MFR - CHS88 Day 2 (part 1)
The tour of Crater High School brought back a LOT of memories, a lot of faces, a lot of imagery from 20+ years ago. Some of the school remains the same (the lockers are the same hideous orange, yellow, and baby-blue they were way-back-then). But a brand new Performance Arts Center has been built (nice to see). The cafeteria (student center) was re-done. However, the remainder of the old school is largely as-is. Some offices converted. The old science class rooms were moved & the new "main entry " put in at the end of Hall D. It was fun - lots of pics!
Then we did the park for a picnic. It was almost all families. Didn't look like any of the single folk made it ('cept me). I ended up running out to grab Del Taco (mmmm!)--took a while, they were slow.
So that as fun - but I mostly hung back, watching people--as that's what I do.
Afterwards, I ran to the bank to get change for tonight, ran to Home Depot to get supplies for tonight--and then I went out to Sam Valley, out to where I used to live. That valley is so "small" compared to how my young mind remembered it. It used to seem so spacious, so open-- not so much in my older age now. A LOT of big willow trees dotting our old farm, around the house, down the drive-way. It was hard to even see that house. Yes, the thought ran through my head of going up & knocking to see if anyone was home, "Hi, yeah, I helped build this house 30 years ago." However, they had a gate at the top of the drive, with a key-pad on it. Clearly they did not like visitors. Drove around the area a bit. Ran over to Sams Valley Elementary School. It was shut-down for the summer, of course -- it was almost strange to think I could drive in, get out, wander around--no security AT ALL. Got some pics. Peeked inside Mrs. Shaffer's old classroom, where I spent 5th & 6th grades--hadn't changed at all! I could still see Mrs. Shaffer sitting at her desk in the far right corner, grading math papers (the teacher's desk is still there!).
I really enjoyed the rush of emotions, of feelings, of images that came over me this afternoon, driving around. At one point, Clay asked me (via txt) "miss it?" -- no, not really--there's nothing here for me to miss. But I do enjoy this "coming back" to see it all again. I don't think I could live here, tho. Somewhere else to call my home would be more appropriate.
Especially as I watch the interactions between people, I keep wondering "Did I do anything more than just live here?" I wasn't horribly social back then--still not amazingly social now. I'm more concerned and focused on ensuring people enjoy this weekend--so far so good.
On that note, I want to run down & check on the ballroom.
Then we did the park for a picnic. It was almost all families. Didn't look like any of the single folk made it ('cept me). I ended up running out to grab Del Taco (mmmm!)--took a while, they were slow.
So that as fun - but I mostly hung back, watching people--as that's what I do.
Afterwards, I ran to the bank to get change for tonight, ran to Home Depot to get supplies for tonight--and then I went out to Sam Valley, out to where I used to live. That valley is so "small" compared to how my young mind remembered it. It used to seem so spacious, so open-- not so much in my older age now. A LOT of big willow trees dotting our old farm, around the house, down the drive-way. It was hard to even see that house. Yes, the thought ran through my head of going up & knocking to see if anyone was home, "Hi, yeah, I helped build this house 30 years ago." However, they had a gate at the top of the drive, with a key-pad on it. Clearly they did not like visitors. Drove around the area a bit. Ran over to Sams Valley Elementary School. It was shut-down for the summer, of course -- it was almost strange to think I could drive in, get out, wander around--no security AT ALL. Got some pics. Peeked inside Mrs. Shaffer's old classroom, where I spent 5th & 6th grades--hadn't changed at all! I could still see Mrs. Shaffer sitting at her desk in the far right corner, grading math papers (the teacher's desk is still there!).
I really enjoyed the rush of emotions, of feelings, of images that came over me this afternoon, driving around. At one point, Clay asked me (via txt) "miss it?" -- no, not really--there's nothing here for me to miss. But I do enjoy this "coming back" to see it all again. I don't think I could live here, tho. Somewhere else to call my home would be more appropriate.
Especially as I watch the interactions between people, I keep wondering "Did I do anything more than just live here?" I wasn't horribly social back then--still not amazingly social now. I'm more concerned and focused on ensuring people enjoy this weekend--so far so good.
On that note, I want to run down & check on the ballroom.
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