Sept. 30th – Oct. 7th: Temperatures
topped out at 104 degrees in Morgan Hill.
No problem, I’m off to see Raleen (twin sister of Eileen, who I visited
in Grants Pass, OR) and her partner, Joaquin in Sunnyvale, CA a town next to our
childhood home, Mountain View in the center of the now infamous Silicon
Valley. Our class reunion is later in the
week but I have much catching up to do with Raleen and meet her partner,
Joaquin, for the first time. Joaquin
came to San Francisco many years ago from Costa Rico to raise his
children. His wife passed away several
years ago and his children are now grown.
Raleen has been single for more than 10 years and it seems like the
right time for both of them to forge new memories, enjoy retirement and each
other.
Raleen’s daughter,
Stacie and granddaughter, Ciara visited one afternoon. I hadn’t seen Stacie in years and she, too,
was the same, just older. Her daughter,
Ciara, is one of the most beautiful babies I’ve seen with such an endearing and enchanting smile
that belies her young age.
During some reminiscing moments Raleen drove me back to my
childhood home. I could see it was going
through some renovations and had recently sold.
My parents bought the newly built home in 1947 for $7,000 and that same
house sold today for $1.2 million. I
don’t think my brain can compute that!
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| 2130 Carol Ave., Mountain View (near Grant Rd & Sleeper Ave.) |
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| 145 Wortham Court, Mountain View (near Grant Rd. across from El Camino Hospital) |
The second home was purchased by my parents in about
1965. I lived there for a year or two
when Tammy was just a baby.
Friday night, October 5th we all attended our 50th
High School Reunion. Raleen and I
prepared just like we did in high school.
Off to the hairdresser, preened over which outfit to wear, changed our
mind several times – I felt 18 again.
Since I had never attended a reunion living so far away, I stumbled
through the parking lot brushing off a case of cold feet and reluctance. There is no going back now!
My mind was suddenly flooded with memories trying to identify
everyone. There was a good turn out
about 70 plus folks, I think. The
first person to greet me was Billy Johnston who reminded me that we went on a
“first date” together when we were about 12 to see Tammy and the Bachelor with my father sitting within an arm’s reach
a few rows back. I had forgotten about
“the date” but I surprised Billy with the news that I named my first born Tammy
eight years later.
Kudos again to Eden who encouraged me to dance after almost 30
years and two new knees! He and Jeannie
have such an active life style including dance!
Raleen and Eileen celebrated their birthday this night and it
has been years since they celebrated their birthday together.
By the end of the evening I was truly overwhelmed. I was touched and inspired by so many life stories
and saddened by those who had passed or had a mate pass away. But most of all, my heart went out to the parents
who lost their children and had to piece together their lives, move forward and
found the strength to attend a reunion.
I think they found more support from their classmates than perhaps they
expected.
I thought it was ingenious that several of the guys meet
yearly to play golf before attending the reunion. Festivities included a picnic the following
day for all MVHS alumni. Two sisters of
the class of 1938 received a hand for their longevity. One of the sisters still volunteers at the
Mountain View Library. If it were
possible, I would love to go to every reunion each year and hear all the stories, blaze them into my memory, and make new or renewed friends.
I felt like deer caught in the headlights of a car as all the memories that had lain dormant for so many years rushed in like a tidal wave. I became quiet and many times at a loss for words. I would not have changed a thing and would love to go again if my finances ever recover from this trip.
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| Billy Johnston |
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| Ellen Sawamura and husband, Howard Kline |
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| Gloria Dominick Ravetto |
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| Janet Reginato Holmes |
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| Jim Craddick |
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| Lorraine Giovachini (left) |
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| Iris Mastilock Rodenhurst |
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| Lillian Duplantis and Pat Ybarra Mequista |
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| Lillian and Larry Lieb, Front Jim, Jean, Raleen, Back |
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| Will “Mickey” Johnston |
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| John Henning (behind the hand) and Pam Masters Bejarano |
The night before I left several of us had dinner together
before we all departed to rejoin our separate lives. The lighting is poor because my flash
malfunctioned but had nothing to do with the operator of course. Eileen & Otto returned to Grants Pass
Oregon, Martin back to Manteca, and Denise back to San Bernardino to plan a May
2013 wedding to Martin, Raleen & Joaquin remained in Sunnyvale and Molly and I hit the road.
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| Left: Joaquin, Raleen and Eileen Right: Otto, Martin (son of Otto & Eileen), Denise (fiancee of Martin) |
I was picked up by Jean from a weeklong stay at the most
up-to-date modern ritzy facility yet. Jean could monitor my every movement 24/7 from her phone via webcams. I had to have a “note from the doctor” that declared
me non-aggressive. This place had no
individual dog stations. The only
segregation was by size, large and small.
We each choose our own bed every night and settled down together when
the lights went off. No territorial
fights broke out and all was quiet. I
was amazed to say the least. All I was
missing was a rose on my breakfast tray, and maybe a treat.
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