THE PHS BULLETIN BOARD

This page is open to all. Post a note, tell a joke, ask a question. Send post here (use subject "PHS BB" on email).

Dear Webmaster,

While doing a cashed Google search for my family history, I ran across the following on your Alumni list.

?Pacific High School Alumni

Brainerd (Long), Sandy

Kerr (Holsman), Belinda?

I am interested in following these two names because:
My Grandfather, Henry Kerr Holsman (b. 1865 ?d. 1959) was an orphan who lived in Iowa with a Kirchner family and in the late 1800?s became a partner with a Br. Brainerd (Brainerd & Holsman) in Chicago through the first decade of the 1900s.

The coincidence of Sandy Brainerd (long) and Belinda (Holsman) Kerr showing up on your website list MIGHT have some connection to their partnership being formed in Chicago, even though Brainerd might have been originally from Boston.

Can you help steer me to relatives of either of these Alums, so I can check it out?

Thank you.

J. Peter Holsman




2/24/03 LETTER FROM CUBA

MY EXPERIENCES: I was on Global Exchange's Cuba! Language and Culture trip, for 4 weeks from Jan 4th- Feb 1st. I was in Spanish class
every weekday at the University of Havana from 9 am - 12:30 pm. It was really tough! We were learning about grammar, totally in Spanish. I
never did well with grammar in English. I needed about 2 hours for homework most days. Never again!! In the afternoons and evenings there
were numerous group events and presentations to partake in. There were 34 of us in the group for the first 2 weeks (half were taking African
dance classes) and then there were 6 of us left, still taking our Spanish classes. I went to almost every planned event, as learning about
the country and its people was the reason I went. Many times I was the only one there. I went to a local beach with the group once, during one
of the 5 warm days we experienced on the whole trip. We got lucky that day! I got to speak with a lot of people on the street, by collecting
the hotel soaps, shampoo and other goodies and offering them to whoever asked for soap (a very common request), as well as spend a bunch of time
with quite a few families and singles who were friends of people in the US. I recommend this method. Delivering gifts to them was my opportunity
to get started. I also found a couple of friends all by myself, at school. Of course, there were 2-3 people in the larger group that I hit
it off with as well, but they all left after 2 weeks. Bummer. My Dad was in town for 6 days during week number 3, so we explored museums and
cigar factories and ate Chinese and Italian and chocolate cake a lot. He joined us for one of the movie events too. During the last 2 weeks, my
Dad was the only person I was able to speak English with. The Language School group had a nice guy named Javier as our guide, but
unfortunately, Javier does not speak or understand much more than the most basic English. So I was quite frustrated those last two weeks
because I didn't learn much of anything useful about anything I was interested in. There had been another guide for the larger "dancing"
group, who went to events with us and spoke and translated beautifully, but he left when they left. By the way, the food available in Cuba
leaves a lot to be desired. We had a buffet at the hotel every night for the first 2 weeks, and there was usually something to satisfy, each
night. Mostly though, what you get at every restaurant is fried chicken or fish, plain white rice, black beans if you're lucky, boiled potatoes
or french fries, a tiny bit of white cabbage, tiny slices of cucumber and a couple unripe slices of tomato. I think I actually found real
veggies about 5 times total, but I had to work for them. After everyone left, things got really iffy for dinner at the hotel. All we were
allowed to order was leftovers from the reg menu. I started eating out with friends and family. At least there was the possibility of choices.

