Roger Kircher

Hang in there everyone. We can do this.  :)

John Anderson

I never thought I would see our world the way it is today, going to the store and seeing the shelves bare, to stay inside and shelter in place and no more hand shakes or hugs.  Not to mention going to sports games whether football, basketball or racing.  Our enemy was the ruski's and today it is a invisable, but deadly war that has invaded our land as well as the whole earth.  Almost sounds like one of the SF movies we used to watch.  Stay safe Lions wherever you are and while you are shelterd in place think of the good ol days...

Dennis De Cuir

Diana,

Thanks--those were very funny.

John and Roger, thanks for your comments too.

Take care everyone,

--Dennis

Sheron Bruner (Vollstedt)

Who would have  ever thought WE would be the "seniors" needing the most concern for social distancing, but we are.  I am sheltered in place in Taos, NM. Two weeks ago we had 0 cases & now we have 3 in Taos & NM has 83.

 I get texts from my son daily from around the world as he is one of the hero's flying cargo, possibly medical supplies etc. After another week, he will be quarantied at home in Anchorage for 14 days. He said it is getting more difficult getting in/out of his locations. He said it is changing hourly. 

We, the Baby Boomers, can have an impact on slowing down the virus by staying home away from others, & celebrating when this ends.  Stay well everyone. I have lost 2 friends to it from my church in Sacramento😩

Peggy Fredlund (Schaffran)

I haven't been on here in a very long time. We sure did live in the best of times the class of 1963. I have been thinking about the class of 2020!!! When I am out and about it seems like the Twilight Zone!!! Stay Safe and This Too Shall Pass,

Peggy Fredlund Schaffran

Clyda Hooper (Anderson)

Just a real feel good story. Went to the store for a few things including tp. Went first to that aisle. Another lady in front of me also went there. There were two packages left. Figured I was out of luck. Instead lady picked up boys turned around and said aren’t we lucky “one for you and one for me”. There is still a lot of good even stuck inside except for absolute necessities. 

Stay  and keep your distance

Clyda

Richard Israel

Stay safe everybody. Be grateful for each and every breath.

William Yeager

Great and wonderful to see so many  of our class of 1963 sharing their thoughts.  This pandemic seems to have brought us all togher again as we want to share our concerns and help for others.Yes, we are now the Senior Citizens and need to help and lead others in this time of need. If any of our class mates in the Sacramento and surrounding area need help, please post and let us us. Most of us are only a short drive away to offer assistgance.  Take care and be safe.  Bill Yeager

Diana Doupé (Vicari)

Bonjour, Lions...Bill, you're right-on about helping when we can.  I pick up a bit of shopping every few days for a couple of elderly people here.  I'm also giving help to 4 students studying English (via phone).  Also available by phone for hospital patients who speak only English (we have a number of Brits in the area who figure they can get by only with English, even though some hospital staff manage in English).  Not a lot, but every little bit, as they say... Now, for a smile:  One lady says to another, "Aren't you tired of making meals with pasta or rice, pasta or rice, pasta or rice ...?"    "Oh no, I have a great new recipe."    "Really?  What is it?"   "I do stuffed lentils."        hugs to all  (at a considerable distance, of course).

James (Jim) Mills (MidTerm)

Lets clear up the BABY BOOMER definition now.  Most of us in the class of '63 are not BOOMERS.

1925-1945 Silent generation

1946-1964 Baby Boomer

Let's put it this way--if you were born before Japan surrendered you are a member of the Silent Generation.

If you were born September 1945 or later and you want to be a Boomer that's a personal choice.

There is some discrepancy as to what the years 1941-1945 may be called.  Some say the Greatest Generation but the time line appears to be too short. I feel we are just part of the Silent Generation which had an amazing impact on the world during those 20 years.

I like being part of the Silent Generation, albeit a short part. 

