I was a dork AND a trouble-maker in high school. Member of the science club, 2 yrs of Latin from Mrs. Goshawk (I still remember her throwing an eraser at me yelling "caudex est! Tu est furcifer!")

I played REALLY bad bass guitar for a 1/2 decent band called Roulette that a few may remember...Ron Cardoza ('78) played lead guitar and Ronna Presley ( '79) played keys and sang back-up vocals).

I was also a drunk and pot-head who was routinely getting in trouble with school and the law. Got booted off the bus for the Disneyland trip before it left the parking lot, and went to jail for the first time the week before graduation.

I won a National Merit Scholarship our senior year and pissed it away, and joined the Coast Guard during junior year and came back to senior year straight from boot-camp with a shaved head.

I wasn't real social in hs, mainly hung out between the A and S buildings (funny the things you remember) with the other misfits and potheads.

Dated Laurie Waln ('78) and Ronna Presley, ran around with Ron Cardoza, Dave Ceronsky ('78) , and a few others whose names escape me.

I had a long stretch of bad years after '78, until I finally began getting my life together in my 30's (didn't finish college until I was 37)

Since then I've been married/divorced (no kids)...great gal, we just wanted different things. I tried doing the corporate thing and making piles of money until I realized it was killing my soul. I spent a year living in a commune, and another in a Catholic monastery. I've buried my mom, seen one brother (Randy, class of '80) get a Masters and another brother go down on a 3rd strike.

I'm still a troublemaker (and probably still a dork), but minus the pot and booze. I work as a community organizer for a non-profit in Portland, OR, helping poor and homeless people learn how to speak up and speak out. It pays dirt (plus the occasional scooby snack) but it's hands down the best job I've ever had. They PAY me to piss-off politicians...how cool is that?

I've never attended a reunion, never really considered it, until after I had a heart attack last fall (which I've recovered from fully). Laying for weeks in a hospital bed, not knowing if you're going to leave...well, it gets ya thinking.

The October date for the reunion is unfortunate for me, I'm going to be neck-deep in a couple of political races and putting in 80-hour weeks. But I'm still hoping I'll be able to break away and attend.

So here's a shout-out to Mclane '78, and like Cheap Trick told us..."Remember, remember, but don't give yourself away"

My wish for us all is that the next 30 years are the best yet.
Peace,
Richard Walden