I was widowed a long time ago when my children were small, so I went back to college to get my teaching credential at CSUS. I moved out of state when jobs in Calif. teaching were scarce. I remarried, but it didn't work out, so I am currently single.

I am enjoying the retired life! I taught Elementary Education for 23 years--mostly 4th and 6th grades. I am enjoying helping my kids with their kids, and International traveling whenever possible. My kids and I had lots of see the USA driving vacations , and now since two of my three children are with the airlines, I can fly (standby)for FREE! I love to go to the gym, walk, garden, and do family history. My mother had all the family photos and she just passed away 2 1/2 years ago--now all those boxes are mine.....trying to put them back into albums in my spare time! 

I felt like I was somewhat invisible in high school. I got married to Tom Peters a year after LGHS graduation.  We moved to LA where I graduated from UCLA, became a high school math teacher and had 3 sons.  We moved back to Pleasanton in 1985.  My husband passed away in 2006 and I had to redefine my life. My sons were young men starting lives of their own. I was still teaching high school math, but one of the things that interested me was helping with our high school reunions.  I joined the group planning our 40th reunion and it was amazing. I reconnected with so many people I had known but we were not necessarily close friends.  I came to realize that after 40 years apart, there are still common roots that exist as a result of growing up in LG that bond us together.  

I eventually retired and decided to help with the LGHS Alumni Association.  Our classmates are the backbone of this organization. We have given new life to the Association and it has been very rewarding. 

As you probably know, Manny Vierra and I are a couple.  We didn't know each other in high school, but I am very happy he came into my life.  We now live in Livermore and life is good.  I have 8 grandchildren and Manny is the best "Pop" they could ever hope for. They all adore him. Manny now has a granddaughter of his own and a grandson on the way.  Having 10 grandchildren is quite a blessing, however, they live in 4 different states so it definies our travel.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with even more classmates at our 55th Reunion. 

Severna Park, MD 

Just retired after a 45-year career in Dept. of Defense, nearly all of which was spent with the National Security Agency at Ft. Meade MD. Had the great opportunity to spend 14 years on European assignments (in Berlin, Stuttgart, and at NATO HQ in Brussels). Made it as far up the education trail as an MA from Boston U. in International Relations. Hobbies included writing (my book about the Berlin experiences, titled Berlin Daze, is available on Amazon), travel, photography and community theater (10 shows in the Annapolis area in the last 8 years). Married to a marvelous lady whom I met on our first day of work together at NSA in January 1980. Soon we'll be celebrating our 40th anniversary. Two adult sons (both born in Germany); one is recently deceased. Have only attended one earlier reunion (the one at the Boardwalk in S.C.) and so am really looking forward to this one!

Sweden

And then, after school, what happened? This is my story:

After finishing high school I went back to Sweden and studied two more years. Then I worked in the Saab car factory for a while. When I had enough money in my pocket I went back to California. 

The sun was on it’s way up and a rooster crowed just next to the place on Soquel Road where me and my friend Jeff started hitchhiking. We had our backpacks loaded with enthusiasm. Our goal was Tierra del Fuego, in the south of South America.

We never made it that far, but we came to Bolivia, before we decided to turn back. Five months on the road, drifting around in the world. I was only nineteen years old. I would never recommend a parent letting their kid do what we did. It was a marvelous experience, but we played with our lives. 

I was bit by a dog, I still can remember the moment when the beast set his teeth into my calf. We were hanging on to the loading platform of a big truck when we passed the equator sign. Not far from there a landslide almost swept us away. 

Somewhere in Peru the road suddenly had turned into a river. We stopped and watched. Way out there was another bus, almost drenched with the water up to the windows. On top of the roof a group of indian ladies were screaming and crying.

The picture of me was taken not too far from Iquitos, close to the source of the Amazon river. We didn’t carry any guns. This one just happened to be there and we used it only for the photo.

We made it back to the US. Hitchhiked all the way from Florida to Texas. There we got stuck. Bought an old wreck for 100 dollars that took us all the way to Santa Cruz, where we sold it for 125 in true american style.

After that I got a job as a sandal maker at the Hot Feet shoe store in Capitola. I worked there for a while before I went back to Sweden and decided to become a journalist. 

Mill Valley, CA

Los Gatos gave me the architecture of my life, for better and worse. I exulted in the intellectual ferment of Berkeley, married a “worldly” guy, worked as a psychotherapist, moved to artsy Mill Valley, raised two sons, all the while thinking I’d escaped the slow life I grew up in. But now I realize how important Los Gatos was in helping me create my adult life. As restless as I was growing up in Los Gatos, I can see that the supportiveness and safety I felt, and the expectation I always had that things would turn out okay were part of that architecture. My very best friend and my first great boyfriend both were LGHS kids - thanks, Savanna and Mike!