Jim

Alan Holmstrom

Hi Lions, I'm writing from Monterey where things aren't too bad yet.  (27 cases in the County).  Trying to be responsible by staying in but also going out for hikes along the ocean with a buddy as most humans aren't built well for isolation. I've been trying to look at this situation from a spiritual perspective which has helped me get out of the daily fear/anxiety, especially if you watch the news much.  The spiritual side says the world has experienced similar pandemics and got through it and we will too.  It also reminds us there are lessons to be learned here such as;  we are all connected and need each other, how precious our health is, how short life is and what is most important is to help each other, how materialistic our society has become and that only the essentials really matter now, that our jobs are not our true work, which is to look after one another, that this virus treats everyone equally and maybe we can too, and that life is cyclical and this is a phase in which we can be patient rather than panic. 

Trying not to be preachy and hopefully no one has lost a loved one to this disease.  It's hard to be spiritual when one is in grief.  I hope everyone is staying safe and I'll end with a poem I found that has helped me. 

Elbow Hugs (for now), Alan

"And the people stayed home and read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art,

and played games, and learned new ways of being and were still.  And listened more deeply.

Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.  Some met their shadows. And they began to think differently."

"And the people healed.  And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and

heartless ways, the earth began to heal."

"And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made

new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and to heal the earth fully,

as they had been healed."

Allison Oakes (Sabraw)

These weeks have been tough on all of us and for how we conduct our life. Total or semi quartantine. 

I have been in a quite mode, reading books and reading articles that continue to shed light on the Here and Now of the virus. Being quite in a personal way and to remain calm to enjoy what is right in front of me. Reading, walking,garden work, watercolor. Seldom any TV. 

 Steping  back to access what is enjoyable in my daily life and what has changed to disrupt the daily life one became so used to. For me: All my clients in my senior health care work have cancelled all contact.To see my grandkids is limited. Going to my favorite book store and BS'ing with fellow participants and store associates  is now closed down. Driving down busy streets and seeing Closed Signs,Not seeeing anybody-no people, no body out and about sitting in front of coffee shops and enjoying one another   ....I stepped back and I felt that I was observing all of this from another planet., I did not feel whole .....

So, anxiety and remaining calm is 'conditional' somtimes it works and sometime it does not.

Hang in for our next Journey in TIme. My Best to all of you.

Allison Oakes

Jackson Lytal

Hi Lions;

Just sitting here, thinking of "the good old days", Remembering dragging "K" street !

Alas...I wonder if we take this all too seriously ?  Maybe I'm just too sentimental ?

Maybe not, but I've always liked this quote; 

"We change the world by our example, and our actions; not by our opinions.  (Ghandi).

You'd think we could all pull together in this time of peril, and not play the "politics" card. 

OK, enough philosophy.   What's for dessert ?

Paul Fuller

This is my family at my daughter's wedding in March 2016 in San Diego. This picture is also posted on my profile so can see who is who. When I left McClatchy I went to SCC and Fresno State on a track scholarship. I went into the Army while attending Fresno in 1966 and got married in 1968 before I got out of the Army in 1969. Graduated from Fresno State in 1971 and started a family that same year with my first son Aaron. They kept coming after that with Rachel in 74, Jeremy in 76 and David in 84. All of my kids graduated from McClatchy and recieved four year college degrees with the exception of David who is still working on his.I worked in the private and public sector and ended up retiring from the State of California as a Real Estate Investment Specialist for CalPERS. Mike Nishio and I were neighbors before he passed and I've seen Danny Bince every now and then. Also went to church with Charles Lacy before he passed. Derrell Wong and I used to play tennis before he passed and he would beat up on me in a bad way before he passed. Do you remember Charles Gribsby? He lives in Fresno and I still see him on a regular bases. 

My travels have taken me to Ethiopia while I was in the Army and went back with my wife to do mission work in 2016 and 20. We do plan to go back again soon if my health holds out. The organization is Rafiki Foundation and they have missions in 10 other countries in Africia. I'm in the process of trying to help a family get back to where we were to help. If you are interested check out Grium's Family on the webpage as a mission family going to Modjo Ethiopia. Every little bit will help the family on their journey. 

Well this is enough for now because my figures are real tired now. God Bless. 

Lettie Thommen (Camp)

Phil Stuto

Hope you are all doing well.  My wife and I have three of our four grandchildren with us,  with my daughter and her husband.   They are from Pleasant Hill, California, and we thought they would be safer here in the desert. 