THE ECONOMY: From approx. 1961' until 1989', Cuba exported 85% of its foreign trade to the Soviet Union. That included Honey, Marble,
Sugar, Fruits, Fish, and Vegetables. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989', they had to re-invent their whole way of life, because nobody had
ever successfully transitioned from depending on high technology, to not having any technology, fuel, spare parts, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
There was nobody to learn from. About every two years after that, the economists and scientists in Cuba would try out new ideas for the ones
that were not working. They were forced to look at unorthodox methods of growing food without chemicals or machinery, and forced to look at every
problem that come up, differently. Part of the problem was that the Russian technology they HAD been using was not compatible with any other
technology, even if they could get it. They had to start from scratch, with no money. Mario, our economist, says it was very hard on everybody,
but he thinks it was worth it. They still depend on exports, but they sell to many more countries now. The one big drawback is that they are
still trapped in depending on sugar as a major export, at a time that the world is in a glut of sugar. Mario thinks that when the embargo is
lifted, they could do very well by selling organically grown vegetable and fruits to the US and Europe, IF, Cuba can keep the pesticides and
fertilizers out of the system permanently. Also, there is no genetically engineered food grown on the island yet. I agree that this could be a
real blessing in terms of export if they can pull it off. And Cubans don't even like vegetables, so they wouldn't even miss them.

HEALTH CARE: By 1993', the population was developing 2 major health problems, one, called Cuban Neuropathy - an optic and peripheral vision
manifestation from not eating a complete diet, and TB also increased dramatically at this time. In 1995', the government began a complete
renewal of the health system, including: more primary health care; better hospital services; biomedical and diagnosis. A major emphasis was
put on Mothers & infants. Mothers to be, get extra food rations & checkups while pregnant. After the birth, the baby gets a full food
ration, including milk. For one more year, the mother gets her full salary as well, so she can spend as much time at home with junior, as
possible. Milk is included with the childs ration until it reaches 7 years of age. Nobody else gets milk as part of their monthly food
ration. People can buy milk in the dollar stores if they want to, but it is expensive and hard to find. Cuba has communicable disease, senior
citizen, and psychological programs, as well as programs for mentally and physically disabled citizens. All are free. Retirees receive free
rent and a place to live until they die. If they need special housing, it is available at no charge. There are at present, 14,444 beds
available in elderly homes nationwide, but most prefer to stay at home with family if they have one. Because birth control is available to all,
most families have only one or two children now. The population is growing at only about 0.3% annually, and 14% are aged 60 years or more.
Heart Disease is the #1 killer in Cuba. Cancer is #2, Cerebral Vascular diseases are #3. Flu & pneumonia are #4, and Accidents are #5. This
covers 80% of total deaths. Peripheral blood vessel diseases are #6, Emphysema is #7, Suicide is #8, Diabetes is #9, and Cirrhosis of the
liver is #10. You might notice that these are all "rich countries" diseases. Aids is a heterosexual problem in Cuba, with only 0.5% of
people infected. Infected Aids patients have the option of staying in govt sanatoriums or being treated at home. They are working on a
vaccine, and they do manufacture anti-virals, with no patent rights attached. Generally, each province has the same medical treatment
facilities available to all. Both TB & Cuban Neuropathy have not been a problem for a few years. The country has an intensive biomedicals
research & development program, and sells vaccines and anti-virals around the world. (While I was there, the police had a huge roundup of
suspected drug dealers and users across the country, all in one day. I don't think they got a lot of people but I do think it was sending a
message - to prevent the tourist industry and extranjeros from becoming a target for the dealers.) There is a Family Practitioner in every
neighborhood throughout the country - each makes house calls as well as runs a clinic. These people are the first line of education about all
the health programs being promoted by the govt - for instance: eating healthier diets, cessation of smoking, promoting exercise for the
elderly, etc (I saw elders in chi gong classes in a park every day on the way to school). Their job is essentially to head off societal and
health problems before they get out of hand. They also keep track of family dynamics that could be a problem in the future, such as violence,
drunkenness, or other abuse. There are programs that the perpetrators can go into to help them feel better about whatever is bothering them.
There is also counseling for the families of these people.

