Lavon Sanza (Henry)

Well, Marsha..... most of downtown is still boarded up.  I heard that FEMA was coming but I believe they're here to fix roads and government buildings.  Napa took it in the trunks but..... there was NO looting!!!  People downtown and all over the valley are helping one another rebuild.  No one is sitting around with their hands out waiting for government assistance.  This little city is amazing, just amazing!!  Makes me proud to be here.

That quake was the scariest thing ever!  I honestly thought we were going to die.  It seemed to go on forever and ever.  I've been out to Browns Valley.... they got hit pretty hard.  This community is rebuilding itself and it's amazing to watch.  Signs all over town say "Napa Strong" and that's an understatement!  I just hope that was it with the big quakes!  :)

Marsha Dukes (Nygren)

Lavon, I'm so glad to hear that Napa has the same heart as always! I can't imagine seeing downtown all boarded up. The only pictures I've seen were from right after the quake. So many beautiful old buildings! I hope your gorgeous house made it through okay.

I remember the 1989 quake outside of San Francisco. I was living in San Ramon at the time, and it was terrifying. And the aftershocks were almost worse -- traffic was jammed right after the quake hit, and to this day it makes me a little nervous if I have to be stopped under an overpass. I had to drive several miles and under several overpasses right afterward, and it's so scary to be stopped under all those tons of concrete when an aftershock happens.

But, like you, I felt a lot of good from it too -- I worked for a week outside of Oakland at the Cypress collapse, cooking for and feeding the people who were working frantically to find more people in the rubble, and it was amazing to see so many risking their own lives every day to help others, as well as the hordes of people who opened their hearts and homes to those who had lost everything. It was a life-changing experience that will always be with me.

Hope all the other 65ers and their families did well too. Big hugs to every one of you!

Karen Posey (Foglesong)

I also live here and experienced the quake - one of the scariest moments of my life.  I live in a mobile home park in a new mobile home.  After the quake it seemd like everyone was outside.  No one wanted to be in.  And I watched couples helping those that lived alone and were so scared.  We had no power for 24 hours and we BBQ'ed some burgers for those around us who didn't have the means to cook.  The men went to the elderly to help them.  Our town came together.   We have since discovered we have broken piers under our home that need to be fixed and we lost a lot of glass and 2 TV's.   But we were more fortunate than others.  The biggest problem for me is the disruption in my sense of security.  Sounds are hard to process as this quake brought with it an evil "sound".  I know this will lessen.  I am proud of Napa and all who live here.   Not the sleepy little town I grew up in but special non the less.

Marsha Dukes (Nygren)

Karen, I'm so glad to hear it wasn't worse for you and your neighbors. It's wonderful how people jump up immediately and rush to help others, isn't it? I am so happy to hear that so many did that.

I certainly understand your sense of security being severely shaken. I remember from the 1989 quake feeling like all the things I'd always taken for granted, like the ground staying steady beneath my feet, weren't necessarily true. It's so unsettling, but does eventually diminish. 

I can't wait to come visit "home" next year!

Marsha

Bill Simpson

Guess I'll get in on this, too.  I'm back in Napa (a little over two years now), having retired from my teaching gig in Campbell (San Jose area for the uninitiated).  I now live in a little cabin up in the west hills, maybe a mile from the fault and about 6 miles from the epicenter.  In '89 I was about 6 miles from the epicenter of the Loma Prieta shaker.  I must be an earthquake magnet (just like mobile home parks are tornado magnets in the midwest).  LOL (see, I've learned to use at least some of these "text speak" acronyms)

Although Loma Prieta measured 7.something and this was "only" 6.0, I had MUCH more damage in this one. But I'm fine (although an antique coal bucket dust catcher, by my calculations, flew about 15 feet and barely missed my head) and my home is structurally sound I don't know anyone who was injured or who lost their home, and I lost nothing of value.  A LOT of breakage, but it was only "stuff".

And, though there were those who experienced injuries and loss of dwellings, no one I know was affected, so, all in all, it will go down as one of those events we'll be discussing in the "do you remember" and "where were you" catagories.

Hope everyone is doing well...see you at the reunion.

Jerry E McMillan

Please don't move to the Reno/Sparks area Bill. We don't need an earthquake magnet up here. Will I see you  at the luncheon, Oct. 4, at Sunnyside Resort?

Dennis Henry

Bill,

So now the mystery of my lost karma has been explained! Unlike you, I have always been out of town for big quakes.

I was in LA during the Loma Prieta quake hoping to relax and watch the SF Bay Series after a long brutal meeting. I had just left LA two days before the Northridge quake and was hunting in Alaska for the 2000 Yountville 5.2 quake.

I have been feeling as though I had lost my karma this time. Now that I know it was your fault, I feel better.

I’m out in Browns Valley and pretty much anything that could break did. Out of Dannie’s 36 piece crystal wine glass set, I am left with one representative champagne flute and one red wine glass. Even the heavy oak dining table, china hutch and book cases were trashed although I’ve taken on the challenge of trying to rebuild them. My mom’s house is red-tagged and work starts on a new foundation next week. She’s currently living with me as long as she follows the curfew and keeps her room clean.

So, Bill, THANKS FOR THAT!

The silver lining was that I had been upset with myself for not getting the 68 mustang into the garage after the car show the prior week. But, if it had been in the garage, it would have been seriously damaged!

