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Theresa Eve (1964)

David:  You are so right, bread baking in the oven warms the spirit and the soul!!!  I may be making that bread before Easter, but you have a deal!!!  Great looking bread you have created.  I can smell the aroma!  Men are as good in the kitchen cooking and baking as women, sometimes better.  Keep up the good work!!!   

Gary Tibbals (1965)

Joel Childers (1966)

Yes Tom Stewart. Remember Joni Mitchell's lyric, "Both sides now." How perceptive for a twenty something year old to write that song. I was more like 40 years old before I had that kind of insight. 

Until I was 18, I lived in Woodland in what now seems like a dream.

"Ice cream castles in the air" "Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels."

From 18 years - 28 years I went on a roller coaster ride: drafted, Navy, married, divorced, lived with hippies in Sacramento and pot growing outlaws in the hills outside of Auburn, roofer, lumbermill worker, dishwasher, ski resort gofer at Soda Springs, cleaned rental units in Honolulu and lived with a bunch of other lost souls.

"Well somethings lost but somethings gained from living every day."

And somehow after the chaos of it all, I ended up in Santa Rosa with a faint voice inside me saying, "Go to college!" At 28 years old, I graduated and never looked back. I quit smoking (both legal and illegal substances), got an office job, got my own apartment, got married, bought a house, retired and I'm sitting here wondering how I survived to 74. And looking back I wouldn't change a single thing.

"I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all."

Theresa Eve (1964)

Well Joel, you survied a hard run, some people are not so lucky and remain down in the ditch all their lives.  Cannot say positive words about all those hippie years.  Believe that is one reason I never married.  Too many were involved in that world of craziness.  Glad you were able to see the light to make the turn in the road.  College years no matter how late, always add richness to life.  Good for you.  

Janet Long (Levers) (1966)

Those "hippie years" opened me up to new vistas; as Tom points out, life and perception changed radically from the beginning to the end of the 60s, and I'm glad i was open to that change-it helped me appreciate a lot more points of view, and not be a limited, small town peep. The music, the politics, the dope, the open-mindedness and the opportunity to question what we experienced, even at WHS, allowed those of us who chose to embrace the challenges and changes of the future (meaning the 5 decades since we moved on!) to live more fully in todays' challenging times. 

Paul Schattauer (1961)

Tomorrow is the 21st aniversary of 911.  People younger then 28 have little or no memory of that tragic day.  We remember 911 and lived all the trauma of Vietnam.  Our parents lived and fought WWII, Korea  and survived the great depression.  If you look back in time it seems like life is one damn thing after another.  This is my memory of 911. 

