My 30th High School Reunion
I had my 30th High School reunion this year. Kathy and I went to my 10th but missed my 20th so it has been 20 years since I had seen just about everybody in the room. I'm not sure what I expected but everyone looked great. Nobody swelled up to much. Everyone still had most of their hair. Over all a good looking group.
We decided to do some sightseeing. Kristin and Jen stayed in Florida (and amazingly enough, the house wasn't burned down when we returned) but Jake came with us. He seemed to enjoy the views and generally was glad he didn't have to grow up walking up and down all those hills.
We left Miami Friday morning and got to SFO about 1pm. Rented a car and went over to Pacifica to show Jake where I grew up. We went by our old house and talked with the neighbors a bit. It was nice.
The Reunion was on Saturday so with did the city thing. You know. Up and down the steep hills, drive down Lombard. See the Bridge. Walk down to the beach. Have your rental car broken into and your wife's purse stolen. All the things that people love to experience when coming to the City by the Bay (Thankfully they didn't get much money and Kathy ended up with an iPhone out of the deal but it still was a pain in the ass)
OK, Why are we here? (here is Pedro Point in Pacifica. This was Friday night)
Saturday morning it was off to the City. I didn't realize they were such big Bugs Bunny fans. I mean, why else would the have his space ship right there on the street.
On the right is the Transamerica Building and on the left is the B of A Building (I only point that out because I proposed to Kathy in the restaurant on the top floor)
Only in San Francisco.
I grew up here and I don't remember the streets being this steep. My legs ached for a couple of days after wandering around the city.
All this time and I've never been to Alcatraz, as a tourist or otherwise.
Walking down Lombard Street. We had already driven down it but wanted the full experience.
We made it to the bottom. The only problem was the car was at the top. I didn't think about that when we talked about going down it.
That's one crooked street.
We made it up to the top. And then we decided that what would a trip to SFO be without visiting Pier 39.
At least the bird didn't poop on me.
You have to love the photo spots. We couldn't pass one up.
Jake may be getting a little old for these things.
But he sure got a kick out of it.
California Street. One of the steep ones. We found every other one we could find. Even the one that is so steep the sidewalk is stairs. I kept looking around for Bullitts Mustang.
We never did see the whole bridge at the same time. Sometimes the bottom was out. Sometimes the top. And people wonder why I don't live there anymore. It's because the weather sucks. And all those Liberals. But mainly the weather.
This is in the Presidio. We had to hike down to get to the beach. Much like Lombard, I wasn't thinking of the return trip.
I had never been to this beach before.
We have a poster in our living room that is of the bridge partially built. There are a couple of fishermen in the foreground. We think this is the beach the picture was taken from and we are in just about the same place as the cameraman.
Not the most sure footed explorer around. But he didn't fall in. Knowing the temperature of the water, I think that may have been entertaining.
It was when we got back to the car that we discovered the break in. We tried to not let it spoil the day.
We made it to the reunion. Note the picture on my name tag. They couldn't find my Senior Picture because I never had one taken. Long story.
Kathy and I with Nancy and John Bishop.
Karol and Kevin Quattrin.
Kathy and I with John and Patty Schneider. John was my best friend growing up and I hadn't seen him since our 10th reunion. I've been meaning to get out there and visit for the past 20 years but something always comes up.
This is my old neighbor Marianna Juergens and her fiancé, John. I hadn't seen here since maybe 1979. Something like that. I won't mention what her nickname was. OK, it was "Pookie". As nicknames go, that is a good one. I have a daughter named "Scooby" and a wife named "Kat". I don't want to talk about my nicknames, thank you very much.