| SOME OF OURMAGNOLIA STORIES |
| STORY BY ROB LAFFERTY: My memories of high school are somewhat lost behind a self-induced brain fog- we graduated into the seventies, and all my memories prior to about 1980 are suspect or hazy, at best. I've never been one to look back and revisit old memories much, either- it's all I can do to stay focused on what's happening now. I do recall my time at Magnolia (Sentinels, I remember as I was on the basketball team...) as being an equal mix of pleasure and humiliation, love found and love lost, great fun and excruciatingly boring times, too. I don't think I was a complete outcast, but I was definitely on the fringe of the social scene. Coming from Trident Jr. High meant being part of the minority at Magnolia... Some of the names on the website bring back memories, but not many- an unrequited lust for Peggy Gray; a failed night spent trying to outdrink Hank Bauer; Candi Caine's long hair and legs- these things come to mind, but not much else. Time to search my memory banks for whatever nuggets remain accessible, I suppose. The people I hung with aren't listed yet, and I'm not in contact with any of them except Jay Adamson- he's in Bakersfield and I'm on Maui, but we keep in contact- I'm Godfather to his daughter. I remember Pete Rachunok, Bob Stewart, Jeff and Greg Clitheroe, Mike & Pat Barrett (Pat is mentioned in the latest Sports Illustrated, by the way- it ain't a pretty story). More names will come back to me in time- I can see many facess, but not a name to connect with them. Mary Dodge, I believe, was Jay Adamson's first wife; Linda, a lovely girl we nicknamed Chester for obvious reasons- she hated the name, but I swear to you, Linda, it was always meant with great awe and respect. I recall Marice, who transferred in and unknowlingly broke my heart; Janie, a flirt, friend and playmate whom I recall fondly; and Dennis Gough, a neighbor and kind-hearted guy with two rather strange brothers. This memory lane thing is fun, but I'll have to do better than that... As for me, I'm married twenty years this year, no kids, two stepdaughters, two step-granddaughters, two Godchildren- if that's the correct term. I live high on a dormant volcano on the island of Maui, poor but happy. I've pretty much done whatever's available in terms of work to make a living- it's a long list by now. Currently, I'm writing articles for the local paper and for magazines, mostly stuff about Hawaii. My wife, Karen, is an artist and photographer, used to be a singer/musician. We do some gardening to help pay the bills and I get a disability pension from the California prison system- I was a guard and counselor for a dowzen years, not an inmate... Keep this website going-I've never been to a reunion, and I'm not likely to show up at the next one either, but it's fun to see some old names and unfamiliar faces. More later, mahalo nui loa." BY ROB LAFFERTY |
| ADD YOUR STORIES AND MEMORIES! SEE Phil Tripp's story below! |
| The following story is By Mindy Butello: |
| Well, it's been a long time since I've seen most of the Class of '72. My family moved from Anaheim to Mission Viejo in the summer of '69. I completed the 3 years at Dale with most of you and have really happy memories from those days. I grew up in Anaheim and began attending Dale in 1966. I was in choir and for the life of me, cannot remember our teacher's name but she later married one of our other teachers at Dale (BIG CONTROVERSY). I also remember our girl's vice president writing me up for my dress being too short! Can't remember her name either (OLD AGE). Some of my best memories surround the drama class ... Dale's first. I was lucky enough to get the leads in 3 plays in 9th grade. One was "The Gift of the Magi" and I was in it with Mark Kelly and we had an onstage kiss! I was sooooo embarrassed. I think I was one of the only girls who didn't have a crush on him. But Russell Brankov ... now that was a different story. I was so sorry to hear about him. But some of my best friends were: Judi Ball, Margaret Thalken, Candy Clausen, Stephanie Windstrom, Cathi Alcantar, Pam Prestwood, Carol Revard, Chris Robinson, and I also had a thing for a guy named Joel Cort. He was from France. Aanyone remember him? Oh, the drama of being a teenager. Also, other names from the past: Elisa Loots, Don Hunter, Joy Sabsowitz, Steve Crawford, Danny Macintosh. I wonder what happened to them and Bill Ditmar and I had classes together. Bill, remember Mr. Neumister ... AHHH!!!" Some of my most memorable teachers were Mr. Neumister, Stookey, Hobart & Lester, Mrs. Fuchs, Miss Thompson and Mrs. Bush (sex ed). There are more and I have forgotten. I would love to see everyone at the reunion so please keep me posted. Thank you Cathi, for the web page. Isn't technology great? So now I will give you an update and you can forward to whoever you think would be interested. Also, I e-mailed pics that you can post as well. Here goes: Right out of high school I got married and had a little girl who is now