Linda McCafferty Dixon

Hello Fellow Colts!

I just checked out the website and seeing our senior pictures brought back SO many memories. About 10-12 of you I've known since first grade at Sacred Heart School! I have to say that I had a lot of fun in high school.

After graduation I went to Mt. SAC for one year. In July of 1969 I married my high school sweetheart, Craig Dixon (class of '68). He had joined the Air Force soon after graduation and we just couldn't stand being apart. We lived in three beautiful states in four years (Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Colorado), plus Craig served one year in Greenland. We had our first son, Robert, during this time (1971).

When Craig got out of the service, we lived in Costa Mesa for about five years. He and I both attended Orange Coast College and our second child, Sandy, was born in 1975.

When she was about two years old, we bought our first home in Covina. We lived there for six years and had our children Beth, David, and Amy. (That's right, five children.) I have to tell you that when I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was to get married and have children. I have lived my dream and have no regrets!! Being a stay-at-home mom and raising my children was wonderful. There was nowhere else I would ever want to be than to watch one of my children play baseball, softball, or volleyball--and that's the truth! What a joy!

Well, we outgrew that house in no time and have lived here in San Dimas for 24 years. And by the way, two years after we moved in, we added baby number six, Kristie. I did childcare in our home for about 14 years and loved that too. I have now worked for Bonita Unified School District for 11 years as a teacher's aide for special-ed kindergarteners, and, of course, love my job.

One thing that I'd like to share is that I am not a college graduate, but five of our children have graduated from college (thanks to scholarships and grants and loans) and Kristie, the youngest, is about 1-1/2 years away from finishing. That's a blessing to me!

I wanted to share about a couple of challenges that we have faced. In September of 2000 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in total shock! Our first grandchild was just a month old, and our youngest child at home was only 13. I ended up taking six months off work and had surgery and chemo (yes, I lost my hair). But I have to tell you, God is so good! I was not happy about turning 50--but there I sat on my 50th birthday, five days after surgery, in the Covina High School gym with Craig, watching our two youngest daughters play volleyball!! In our beloved gym, where both of us had spent so much time in high school! It was surreal! I am doing fine now, by the way.

THEN, on January 1, 2005, Craig was diagnosed with kidney cancer!!! What are the chances? He had his right kidney removed a few days later, spent ten days in the hospital, a month off work, and has been doing fine since. We thank our Lord it had not spread!

Well, our kids are all out of the house now. Four are married and we have four grandchildren and another due in October.



We like to travel whenever we can. One of our favorite places is to Seattle where our three grandsons live. And guess what, the oldest one is seven now and is in his first year of Little League! Oh, Life Is Good!!! We'll see you in August!!

--Linda McCafferty Dixon

April 2008