THE DOLLAR DISPARITY: The average salary of Cubans (NOT in the dollar economy) is about 200 pesos a month. At 26 pesos to the dollar,
that comes to less than $8.00 a month. Granted, everybody gets a food ration, which includes between 6-8 eggs per month, rents are probably
less that a dollar a month, free health care and free education for as far as they want to go. Even so, $8.00 is not very much to live on,
especially when there is nothing to buy in the peso stores, literally. As an example: Our bus driver works in the tourist industry, but still
is paid in pesos and makes 230 pesos a month. The perk for him is that because he takes good care of his bus and us, most of us will give him a
tip at the end of the trip. So he probably makes an extra $75-$100 dollars for 10 to 15 days work with 15 people. This is why so many
Cubans with degrees are driving horse carriages, taxis, teaching foreigners yoga, or just out on the street trying to sell us tourists
something, anything! My take on it is that Fidel has opened the Genies bottle with the tourist industry, and it is getting out of hand. There
certainly is a great disparity between the haves and the have-nots already. I saw many Cubans with brand new cars, even BMW's and Toyotas.
I saw these people in the bars and clubs and Dollar Stores, buying very expensive (by Cuban standards) drinks, clothes, and appliances. The
situation was completely different in the countryside, except, where the hotels and other tourist related stuff was. Apparently, someone in the
US sends huge amounts of used clothing to Cuba, but then the govt puts them is department stores and sells them for probably ½ of what we would
pay fro them if new. A T-shirt might go for $10, a simple cotton dress for $30, etc. Nobody that I met can afford to buy them. And of course,
they must be purchased with Dollars. Doesn't seem quite right to me.

GENDER & RACISM: The law in Cuba says that women have the same rights as men. But Machismo is still strong. In 1959', immediately after
the Revolution, the govt started programs to alter gender and racial inequities. Women now receive the same pay as men for the same work. 65%
of professionals are now women. The races are very mixed in Cuba and racism is not evident, BUT, there are still some problems. They have
found that Cubans who come from homes with little or no support system, may not continue with schooling, and subsequently, end up in low paying
menial jobs (it's all relative, right) in later life. A majority of these people tend to be black or mulatto. This also correlates to the
fact that whites (of Spanish descent) tend to receive more of a helping hand from the Miami Cubans, in the form of money and gifts. This can
help maintain a support system that can sustain them through the harder times. This racism is not overt, but it is present, none the less. All
of the apartments and homes of black Cubans that I visited (except one, with unusual circumstances) were very small and in buildings that seemed
that they would fall down while I was there. There were always many people coming and going, and it was difficult to tell who lived there
and who did not. The apts of 2 whites I visited were in much nicer buildings and only one person lived in each one, after the parent had
died. They also had big new color TVs and clothes washing machines, and portable radios and other electronic gizmos. They also ate meat on a
regular basis, which is very expensive in Cuba. They generally appeared to be better off, one even had a poodle, and she complained about how
expensive dog food was. Each and every one of these apts needed paint! The govt really has leveled the playing field, in this one respect! A
side note: My experience was that the more "stuff" someone had, the more they complained about how bad things were for them.

EDUCATION: I was on my own, in Spanish, at this presentation, so I didn't get as much out of it as I would have liked. If students live too
far from a school of higher learning to get there easily, the govt has a scholarship program for them - all expenses paid. Until 1986', the govt
had hoped they could get all children into pre-schools. It proved to be too expensive, so in 1990' they began a program to teach stay at home
parents to "Educate your Child". The parent had to complete a course, and then had follow-up throughout the period they were teaching their
child, to make sure the child was not lacking in preparation for primary school. Once in primary, 1 teacher teaches all the courses, from 1st
through 4th grade. In 5th + 6th, they have 2 teachers: 1 for Humanities and the Arts, and 1 for Math, Sciences and Physical Education. For 7th -
9th grades, they are trying a new program of 1 teacher teaching everything for each grade. It's a lot more work for the teachers because
they must go back to school again so they become proficient in all the courses before they begin teaching this program. There seems to be a lot
of interest in it, though! At this point, about 50% of students go on to High School, and about 50% go on to Technical Schools. 10th - 12th grade
is the usual courses with separate teachers.The two women who gave the presentation were experts in Education Research in the govt. I found out
that they both were asked as teenagers to be part of the "Brigadistas", thousands of young people who were trained for one year, to go out into
remote villages in the mountains to teach both young and old Cubans how to read and write, and to learn about their history and their
Revolution. For one year, possibly in 1962', while the govt was refurbishing army bases and other buildings around the country, for
schools, the Brigadistas lived in the huts of the people they were teaching. They both are very proud of what they were a part of, and said
that this was the most exciting thing they have ever done! Their faces were beaming. (Every govt official or representative we met was very
proud of the accomplishments made since the Revolution.)