Lavon Sanza (Henry)

Cassandra.... I saw the Aquarium owners on TV this evening.... it showed their business inside.... that was so very sad.  :(  Where is FEMA?????  Where is all the money that was raised for Napa relief???  Millions!!!  Who's getting these bucks????  Not us, with plumbing problems, roof problems, and every wall on the first floor needing to be replaced.  A day at a time..... at least we got the 6 custom windows in before it rained.  :)

Jerry.....  Hey, I'll see you on Oct 4th at the Tahoe "gathering".  Should be fun if the smoke clears!

Dennis.... I saw your pictures on facebook.  Crazy!  I didn't realize you lived in BROWN'S VALLEY!!!  I heard that Brown's Valley had no water  for a couple weeks!!  I was at Raley's buying groc when I over heard Browns Valley families talking about the water situation.  I was so glad we had electric and water!!!                            Now, be nice to your mom....  she's a sweetheart!  :)

NAPA STRONG!!!

Jerry E McMillan

Looking forward in seeing you and the others at Sunnyside Resort.

Lavon Sanza (Henry)

Big Thank YOU to Kris Digges for organizing the fun luncheon at SunnySide in Tahoe!  It was wonderful to see everyone again and Marilyn  was right..... the zucchini was YUMMY!  The weather was 'perfect' - the turnout for the luncheon was awesome and we all appreciate all the work Kris did to bring all of us together at sucn a beautiful site on the lake!  Pictures????  Does anyone have pictures of the get-together?  Would love to see them posted on this class site - everyone looked great. 

Thanks again Kris!  You da bomb, girl!!  Loved it!

Kristin Miller (Digges)

Pictures(mine & Judy H) not posted, yet. Soon,though--along with the 'list' to all of you, who attended!

     It was a fun gathering! Nice to have a larger 65-er representation--21, in all!! 7 from Napa, the rest from Reno,Sparks, Spanish Springs,Minden and No Lake Tahoe! Pretty Cool!! As Lavon mentioned, perfect weather and the awesome Lake Location of Sunnyside! Thanks to all who attended!

                   Kris Digges

Marsha Dukes (Nygren)

I'm so glad that so many were able to attend. Can't wait to see the pictures! I'm really looking forward to next year's reunion and seeing everyone in person. Yay for the Class of '65! 

Rosemarie Munson (Bettinelli)

Kris, 

you did a SUPER job planning the event.  Already looking forward to next year.

The lady from Martinez!!

Kristin Miller (Digges)

 RoseMarie,

      So glad you could be with us , on Sat. to add your 'Martinezizer' style ! Thanks for coming up with the ladies. Hope to see you at the 50th;if not before! We'll put you on the 'yes' list;for next Oct.

                   Kris Digges

Bill Simpson

I'd like to echo the responses of those who attended and posted before me... thanks so much Kris for your efforts, hospitatiliy, and graciousness. Your were the perfect hostess.  Thanks to Ken and his delightful lady friend for hosting the "After Glow"...I regret having to leave a bit early, but I had another stop to make.  Anyway, the Giants won, so that made the drive home simply fly by...

Great to see everybody, most of whom I have seen on at least a semi-regular basis recently.  Very interesting to get to know Dan Dandini a bit.  I knew who he was in school, but never had any interaction with him then.  Seems to have grown into a very nice man, as have all the rest of you (well, some into very nice women LOL).

I treasure the continuing and/or re-burgeoning relationships with all of you who were a part of my life when we were in our formative years, you all own a piece of who it is that I have become.  Whether that's good or bad, I'll reserve judgement on that for a later time....LOL

Love you all.

Bill

Richard C Smith

Kristin Miller (Digges)

Rick,

    So glad you could join us,this time. About time!! Gotta grab as many 'locals' as we can-so "spread the word"! Plan to join the 65-ers, next Oct. Take care and enjoy your family times!

                         Kris

Jim Bell

Kris, I will echo the response of everyone else. Thank you so much for making it possible for so many of us, 23, to reconnect. Some folks I had not seen for such a long time. Thanks to everyone who came and shared the afternoon with us.

Kristin Miller (Digges)

So fun to see you & Linda, again, this year. By-the -way...did you guys get the pics I sent,last eve. It showed that yours wasn't received. Maybe I've got the wrong e-mail-just not sure!

       See you guys at the 50th-if not before

                          Kris

Jerry E McMillan

It was so great in seeing everyone there. I had a great time. Wished I could of had the time to visit longer with several people though. You did a wonderful job of organizing and making everyone feel comfortable Kris. I'm sure the 50th Reunion will be just as much fun. Can't wait to see my classmates there.

Kristin Miller (Digges)

Thanks Jerry,

    All of your 'sleuthing' to find 65-ers really paid off! thanks for getting the e-mails & phone #s for those we were hoping to find. A great,fun re-connecting time!  Keep up eith your pickleball and other fun activities!

                              Kris

Lavon Sanza (Henry)

Hey everyone.....   the Reunion committee has hired an awesome photographer for the Reunion and the year books they provide are very nice.  The committee will be posting information about the pre-purchase of the 50th Class Reunion Year Book soon.   If you know of anyone who has not joined this website, please let them know we're here. 

Cheers!   Lavon

Marsha Dukes (Nygren)

That is awesome news, Lavon!!! That'll add so much more enjoyment for everyone afterwards! I keep my 65 yearbook in a drawer under my bed so I can look people up anytime someone new comes here, or just when the mood strikes me. Such great memories! 

Lavon Sanza (Henry)

Ahhhhh Marsha..... and we'll make even more fun memories!  This is an awesome group of people so the reunion should be lots of fun.  :o)

Brenda J Conaster (Luntey)