I woke up in Paris and my job that day was to fly a Delta Boeing 777 from Paris to Atlanta.  It was a pretty day, blue sky and no traffic to the airport.  My crew of 9 flight attendants and 2 copilots were eager to get home. Two copilots because flights over 8 hours require a relief pilot.  We cleared security and boarded the airplane.  The flight attendants checked their equipment and catering and got ready to board passengers.  We pilots checked aircraft condition, flight plan, fuel, weather and ran the before start checklist.  A 9 hour flight with several hours over water out of radar and radio range and far from land causes everyone to be even more particular.  Today was very normal and routine.  Station boarded the passengers, brought us the final paperwork and closed the cabin door and it was time to go to work.  We pushed back, disconnected from the tug, exchanged salutes (that formally shifts responsibility for the airplane to the Captain) and we were on our way.   Taxi out , take off, climb to cruise altitude and set course for our coast out point.  Crossing the ocean requires a few extra steps.  Plotting the route on the ocean map, verifying navigation equipment and checking the long range radios and then two pilots double verifying the ocean route.  With 600 airplanes leaving europe each morning for the Americas and no one watching you on radar separation is important.  We had been cruising for a little over 2 hours and out over the ocean about to go out of range of radar and radio when a United flight tells control their company has told them to return to Dublin Ireland.  I had never seen this before so I sent a message to Delta asking if they had any information about this.  I got no reply which had also never happend.  About 10 minutes later air traffic control broadcasts " All flights East of 30 West are required to return to their point of origin due to terroist activity in the United States ".  Air traffic control begins turning this huge flock of airplanes around and we head back to Paris.  I send another message to Delta for information and again get no reply.  I signaled the flight attendants to all get on the intercom.  I briefed them on what was going on and asked them to send the relief pilot to the cockpit.  Then I told the passengers exactly what we had been told.  We had a satilite phone and I tried to call my wife but she wasn't home so the copilots tried and one got hold of his  She said the airplanes hit the towers and Washington was smoking and we lost the connection.  We could not get another open line.  We needed to protect the cockpit.  I called the senior flight attendant and told her to bring 3 male flight attendants to the cockpit.  When they all got there I told them I wanted the heaviest cart pushed up against the cockpit door and locked down and to remain there till we were at the gate in Paris.  I also wanted the the three men to work the front cabin because I wanted them to restrain anyone from getting near the cockpit and to use force or violence if necessary.  At that time the cockpit door was frangible by design and about as tough as sheet rock.  There is a crash axe in the cockpit.  It looks like a short handled fireman's axe.  It is heavy and has a spike on one side and a blade on the other, a very nasty weapon.  I told the relief pilot to sit on the jump seat which is right next to the door and to kill anyone who broke through.   We then discussed how we would fight if the first two lines of defense failed.  The next two hours took forever.  Just as we lowered the landing gear to land in Paris we got a message from the company, it said  "where are you?"  I ignored them. 

The Station manager was at the gate when we got there.  He was quite excited to see us as he had no idea if we were all still alive.  We were instructed to change into our civilian clothes as there was a threat against flight crews.  Then to the hotel to watch on television airplanes fly into the Twin Towers over and over.  A long and awful day.  Three days later we flew home.  Our route took us over New York We were the only airplane in the sky and the radio was dead silent.  You could see ground zero smoking.  It was very very eerie.

Theresa Eve (1964)

Paul:  Thank you for sharing.  We should all remember September 11th.  I was working for the State at the time and we were all told to go home, not knowing what would develop here in Sacramento.  My flag is out.  

Jeff Johnson (1966)

My wife and I woke up to the tv news of the tragedy in NYC ( we had both flown into Lagurida and we both thought some flight had missed the runway)...we were both still teaching in those days and kissed and hugged before heading out to our respective schools ....we had tried to get ahold of our sons who were all in college but to no avail ( later that evening we did hear from all three of them and they had tried to phone us ( before cell phones for us and them)... when we got to our schools all teachers were told to get to class , assure our students that they were safe (???) ...how did we know but we had to do it...students ( 4-5 graders were so scared ( so was I) and had to be settled ...my wife was across town with her 7th graders and they to were very scared ( some asked her if they would ever see their parents again)....it was an amazing day ...when we did get home late in the day, talked to our sons, we simply sat , held hands , and ended the night in tight hugs ...must have been the same feelings for our parents on Dec.7,1941...not knowing what was coming next is a terrible feeling !!!!!!!

Norma Berrettoni (Plocher) (1966)

Paul - thank you for sharing your story of 9/11.  I was driving to work that morning and heard about it on the news in my car.  When I got to work no one could get on the internet to find out what was happening --- so very scarey.  Then someone had a TV and they started letting all of us know.  I remember being scared and wondering what was happening to our United States of America. 

Norma Berrettoni (Plocher) (1966)

David Hughes your sourdough bread looks great - and, I am sure, it's delicious.  I haven't made sourdough bread in a few years --- I tend to eat it and I don't need it!  

Donald Daily (1961)

Paul S and Tom Stewart

I enjoy both of your notes in this forum, keep it up.

Don

Tom Stewart (1969)

CRUISIN'

It seemed like cruisin' was a major part of our culture.  Nowadays people watch shows like "Happy Days" or movies like "American Graffiti" and they likely think it is exagerated, but we know different.  The cruise is where you found out where all the social events (parties) were happening, where you met the opposite sex, where you saw your friends, and where you displayed your "wheels".

