Honoring the Past and Moving Forward

Travels with Heart: by Annie Bowler, February 5, 2026 Vol. 31

All five of our children attended Del Oro High School, for many years, John taught art and was the Varsity Men’s Soccer coach at DO and I volunteered and attended a countless number of events. Del Oro has been an important part of our lives for the more than 35 years; it’s been our home. There’s a deep and justifiable sense of local pride for D.O. as the Loomis community has a good thing going in our hometown high school.

All these years, Bob Erickson has cheered for Del Oro. In fact, if you’ve gone to a Del Oro football or basketball game in the last 40 plus years, you’ve probably seen him, and you probably cheered with him. Bob Erickson has lead fans during thousands of games, rain or shine, through winning seasons, or not. And so, it warmed my heart to witness this fine man being honored at a recent PUHSD board meeting. Bob is 88 and plans to retire his cheerleading hat at 90 so you’d better go to a game soon to catch him in action.

May the D.O spirit live on for the next generation of students!

John and I attended the engagement party for my niece, Meghan Martin and her fiancé, Miguel Vega de Alba, recently. Meghan’s parents, Noreen and Chris, are over the moon excited that Meghan has found a guy that suits her so well. Miguel, who is from Madrid, and Meghan decided to have their wedding in Spain so that his grandparents, who are elderly, would be able to attend; they’re clearly kind, thoughtful people! Knowing that not all family and friends will travel to Madrid for the wedding, Noreen and Chris held a wonderful celebration so everyone could meet Miguel. John and I traveled in our van with Buster for the event; (we were the hippy relatives who camped in their driveway. LOL!) We had a grand time celebrating Meghan and Miguel and catching up with some of our many awesome relatives that live in San Luis Obispo County!

Miguel and Meghan

Miguel and Meghan

As you may know, I was born with a congenital heart defect. I am honestly a very healthy person, until my heart decides to act up, which it did over the holidays. December and January were challenging for me as A-Fib made my heart race. I will have a procedure soon to get my heart into a consistent normal rhythm but until then, I need to move more slowly and consciously, which is probably good for me since I often move far too quickly. I miss hiking in the canyons and doing intense yoga!

Difficulties are powerful teachers. Having a heart problem has given me far greater empathy for those with any kind of health issue, but especially for those with life-threatening conditions.

I am ever grateful to the scientists who have spent their lives researching cures for diseases and conditions that used to take people’s lives too young. I would not be here without medical research. My mom and her dad, my grandpa, both died young, probably of the same heart condition that I have, but we will never know because there were no tests for structural heart defects back then. I hope medical research continues so that more cures can be discovered.

Despite my health challenges, things have been well on the home front. John has been incredibly thoughtful and helpful to me. It’s been wonderful to live next to Sarah, JT, and Millie so we can watch the kids grow and change day by day and the amazing mom, Sarah.

We watched from a far as our grandson, Howi, begins his studies of Sustainable Electricty at Sydney Technical College in Australia. His family was so excited for him, they all went to the airport to see him off.

All our local grandkids are deeply involved in sports and activities including basketball, soccer, baseball, boxing, and softball; you name it, someone has played it! John and I love our roles as professional rooters and getting to watch our grandkids’ athletic skills grow.

And finally, after 3 ½ years of a long-distance relationship, Jake and Fatima are now living together in first apartment in Rochester MI. We couldn’t be happier for this sweet, young couple!

Singing brings me joy. Understanding that I, and that our world, needs light and love these days, I have joined a singing group called “Voices of Liberty.” We have sung at Sierra College and many local protests. This group and its members have brought a ray of sunshine into my life.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.