Harvesting a close-knit relationship

Seniors aren’t the only ones who’ve hung out at the Costa Mesa Senior

Center lately. Just ask Everdean Van Slooten and Sandra Bucher, who,

besides being mother and daughter, are also best friends.

They wouldn’t give their ages, but the relationship this

close-knit Costa Mesa family shares is ageless. They’ve parlayed

their interests and their proximity to each other into time spent

together in senior classes and groups, though Bucher isn’t yet a

senior.

While Van Slooten is fascinated with watching slides on travel and

with taking driving classes, Bucher has taken to knitting. But they

participate together, regardless of the activity.

The Daily Pilot’s Jeff Benson sat down with the mother-daughter

tandem to discuss their unique relationship.

The two of you seem very close. Just how close are you?

Bucher: It’s so convenient that we only live a couple blocks away

from each other and we can eat dinner together every night.

Van Slooten: She does everything for me. When she’d get out of

school, if she ever needed something, we’d always go shopping

together.

Bucher: And now we’re trying to find out why my daughter doesn’t

like shopping. But we travel together; we eat together; and we play

together. There’s not a lot we don’t do.

How did you end up in Costa Mesa?

Van Slooten: I’m from Grand Rapids, Mich. Sandy was born there

too. But I’m glad to be out of there because of the bad weather and

everything. That was the best thing we ever did -- to move to

California. We moved in 1949 to Pasadena, then in 1966 to Costa Mesa.

Bucher: There’s no better place to live than here.

Van Slooten: We’d go on trips, and my husband would say, “Costa

Mesa is still the best place you could find.” In Pasadena, it’s

smoggy. It’s not smoggy where we are.

What did you do for a living?

Van Slooten: I was a homemaker. I think my children appreciated

it.

Bucher: We appreciated mom, because she was always there for us.

My parents owned an almond and walnut ranch up north. But it didn’t

mean she didn’t work.

Van Slooten: It was in Paso Robles. I was always really busy, but

I didn’t make any money. We sold our nuts at Christmas time, and we

really worked then. Our vacation times were spent going to the ranch

and working up there, but my parents would sometimes take us to Morro

Bay or San Luis Obispo. We had 100 acres of walnuts and almonds.

What happened to the ranch?

Van Slooten: We sold it; then it was traded for apartments and an

office lot.

Bucher: Part of it was the distance for her to travel up there.

Van Slooten: It would be almost midnight, and we’d have to package

the nuts. We’d always have to go up and manage the people.

Bucher: That got a little bit frustrating, especially from that

distance away.

So with the ranch gone, you’ve concentrated on senior activities.

But Sandra, you’re not a senior. What keeps you coming back?

Bucher: It’s a blessing to have the Senior Center and the

opportunities to come to meet people and to do things that are

enjoyable. They have such committed volunteers and such neat people

who work here. They’re very helpful, and they work with all skill

levels, from beginner to whatever. You can come and be social, and

some people just come to sit and talk. It’s all acceptable and

pleasant.

What kinds of things do you like to do here?

Bucher: My husband got laid off of work a year ago, and I started

looking at the events the Senior Center had to offer. There’s a “55

Alive” driving class, and all three of us started taking that. We

also enjoyed an armchair theater thing, where a gal comes in and

shows slides.

I’ve also discovered a knitting class. Mom has been a knitter for

many years. She’s made sweaters and dresses.

Van Slooten: I moved from Pasadena to here 20 years ago, and I let

my knitting go. For a while, every week I’d wear a sweater I’d knit.

It all depends how fancy you do it and how much time you have. There

were six dresses I made.

What do you think about that driving class?

Bucher: It’s a driving class that gives discounts off insurance.

It’s for people above 55, who might need a refresher, and it’s

offered here regularly. It gives people who you know are taking a

driver’s ed class more confidence to come here first.

Van Slooten: I’ve read how the [Dept. of Motor Vehicles] is

picking on older people and not letting them drive. I’ve learned a

lot. There are a lot who won’t take the class, so I’ve said to some,

“I don’t know if I’d want to ride with the woman who picked you up.”

You’re really taking life into your hands.

Do you have any other hobbies?

Bucher: She grows orchids. She’s got hundreds of orchids and

plumerias, and gardening is her favorite pastime.

Van Slooten: Some days, I used to spend all day out in the garden.

Sandy’s brother helps me out once in a while, but he doesn’t water

like me.