LAS TERRAZAS: We drove about 1 hour SW from Havana into Pinar del Rio Province to visit a 25,000 hectare govt project started in 1968'.
The weather here was humid and quite a bit warmer that in Havana. In the late 1700's, a French family settled the area to grow arabica coffee. At
that time, most of the tree cover was cut down except what was needed to shade the coffee plants. Buena Vista Plantation is the only restored
coffee plantation in Western Cuba. For whatever reason, they decided to grow the coffee on top of the mountains instead of the usual river
valleys, where the water was. Because of this, the costs of buying and maintaining the many extra slaves necessary to get the water to the
coffee, etc, eventually bankrupted the family. By the 1850's, the family packed up and left. At that point, Cubans, and then the Americans came
in and cut down the rest of the trees. A main focus of Las Terrazas has been reforestation, as well as restoration of the plantation for export
purposes. On the hillsides at the bottom of the mountains the govt has built villages of 3 story pre-fab apartment buildings for "coffee
farmers" to live in. Many have been there since 1968 and are now retired. Most of the residents were volunteers from the cities with no
previous experience as farmers. A number of artists and handicraft makers also are allowed to make and sell to tourists, with a reduced
govt cut of the action. The setting was very pleasant, with lakes and ponds, ball fields, a nice hotel in the trees with a view of the whole
place. About 1000 people live in Las Terrazas. Greywater systems are used to handle much of the sewage needs, and each apt has a nice view of
the surrounding countryside and 3-4 rooms, quite a luxury compared to what people have in the cities. Before the Revolution there was maybe
11% left of the original forest cover in the country. Now there is about 23%, and the work continues.

CITY PLANNING: We went to visit a scale model (Maqueta) of the city of Havana. Second largest in the world, we were told. It is used by
architects and city planners to actually place models of proposed new or remodeled buildings into place, then there are meetings of reps from
applicable jurisdictions to discuss the pros and cons, before they get OK'd by city planning. It was very cool!

MORE OF THE TRIP: We saw 3 movies as part of the tour. All were fabulous! One of them, the documentary Fidel, by Estela Bravo, is
playing around the country right now at small arty theaters. Go see it if you can, I highly recommend it! Another, was Miel Para Ochun (Honey
for Ochun), a story dealing with the Cubans who left and now are coming back to find family left behind. Very powerful! The 3rd one was La Vida
es Silbar (Life's a Whistle), about the confusion of many Cubans about what their lives are all about. A 4th movie, La Ultima Cena was
cancelled at the last minute. Many of the events during the last 2 weeks were cancelled at the last minute. Overall, I'm really glad I went, but
I probably won't try Global Exchange again if I go back to visit. The best part was meeting Yvonne's friend Magdalena (a grandmother), and
hanging out with Juan Carlos a few times. One of the sweetest men I've ever met. He's all heart and soul.

In solidarity against retaliation and senseless aggression,

Robin Bee

Wednesday January 8 '03

Hey folks! 

Anyone know the whereabouts of Steve Katona? I tried e-mailing and it bounced back. Steve are you out there? I'd love to say hello. Alan and Heath I owe you one too!!