The childrlen love it here and are able to swim everyday.   

We live on a golf course in La Quinta, CA., and they have closed all of the golf courses in the County of Riverside.  Not a lot of fun.

We will all get through this.  I hope you and your loved ones stay safe.

All the Best.

Phil Stuto

Diane Hinesley (Malone)

William Yeager

Paul Fuller I just read your message. May not remember me, but I do recall you from track. You were a Fast SOB. So glad Fresno State gave you a Scholarship. You have a great family and so happy for your success. I ran the 880 and usually came in last, but I tried. I always seemed to be on the fringe of the athoetic success!. I made the B team in Basketball. Remember John and Tom Bodenhammer on the team. Believe Tom has passed away and John lives up in my area of El Dorado Hills/Placerville.   So nice to see all of us using this Forum to connect and share our throughts and concerns.  Bill Yeager

Charlotte Adelman (Paliani)

Glad to read these and see that the Lions are still roaring for the most part...I was born 4/46 so I guess I am a boomer. Our little peninsula in Washington was one of 2 counties with no positives until last week and now we have 4, one of which has passed but hadn't been in residence for a month. Of course they aren't saying who or which zip code because we are so small we could figure it out. I am the board running our food bank and it is amazing that our little community has raised $33,000 for our food bank and there are two other smaller ones here too. A lot fo haggling because 40% are second homes and theres been a real "We don't want you here" attitude so it has brought out the best and the worst in people. Our businesses are all private owned except for a McD and a Subway so they are hurting big time. We are trying to support with take out and buying gift certificates. Our beaches are closed as well and we are 70% tourism.  We aren't bored at all. Lots of books as I used to own an antiquarian bookshop in L.A. years back and I am playing around with a book about 1974 and 1976 months long rambling through Europe by myself. Still travel a lot. My sister and I just wet to Morocco in November. I have a trip I haven't canceled yet for British Isles July 15..probably a no go but ...so I hope you are all well and safe. We're all in lock down so I have grandkids age 1 and 2 only 11 miles from me and I'm not seeing them. Reallly weird. Thank goodness for FaceTime for them and 3 in CA and Zoom for meetings. Life goes on...Charlotte

Joeann Schoenman (Matthew)

Hi Fellow Lions, 

I’ve enjoyed reading about who you are what you have done.  So interesting to see what we did with ourselves. You might remember I left HS before the last semester, but graduated with you all in June of 63.  I was one of those who got pregnant too early, but carried on with an interesting life.  As a result of that event I have two wonderful successful sons.  One is only 16 years younger than me.  That would be John Reese, COO of the Marin Humane Society.  Brother Rick Reese was born when I was 20.  He is a painting contractor in the Bay Area (R&R Painting, commercial and residential) Painted Elon Musk’s house etc.  I have a step-daughter, Megan Acevedo, City Attorney for San Anselmo.  So my kids have turned out great in spite of myself and my antics. Married 3 times all pretty good guys, one even a Pulitzer prize photographer.    Rob Matthew (third times a charm), architect,  is the most wonderful of all of them, 28 years together and doing great during The Time Of Covid.  We have two granddaughters. 

 I think we must have had a extraordinarily good group in our class of 63.

 I graduated from Sac State (Psychology), lived in Hawaii for 10 years and turned to  a life of creative adventures in the Film Industry.

40 years later, retired and still doing art, which is keeping me out of jail and amused.

www.joeannsphotos.com

Times are the weirdest ever now and here in Mill Valley, Ca, we as a community are behaving, isolating and wearing masks.  We will survive this.  I don’t mind the isolation and thankful for a rollercoaster life that has given me enough lessons to teach a master class.

Please post your stories, we all want to know what happened to our classmates.

We will survive because we are the CK McClatchy Class of 63’

Jan Quay

                                                          JUST SO I NEVER FORGET

                                                                     April 2, 2020

                                                     Sumitted BY Jan (Quay) Healy

Gas price a mile from home was $2.49.

School cancelled for the school year.

Self-distancing measures on the rise.

Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6 ft.) from each other.

Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.

Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.

