Mike Grijalva

Spanky's. Hard Times. English Pub. Copa.
"Bunk Burgers".
Sneaking booze under the seat back across from Juarez.
Having no game at all, and still wondering why I couldn't score chics.
Toilet papering the school.
My cool '77 Caprice (bitchin yellow with white vinyl interior) being burglarized on Freak Street....and on Oakdale St.
Finding good parking to walk across to Juarez, and buying $5 pizzas when we were back on this side.
Watching Rob Casillas vibrate like a mad epilleptic on the floor of the hall after bashing his head into the lockers (and the point of that was....????)
Laughing so hard in Mrs. Valenzuela's English class that I started crying, because I had just seen a really funny cartoon of someone else in that class. I couldn't even talk.
Going to Juarez and getting intoxicated for the first time ever, at Hard Times, on kamikazes--and thinking The Alive was the coolest looking place ever.
Getting caught ditching, by my dad, while waiting for my ditching partner that never showed up (my dad, still on the EPPD at the time, drove up, asked me what I was doing, to which I replied, "...uumm....ditching?").
Joined FHA for the girls (shameless, I know).

Briefly:

Worked briefly at Peter Piper Pizza on Airways before getting fired for being a moron (they actually expect you to show up for work, and to call if you're not). Good times and great benefits while I was there though. I have a distinct memory of bussing tables in my underwear, and getting yelled at for it.

Married young, started a family, and eventually divorced. Remarried in 2001 to a great woman, who gave me two more beautiful children, and who keeps me in line. I need discipline.

Left El Paso in '95 to move to Washington state to continue working in the casino industry. I am still in Washington, and loving it, although I do miss the food from home.

Funny thing, seeing more than one person mention the Loya party. I remember that too. I watched a female TABC agent use a cool thumb move to choke a guy that got too close to her during the melee. I never forgot that move, and occassionaly use it on my wife.

I can't believe we're at the stage in our lives where we're having a 20th reunion. I remember when my parents had theirs, and how old that made them in my eyes. Now we're at the same point, and it seems surreal. I don't feel 38.