Thank you...Tanya ('67-'70)


Friday, January 14, 2000

Hi:
I'm not a Pacific High School Alumni member, but am searching for the following Pacific High School Alumni, (from San Bernadino, CA Area), whom I lost contact with several years ago:

Ward (Damon) Hubbard - (Friend of Robert Barajas and Robert Anderson) - Graduated between 1974-1976
Robert Barajas - (Friend of Ward Hubbard and Robert Anderson also) - Graduated between 1974-1976
Robert Anderson (also friend of Ward Hubbard and Robert Barajas also) - Graduated between 1974-1976
Janice Olsen-White - Graduated between 1974-1976

I actually attended San Gorgonio High School (your school's rival at the time) in San Bernadino in 1975 and graduated from a different high school in 1977. Any assistance you may be able to offer me, including posting this search on your alumni website, would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to respond to me at any time at my business web address: smunson@nmfc.com

Thank you, in advance, for your consideration.

Shanna Munson

Thu, 22 Jul 1999

Hi to all. We have finally stepped into the 20th century and are on line!!!! I have been busy with family work and music but not always in that order. Just finished my 2nd CD and am releasing it soon. Please add our email address to the list as I would be happy to hear from my comrades of Pacific. Just became a grandpa 7/12/99 and she's a doll. Hope to hear from you soon.

Austin Alley
amp@redwoods.quik.com

Remembering Summer 1974 at PHS!!!
Sun, 13 Jun 1999 15:10:08 -0700

And blown away that you are all still out there and still ALSO remembering PHS!!! (I thought I dreamed the whole thing--one of my vastly BETTER dreams!) I wonder: Does anyone remember little 4-year-old Theus and his mom Pride, 28, who joined on at Berkeley's waterfront art festival in June and stayed until just before the November rains began? Our time at Pacific was without a doubt one of the best times of my life, and Theus and I have been the better for it ever since.

What WASN'T happening? Although some said we missed the hottest, most camaradieful times of the actual domes-building, OUR times were as important and wonderful as we could imagine.

-- Eve was repairing the White Van and any other vehicles that needed it;

-- David Gardener was weeding the garden (always without enough willing hands to help him);

-- Georgie and Terra, the two girls from Marmalade Hill School in Salt Lake City, were winging it at PHS, Georgie living in the treehouse with David Gardener (and also creating his and her baby);

-- anyone who got too warm was skinny dipping in the pond (was there any other way?) which had a canoe conveniently on it (I think it was Christopher's);

-- our favorite mode of partying was whiffing nitrous oxide in Kevin's trailer (Kevin, Remember how coolly you and I handled it when your parents showed up right in the middle of one of those parties, and how we jockeyed them around so they hopefully wouldn't notice the way your trailer was leaking smoke trails AND rocking quite noticeably, too? After all, I was the token (and tokin') teacher, the only actual, certified teacher on the premises that particular summer! They didn't suspect a thing after the snow job we did with them.);

-- Allan was the master breadmaker, mixing and baking enough for everybody and spending all night long doing it. Theus and I helped him sometimes. Good thing we had our own chickens to lay all those eggs! Allan worked in a daycare center in San Jose, yes?

-- Mouse, where were you when Theus needed a friendly shoulder to lean on during the years After We Left Pacific? Did I ever thank you for babysitting Theus for days on end?

-- Pete Moss, where did you go? Remember traveling down to Sequoia National Forest and being awakened by a bear ripping a log apart practically right next to us? And the red ants on the family's lawn, where they made homemade tortillas for us because we were waiting for days for the Colt station wagon to be repaired-- in -- what town was that? Modesto?

-- Remember the worms in the cashews? And people ate them anyway for the protein.

-- I am the one who mended your Levis, and yours, and yours, and yours--lots of Levis--because I had the fortunate foresight to bring a sewing machine to a "community"--NEVER NEVER NEVER call it a commune, we used to say;

-- Sarah, Are you still weaving? Crocheting grasses? Making pineneedle baskets?

-- Any pearpickers out there? At the time it seemed like Real Work but looking back, it was fun, wasn't it?

-- Theus wore a leopard costume to the Renaissance Faire; we all got in free by dressing up appropriately and playing Greensleeves on our recorders, etc.

So, send e-mail if you actually remember us. We left with Beaver and SunRose and their two little ones, Crow and Ahnee Dancing Tree, at the end of the summer. Theus lives in Portland, Oregon, and I live in Missoula, Montana. Re-contact!!!

