Proud Member--Class of '88

Fight On Ye Mighty Spartans!

I did it! I'm usually responsible and predictable (aka boring), but I broke out, left the kids and made it to California all on my own gumption. What a lovely visit. I grew up in the country outside of Sacramento CA, went to Pleasant Grove Elementary (K-8th), with about 15 to 20 in the graduating class, and then East Nicolaus High School, population 192 with a whopping 45 in our Senior class. Everyone just knew everyone very well. About 7 or 8 of us went from Kindergarten through 12th all together. We probably saw each other more than some members of our family on any given day. So this past weekend it was great to see us all grow'd up, taking care of kids, insecurities gone, and real friendships renewed. This first picture is my lunch gang, Angelica, Jennifer, Leah and yours truly, just missing Delfina. Jen and I have known each other almost forever. There's a picture somewhere of us together at her 2nd birthday--I was 1-1/2.

This next is the group picture at BJ's the next night, not the greatest pic a great time was had nonetheless.
Here's a smaller group of us at dinner. Ed and I are in the back. Ed always teased me about anything he could think of--my pseudoblonde hair was his favorite target. We also enjoyed Jr. English class as when one of us got to the right page of the textbook, we promptly flipped the other's book shut. Ron and Lili are in front. Ron's been with me since kindergarten. He hit puberty the earliest and had a beard at 13--he looks more like he did in kindergarten now, all cleaned up and a Police Captain--him and the law on the same side never entered my mind. Whenever I walked into the room in high school, he remarked "Ahhh, the little woman" after a line from a drunk driving commercial or something having to do with alcohol. Lili and I met first through little league softball and we also played volleyball together in high school. She looks pretty much the same and has always been real cute, though she's divorced now and working real hard to raise her two little girls. Leaning over to get out of the picture is Ron's girlfriend. I may have done some good in the world with the talk Ron and I had at a bar (of all places) after the Friday night football game. He's been reluctant to commit to marriage, but I listened and spoke to his heart about selfishness in relationships and after I met her had to send him an email about how he'd never do any better and she deserves more after 4 years.

And finally, I got to see my family, though this picture is from the first afternoon at the Cheesecake Factory. My neice, Leilani, was our waiter and this picture is with my brother Clif, his wife, and their youngest, Rachel. And then a picture of my parents, whom I'm so thankful for as I've always known they loved me and they always lived with integrity. Thank goodness for them and how I always wanted them to be proud of me and didn't dare do a lot of the things my classmates did. Maybe my dad wore his sweatshirt in honor of me, but I doubt--he never put much thought into his clothes!