Parks, trails, entire cities locked down.

Entire sports seasons cancelled.

Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events--cancelled.

Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings--cancelled.

Churches are closed.

No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or more.

Funerals--no more than 10 people can attend.

Mothers giving birth alone.

Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.

Children's outdoor play parks are closed.

We are to distance from each other.

Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.

Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.

Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no hand sanitizer.

Shelves are bare.

Manufacturers, switch their lines to help make masks, hand sanitizers and PPE.

Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.

Fines are established for breaking the rules.

Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.

Press conferences daily,  daily updates on cases, recoveries, deaths.  Listening to Dr. Fauci.

Barely anyone on the roads.

People wearing masks and gloves outside.

Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.

Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

The hardest thing for me was the fact that my husband and I didn't get to attend our

grandson and granddaughter's high school graduations.  We haven't seen our San Diego family since Christmas!  

We are going to be great grandparents.  Hopefully we will be able to be there for the birth.  

This is the Novel Corona virus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11, 2020.

Why did I reach out to each of you, because I care for you dearly.

Someday this will be a yearly reminder that life is precious.

Don't take things we love for granted.

We have so much!

Be thankful.

Be grateful.

Be kind to each other - love one another, help a friend, check on your friends & family.

WE ARE ALL ONE!!!

Much love to each of you, my fellow classmates.   Take good care of your families and each other,

Jan

Barbara Alexander

Beautifully said, Jan. You and yours  STAY HEALTHY!  Barbara Alexander

Bobbie Raley (Bradley)

Thank you for this. It has been an amazing year. I saved it. Bobbie Raley Bradley

Diana Doupé (Vicari)

Thank you beaucoup, Jan, for your timely observations--so good of you to share them.  I am heartsick at the situation in the U.S, which could have been so easily controlled--what a disaster!   Things are not perfect over here in Europe, but people are a whole lot more disciplined, thank goodness (there are always a few, of course, who don't care, but a minority).  During our lockdown in France, I did some translations for the hospital, coached a couple of kids in English by phone, walked an elderly neighbor's dog in the forest just up above my house--and managed to get some long-overdue sorting done.  This year, I have never seen so much luxuriant GREEN:  foliage and flowers have exploded in density and color--what a treat!   To all you Lions, please be careful, keep safe, focus on what is truly important now.   I miss you and send you cyber-hugs.      Diana

Ronald Link

I

I June, I looked at the young graduating from high school and it causes me to think back to June of 1963. The memories of our high school graduation was simple awesome. The Memorial Auditorium was filled with students, parent and family wishing each and every graduate success in their future endeavors.

The problem was thinks happen so fast, we almost forgot to enjoy the moment. Looking, some of us:

• Some went off to college
• Some got married

and

• It was a time of another National crisis the was in two fronts…Vietnam & the struggle to stop the spread of communism which suppressed citizens throughout the European continent.
  • With that many of us went in to military service

“A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America,” for an amount up to and including their life.”

I felt honored to serve our country by enlisting into the U.S. Army. Many of our classmate service in the U.S. Marine Corps, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Coast Guard. I was and still am proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with my fellow veterans from the Class of 1963.

I look in the “In Memory” section of the our website and see the veterans who have passed on, I was glad to know them and hope the service will be remembered and honored by their family and friends.

Now to the present:

I feel for the Class 2020, those students who missed out on having the privilege of walking across the stage received their diploma, listing to the commencement speeches (no matter how boring—ha-ha) and then the photos with fellow classmates. It is a memory lost forever.

To Jan Quay…sometime add to your list…

Instead of looking at the mirror to see if our hair, make-up okay, or our tie is straight…we now get to see if our mask in on correctly…may how times changed.

Maybe drive-in movies will make a resurgence

It nice to read about our classmates and how they our fairing, I really appreciate their notes and read each one.

As we go into the later part of 2020 (omg…we just 3 short years from our 60^th anniversary of our graduation), I hope every is careful and this pandemic is over so we can celebrate our 60^th reunion in good ole Sacramento.

To all,

Ron

Ps…for those who went to California Junior High and had Ms Bell for 9^th grade English…I hope she does not grade this.