PRIDE
theus@parsleybrouwers.com

October 17, 1998 Tragedy has struck yet again to the same unfortunate member of the PHS community. The Cleveland Indians have been eliminated from World Series contention by the venerable, and much superior, New York Yankees. Apparently Warren Howe, a rabid, die-hard Cleveland fan,and once a rational member of the PHS staff, remains in seclusion. Our thoughts are with him.

September 13, 1998 Hi again. From the co-op list serve, a bit of info I think will be useful to folks still residing in the Bay Area:
===========
Just got done creating a resource list for folks looking for housing in San Francisco Bay Area co-ops/collectives/cohousing.

If you're interested in receiving a copy, just send me an email with your address. It would be cool to be reimbursed for postage or some such thing...

Amanda Werhane
Member-Owner, Fruitvale Ltd. Equity Co-op Board, North American Students of Cooperation
werhane@hotmail.com
===========
Audrey Malan
Cooperative Consulting
PO Box 527
Dayton, WY 82836
Ph: 307/655-9162
Fx: 307/655-3785
email: dbrown@wavecom.net

July 25, 1998 Last year members of the Pacific High School Community donated to the Greater Portland Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in memory of Donna Granatowski. The mission of the foundation is, "to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment." Each year a Race For The Cure is held in various locations around the country. The Portland Race For The Cure, which Donna participated in, will be held this year on September 27th. For those who would like to participate in the Portland run more information can be obtained from the Greater Portland Chapter at (503) 242-1874. The link above has information on races in other locations as well. If you would like to donate to the Greater Portland Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation please contact them at P.O. Box 4613, Portland, OR 97208-4613. Please consider making your gift in memory of Donna Granatowski.

Dean

May 6, 1998 Howdy, I am Gregg Johnson a student from 1971-73. Please include me on your list. I lived with Steve Polk (fellow Los Gatan, as was Chris Cahill) and Little Vince in the Triacon first, then off to the "Pimple Dome" (Wavy had arrived and the Triacon was the most accessible spot for our beloved "Turtle") and finally the Abortion. I was from LG and was led to PHS by Bill Mortensen (a local Skyline property owner and life long friend of my folks), funny deal....I was offically a "ward of the court" in the custody of Micheal Kaye. PO visited once and after finding Birdie running around sans clothing and getting his wingtips all muddy he left, saying "you got it made, kid. Stay outta troble and you won't see me again. Eric (Rick) Howe died by his own hand in the summer of '81, (foggy) a cocaine casualty....... I was arrested travelling with the Hog Farm in Pismo and returned to my PO in the sumer of '73. Took the GED and went to Waste Valley College, met Teresa in '75 and we are still here....bought an old house in downtown...Urban Pioneers, IN THE PIT FOR GAWDS SAKE! Oh well life is funny. Chris Ring taught me how to put shingles on a roof and we are still doin' that too! JNSJ Roofing Inc. San Jose.

When is the next get together?

Get back if you like! Long strange trip....indeed

Gregg (jnsjroofing@email.msn.com)

December 1, 1997 Carolyn Lamb loaned Sky Katona a copy of the reunion book which I've just spent a couple of hours with. I laughed and cried. Reading about so many people I knew so long ago was marvelous. How to explain why I wasn't there: I can't. So thankful to see a "lost" picture of Elspeth.

I have a treasure that I will share, my time resources permitting, the details to be worked out. Don Symanski made a super 8 movie of Sky's and my wedding which I had transfered to video. It's only about 3 minutes long but I think it includes everyone who was there that day. The trick will be getting it copied for anyone who might want one. What would help is if someone has the capability of duping video tapes at cost.

Please e-mail me, if you'd like. I don't log on every day but will answer any and all at least once.

Updated 3/30/2004
For those who don't know, Elspeth died a tragic death on April 16, 1990, just months short of her 21st birthday. She was a complex, talented young woman, driven to success, never quite satisfied with her achievments. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Poughkipsee, N.Y. in 1989 and was working as an assistant chef at the time of her death.