Some nights we would cruise J and K in Sacramento before they ruined it and made K street a mall.  Do any of you remember the Chinese fire drills where everyone would get out and run around the car at a stop light, often changing drivers in the process?  We would look for girls in a convertible and when we stopped at a light one or two of us would jump out and hop in their car.  In that era it was all good fun and noone was injured, today it would be a felony!  The girls wouldn't know whether to go on green, stay there, or what?

Drive in movies were the best.  Sneaking people in when they charged by the person was an art form.  All the theaters showed more than one movie, and often "shorts" with cartoons or short movies.  If you went to the State Theater with your girlfriend and you wanted to "smooch" you sat downstairs in the back row against the wall, that is until the usher came by and shined the flashlight in your eyes!  Those were the days my friend we thought they'd never end.....hey, they should make that into a song!

Bill Torngren (1962)

More Car Culture

In promoting the Classes of '61 and '62 Six-0! Reunion and in the video that ran at the reunion, we featured some of the car culture in 1960-1962.  The short video teases about Heaps of the Week as pictured in the Orange Peal.  The long video has a car culture section including triple features at the Sunset Drive In, the Woodland PD, and clips from the Orange Peal at 25:07 to 32:37 (for those desiring focused viewing).  Here are the links.  

Greg Kareofelas (1962)

Sadly, I want to let her friends and classmates know that my sister Sue Anne Russell (Kareofelas) Class of 1964, lost her battle with cancer. She fought the brave fight, but in the end, the cancer won. She leaves many Happy Memories and will be missed

Bill Ehrke (1962)

So Sorry Greg

Kay Most (Chapman) (1962)

I'm so sorry, Greg, to hear the news of your sister.  Cancer is such a lousy disease.

Julie Eis (Millstein) (1962)

So sad to lose a sister or brother, I know.  Really sorry to hear this, Greg.

Bernard Rocksvold (1965)

Greg,

Sorry to hear about your sisters passing. My condollences.

Tom Stewart (1969)

GOING WITH THE CROWD.....

During my years in high school I mostly went with the trends, but when it came to my car I split with trend.  During that time the sought after cars were Chevelles, GTO, Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers, and Challengers, so what did I do, I ordered a new 1969 Firebird from Abele Motors.  It was actually ordered at the end of 1968 but it was the 69 model.  It came in the very day of the Christmas parade in December and I got the call to pick it up.  I was so "cool" and my friends were anxious to get a ride.  We went down toward the new Safeway store on Main Street and parked.  After the parade I tried to start the car but it wouldn't start.  Suddenly I wasn't so cool any more.  It is hard to recall, but there weren't any mobile phones in those days so I had to walk back to the dealership and report my dilemma.  The salesman asked me if I was depressing the clutch all the way and I said "no".  I didn't know you had to depress the clutch to start the car.  Life can be so humbling at times!

I remember I was out cruisin' one night and I got pulled over by a well known "young" police officer who I believe graduated around 63 or 64.  He asked me if I had been near the High School, but I hadn't.  He told me a late model Camaro or Firebird was messing around at the school and I remember responding..."gee, I wonder how many Camaros and Firebirds there were in town?"

Those were the days my friend......

Mary Wanda McCrary (Montgomery) (1967)

The Class of 67 had its 55th year reunion Saturday night.  It was a simple, yet fun event!  And a great atmosphere to visit with one another and catch-up!  
 

A huge "thank you" to the committee who worked planning and made it happen!  Here are some photos.  

Mary Wanda McCrary (Montgomery) (1967)

Mary Wanda McCrary (Montgomery) (1967)

Mary Wanda McCrary (Montgomery) (1967)

Mary Wanda McCrary (Montgomery) (1967)

Joan Richter (Lucchesi) (1960)

What fun pictures, Wanda.