married 49 years.  Pat was a senior in high school when they were wed.  They lived and worked in the Fresno area where they raised four children; three girls and a boy.  They are now the proud grandparents of 8.  The two oldest grandsons are n the military; one in the Navy and the other in the Coast Guard.
Carl was an educator (naturally, a Fresno State grad) teaching grades kindergarten through 12, a Principal, and then into Administration.  He loved his profession, stating that he was blessed to have such motivated students. – (hmm .. reckon he may have had something to do with that?) He retired in 1990 because “that old bugaboo” arthritis made it almost impossible for him to work.  Carl says he would probably be teaching today if his health permitted.  He so enjoyed his “work”, stating it was fun to go to work each day. Pat also attended Fresno State, but did not graduate as she went to work for the school system as a secretary.  She retired with Carl in 1990. Carl and Pat “RV’d” it for a year, traveling the entire USA and parts of Canada.  They truly enjoyed this lifestyle, but their first love was the water.  They had always had a boat – both power and sailing.  So naturally they journeyed to the “Great Northwest” to settle in possibly one of the most beautiful spots in the U.S.  They had a home (and boat) on Discovery Bay, Puget Sound, just outside Port Townsend, a truly historic and picturesque town and a tourist destination point.   They remained there for 11 years.  Life was serene and they were surrounded by many friends who enjoyed boating and all that goes with it.  (I wonder if their club celebrated “Wet Wednesday”, a Northwest tradition?)  Pat said she could look out her window and see if Carl had caught fish for dinner that night –– and he usually had. Their move to Blacklake was necessitated by the health of Pat’s mother, who is in a care facility in Arroyo Grande.  Since their arrival here they are keeping busy; both playing golf and bridge.  Pat sings with the Pacific Horizon Chorus (an all-women “Sweet Adeline-type” group).  She loves it as she has always been in a singing group, although this is her first experience with The Sweet Adeline style. Carl is still the avid fisherman.  Every morning he flips a coin.  If it’s “heads” he plays golf; if it’s tails he goes fishing.  Sometimes he golfs and fishes the same day, but only in the summer when the days are longer. We are so fortunate to have these two nice people as members of Gyro.  If you haven’t met them yet, be sure to introduce yourselves at the next opportunity.  Welcome to Blacklake Gyro, Carl and Pat.