Elaine Walstad Mounsdon: Tax biz been very good

Billie Jo brings excitement
Forty years, that seems almost impossible, but unfortunately, it isn't. Through the years I see alot of the classmates around town, as well as here in my office. I must say visiting a few times a year with Billie Jo is always the most exciting. When she steps in my office it seems like 1965 again. But as fun as that sounds, I guess I wouldn't give up the times that have gone between then and now.
We're not 18 any more
After graduation Craig (the class of 1966) and I were married and stayed in this area always. We have two children, Monte (nearly 38) and wife Deb live very near us and have two beautiful daughters, Erika, nearly 17, and Elise 14. If that doesn't make you realize you aren't 18 anymore. Our daughter Chris and her husband Bill also live nearby, and they have one wonderful beautiful little girl, Alexis, that just turned 5. They are all busy with their careers and family, and the nice part is we get to see and enjoy the granddaughers on a regular basis.
Lake home on Ida
We built a lake home out on lake Ida, and try to spend alot of our summer there, and the grandkids spend alot of theirs there also. We have done alot of traveling and hope to do alot more, but we find it hard to be anywhere but on Ida during the summer. I started working in 1981 at what is currently my tax office. In 1985 when the owner felt it was time he retired, I bought the business, (and still enjoy it alot). I first bought the Alexandria H&R Block, and then in years to come, bought and sold Glenwood, Montevedio, Osakis, Long Prairie, and Little Falls. Paul Osterberg bought the three last offices from me. Last year we opened up a branch office on the north side of Alex, who would have thought that Alex would become large enough that you would need offices on both ends of town. The tax business has been very good to me and our family, and I have never regretted it. Oh, O.K., maybe slightly on February 10th or so, but it's like any other nightmare, you wake up, and life goes on.
Happy thoughts about everyone
I have so enjoyed reading all the letters to the trailboss. You look at the pictures, and try to believe these mid-age people are the 18 year olds you knew just yesterday. But it's wonderful for all of us to be here and look back at the last 40 years and have happy thoughts about everyone and about how life has played out.
We aren't going to be able to be at the reunion, but have a wonderful time, and I will be thinking of all of you. Let's hope the next years are good years for all of you.
Elaine Walstad Mounsdon