married with 2 kids and her name is Melissa (27 years old). In 1981, I had a son named Ian. He is attending college in Arizona. He graduated High School in 2000. I attended nursing school in 1977 and graduated in 1979. My first nursing job was at Martin Luter Hospital in Anaheim, where I worked Oncology for 4 years. I then worked at UCI off of the Burn unit. That's how I found out about Russel B. Somehow I decided I would like sales, so that's what I'm doing now in the pharmaceutical field. It is definitely a challenge, but fun and educational. I was divorced in 1996 after 20 some years of marriage, but we have remained friends since I have known him forever and we have children together. I also belong to "Make a Wish Foundation" and other organizations related to church and health and have always had a place in my heart for children and the less fortunate, and believe strongly in KARMA (left over from 'hippie days'). High school was a blast and we lived 20 minutes from Laguna Beach and in the 60's, it was happening!!! I look forward to responses back from everyone and let me know what you think of the pics. So long, Mindy. |
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| By Lynn Wilson Jacobsen: " It was good to see everyone at the 25th reunion...I had a great time! Where have all the years gone? Our oldest daughter just graduated this week from High School, and it seems soooo weird to go through it with her, since it doesn't seem THAT long ago that we were getting our diplomas!" Lynn (Wilson) Jacobsen, May 2001 |
| My Story ~ By Phil Tripp I have mostly good memories of my 3 years at Magnolia. It was a very tumultuous time to be a teenager with sexual revolution and drug use going on. Most of us made it through with only a few emotional scars. After graduating from Magnolia, I went to Cypress College for three years while working in constuction and at Angel Stadium. At 21, after finishing at Cypress College, I was hired as a full time professional ski patrolman at Mammoth Mountain. I really enjoyed that experience. It was long hours, hard work and sometimes very dangerous. I promised myself that after two years on ski patrol, I would complete my education. I transferred to Long Beach State. After a short stint as a history major, I switched to Business Administration. As much as I loved history, I came to realize that it had limited job potential. When I was in High School with my long hair and anti-establishment attitude, the last thing I ever wanted to be, other than an attorney, was a salesman. So of course I ended up in sales. I have excelled there and have really enjoyed working in the wood window and door end of the business. I have total freedom each day as to where I go and who I see. I really love the freedom. The money is great and the only negative aspect is that it is a very cyclical business. The change in attitude about selling was just one of many things that surprised me about how attitudes change while we continue to grow and mature. At the age of 25, I got the travel bug along with my future wife, Valerie. We spent 2 1/2 months in Europe in the summer of 1980. We married in 1981 and decided that an even longer trip would be a great experience. So we saved for a year, quit our jobs and in 1983, headed for Europe once again. This time we went for 6 months. We went to Egypt, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Greece and most of the western European countries. International travel really teaches one a great deal about the world we live in. Most Americans are very ignorant of the way other cultures live their lives. I recommend travel for anyone! We really loved Greece, particularly the Greek Islands. We went back to Greece in 1986 and 1990 for three weeks each time. We also visited Cancun and Hawaii in the 80's. Our son Derek was born in 1989. Unfortunately, we were divorced in 1991. I was the bad guy on the failure of the marriage. I am proud of many of my accomplishments but not the divorce. We are very good friends however, and are both doing the best we can to raise our son with good values. I would like to forget the first half of the nineties but loved the second half. I rode the expansion in the economy the past 6 years and the income that comes with it. I got out of debt, bought a new 21 foot sportboat which was a dream of mine and continue just to enjoy life. I love to camp, boat, travel, and ski. I play tennis to stay in shape and look forward to the future. Last summer my Dad rented a 63' yacht with crew and we had a family reunion while motoring around the Greek Islands. It was a wonderful "Tripp" and I got to bond with my nieces and nephews. We were in Greece for three weeks. My significant other, Bonnie, is currently pregnant and we are expecting a little girl in late October. Fatherhood at 47? We'll see how that goes. Anyway, I look forward to seeing old friends at the reunion. High School was so long ago, yet we cling to the memories, both good and bad, that those three years meant to us. |