Senior in the Spotlight: Nora Hild

I was born in Torrance, in southern California. I grew up in Hermosa Beach and became a real beach girl going there every day in the summer. I recently moved to Clovis to be near my two daughters. Both my parents were California natives. My mother was Miss Hermosa Beach and my father wanted to meet her at the ball that was given in her honor. The rest is history. My father work for National Supply Company in Torrance as an engineer. My mother was a stay-at-home mom as most women were in that day. They had two daughters, myself and my older sister who lives in Palm Desert. We are best friends and travel often together, as we are both widows. I have one half-brother, Stephen, who lives in San Juan Capistrano.

I attended Mira Costa High school in Manhattan Beach and El Camino Community College. I got married at 19 and had four beautiful children that have made me very proud: two boys and two girls. My eldest son, Jim, manufactures women’s swim and active wear for Manhattan Beachwear. He spends a lot of time in Indonesia, where he manages a facility. He has two boys, one at the University of Portland and the other works in Portland.

My daughter Lisa works as a registered nurse in the labor and delivery ward of Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Her husband also works there as an anesthesiologist. She has one girl and two boys who make up three of my eight grandchildren. Her daughter also works at CRMC as a cardiac nurse. One of her sons works at St. Agnes Medical Center. Her other son works for Costco. These grandchildren have given me six great-grandchildren, whom I love helping out with and is partly the reason I am here in Clovis.

My younger son is in the U.S. Navy stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He is a computer IT so thankfully doesn’t see much action but has spent a lot of time in the Middle East and is getting ready to deploy again. He has one daughter who has given me one great-grandchild. She is a marriage counselor.

My youngest daughter, Nicole, lives in Visalia. She works with mentally challenged children. She has one son, Steven who lives in Nevada and a daughter who just enlisted in the Army.

In Torrance I was a stay-at-home mom while my children were growing up. After I divorced I worked in the medical field as a medical assistant for a cardiology practice. I retired in December after 30 years and moved here to Clovis.

I love cruising and my husband and I cruised every year while he was alive. I now travel with my sister Carole and we are planning to cruise through the Panama Canal. Two years ago Carole and I did a Mediterranean cruise, which was number one on her bucket list. Last April we took a break from cruising and traveled to the No. 1 spot on my bucket list: New York City. That was the highlight of my life, I loved every minute of it and yes I would go there again as many people have asked me. The 9/11 Memorial visit was worth the trip although very emotional, especially for my son in the Navy who flew in from North Carolina to be with us. We were also accompanied by Carole’s daughter and my daughter Lisa.

I guess you would say my great-grandchildren are my hobbies. As I always say “they don’t call them great for nothing.” I love every minute I can spend with them and has made this whole move to Clovis worth it. I have to admit I was very skeptical about coming here, but have found it very pleasant. Helping out at the Senior Center is a joy and helps keep me busy.

I bought a brand new home here and have had a lot of fun decorating it and with the help of my children and grandchildren, things are coming along and I am feeling at home. A real important thing for me was finding a church to attend. I have found that and am looking forward to volunteering there, too.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Senior in the Spotlight: Nora Hild."