2008, Poem for the Class reunion

Memories in a Bag

Written for the 40th El Cajon Valley High School class reunion

August 23, 2008

We all have our dear memories,

Hidden somewhere far away,

Somewhere in our head,

Precious to this day.

 

Memories, of days long past,

Of times that once were here,

Sad and happy, good and bad,

Saved from year to year.

 

The days of youth, we owned the world,

At least that’s what we thought,

Care free times, for most of us,

While others went and fought.

In 68 there was a war,

And we were marching in the street,

But not as protest, nor in hate,

For us, life was still so sweet.

 

The times we had, among our friends,

A sports event, a formal ball,

With girl’s league and the marching band,

Banner corp and all.

 

Remember when? We ask tonight,

And think of that long gone year,

Yes I do, or no I don’t,

I’ve forgotten, is what we hear.

 

Some dear friends have passed away,

Others are in this room

Still others did not attend,

The reasons we can only presume.

 

I have with me memories in a bag,

here for all of you to see,

Memories of some happy times,

What’s in it? What can it be?

 

What can it be, that’s red and soft,

And worn with so much pride?

I’ve cherished mine for all this time,

Something I shouldn’t hide.

SchoolTshirt042.jpg

My high school sweater, once a must!

We wore them all the time,

With all the pins, to mark the fun,

I proudly present you mine.

Oh, what fun we had!

20 years had now gone by,

I attended, ……of that I’m glad.

Now 30 years had come and gone,

A reunion was in 98,

Again I attended, flew over from afar,

And once again I was glad…. It was great!

 

Last but not least, the most important of all.

Where most of the memories are found,

The special something, we all treasured so much,

It’s red and blue and bound.

 

“The Legend ‘68” recorded and retells,

In photos and words, in a book arranged,

Of the events back then and the people we knew,

My, how much we have changed!

 

With hopes in our hearts and dreams aimed so high,

It’s been 40 years since that day,

The most important event, in our youthful lives,

We graduated and went on our merry way.

 

Now we meet once again, the few still around,

To remember those days long gone by,

To share the memories that are still in our heads,

And of the ones that are here in a bag.

 

There is another item that I still have yet didn’t bring with me….. my high school ring. I didn’t want to risk losing it. In fact, I have two rings.

In August 2006 I once again took the long trip over the big pond to visit my family. Before I arrived, I searched the internet for some news about my former best girl friend, Terry Starkey. I couldn’t find anything. After arriving here, I decided to finally visit her mom to see if I could get an address or something. Her mom still lived in the same house, just like my folks.

From Terry’s mom I found out that Terry had passed only one month before from health issues.

That’s almost spooky, since for some reason I had felt the urge to find her. In high school we had done just about everything together, from going to dances, the movies, the beach, flirting with guys, folk dancing in Balboa Park and she was my bridesmade at my wedding in 1970. But then I moved to Germany and with time we lost contact. We met again at the 20th reunion, but again lost contact….that reunion was the last time I saw her.

Her mom gave me her class ring. Terry, I miss you and I dedicate the above poem to you.

 

2008, ECVHS Class reunion

ECVHS Reunion, Sunday Aug. 24, 2008

Not only on Saturday evening but also on Sunday we had a great class get-together. Here are a few pictures (we met as usual at the nice home of John Hodgkinson in Lakeside). Unfortunately the blue tent makes the pictures a bit off and too many names I don’t remember, though I do recognise many of them. The blue tent almost spoils the pictures.

1957, our new home in El Cajon

After a 3 year stay in Cuba, dad got transfered to San Diego. And of course we needed a home. We found one in a city just East of San Diego. Not special, but big (4 bedrooms and a garden). Of course it was quite bare when it was new…..no grass, no plants, nothing.

here are the 3 of us at the back door. 

We soon added a patio….nice shade for getting out of the often very hot Sun.

1976, Regina arrives

winter near our new home in Rodgau-Jügesheim 

              This buggy was so great!!

Carsten really enjoyed his sister.

I’m missing some great photos of him looking at her in her craddle. If I find them I’ll add them here.

Regina being busy in the corridor in front of our apartment.

Christmas 1977

and she got her favorit doll which she kept for many years

me and Michael enjoying the holiday

and Michaels sister, Petra, came to visit.

The stay here at the Offenbach Hospital was soooooo much better then the one in Frankfurt where Carsten was born. 

1974, Carsten arrives

Just before Carsten was born we moved into a new and larger apartment in a nieghboring village, Jügesheim. It was really necessary.

On March 6, 1974, my son, Carsten, was born in a hospital in Frankfurt, Germany. It was the same hospital that Michaels father was born, which is why we chose it. My stay there was horrible! Back then it was usual to stay for at least 10 days, whether necessary or not. And nursing wasn’t supported either. And when I left my room for a walk it was extremely boring. All the babies were in a room with curtain, making it impossible to see them. Here are a couple of pictures from the first days:

These pictures above were taken at my parents home in California. He was a good traveler….

he was such a cutie!!!

The following pictures were taken on a visit to Herzberg/Harz where Michaels parents lived.

Going for a stroll. As you can see, I was pregnant with the next baby.

 

 

 

luckily no train came:

  

visiting his great grandpa in the USA…..

My „new“ homepage

This homepage is going to turn out being a diary I’m afraid. But I have much to catch upon. I sure hope it doesn’t get boring for any of you readers. 

Two years ago I moved into a new home and also got a new computer. Since I no longer have my old homepage software, FrontPage, and didn’t want to bye it new again…..I had to install WordPress, but it works….but I have LOTS of work to stll do *snif*