Best,

Steve Katona


11/22/97
How are you Deen?

I just feel like thanking you again for keeping the umbilicus of these web pages intact. This almost ethereal connection between where we started and what we are becoming is a great gift. To see ourselves and the place and times we shared, through so many wise and sensitive insights, is a treasure that can only become greater by sharing it.

Back East here it's hard not to feel a sense of loss over the wealth of old and new friends scattered mostly out West. The sense of coming back to one's long lost family is very hard to shake. I will be back in the Bay Area from 12/30 to 1/10. I would really enjoy a chance to have sort of a post reunion party! Can I talk you into putting a little flashing announcement on the Home Page inviting folks to plan a get together around New Year's? If it's not to cold or wet, I am still up for the idea of a hike from the ridge towards the coast. Maybe a half-day kinda thing on the 3rd or 4th of January. I don't mind doing the organizing if you want to put up a hot link with my email address. Voice messages can be left at 215 877-9257. Whaddya think?

Hugs all around,

-=V=-

11/19/97

Audrey,

The connection you felt in your dream has most recently happened in my waking hours. I applied to transfer from the community college I am now attending,to a university. I was being forced to apologize for having gone to a schoolthat was outside of what is termed "mainstream" education. Since it appeared that there was no way I could produce transcripts from Pacific High, I was being coerced into taking a GED and coming up with 8th and 9th grade transcripts from my "real" schools. This process left me feeling violated because of the pain I was forced to endure from kindergarten through ninth when I was allowed to "exit" the system. My mother had died suddenly at Thanksgiving while I was in 8th grade. After being out of classes for a week, I returned to school the following Monday to be confronted by two girls in the hall that taunted me about having cut classes for a whole week. I stoically told them my mother had died, to which they ran screaming down the halls that I was a liar. They brought the principal to where I was in the hall, telling him what an awful person I was to say such untruths. The principal informed them that it was true, and I was forced to forgive them on the spot as, "They didn't know." The truth is that this is how these two students (as well as most all of my public school classes) treated me from the time I was five thru my 13th year. Connection? The connection is that this never could, would or did happen at Pacific. Somehow, through all the fog and mistakes we respected each other to the best of our abilities. This "respect"(for lack of a better word at the moment) was conveyed among the students and staff. No matter what it was that brought us to that piece of property on Skyline we knew that we had achieved something by virtue of the fact we were there. How I made it here to respond, is another example that the connection. The recruiting officer of the school I'm applying to was attempting to help me locate something that confirmed the existance of PHS. Of all the desks in the world, what are the odds that her's would be the one that Jan Gilbrecht's PHS transcript would come across just when she happened to be helping me with my search? Call it by whatever name suits you. The fact remains that when Jan and I later spoke (for the first time in twenty-five years) it was as though a mere moment had elapsed. I plan on getting together with her after my finals are through in early Dec...and who the hell am I anyway? My name is Casy Cann (Zakon), 70-72. You Audrey are one of those people at PHS that I admired for the way you handled yourself. While I don't expect you to remember me, we were two of the PHS students that did that week-end thing at Joan Baez's for the kids from the flats. But whether or not you remember me or other specifics isn't the main point of the connection you mentioned in your dream. That connection addresses how mr. farwood treated me when I found the web-site thru Jan. It was as though we were friends, not foes, that we could infact trust each other. That we have never met was less than relevant, that we both came from a special experience that we jointly shared even though it was at different times extended to me a feeling of welcome that I do not feel that often. Finding PHS after all these years is great, unfolding and means more to me than I can currently define. I didn't realize I had this much to say.

Much love to you and yours,

Casy

11/19/97

I just discovered the reunion- Kevin Setchko called me yesterday. So sorry to have missed it- and glad there is a cyber connection to at least say hello, I am here, 1970 was my year. If anyone wishes to say hello, please write- if you want to see what I'm up to, check my site

blessings and love,

Michael Stillwater (formerly Michael Korns, aka Maitreya)email: michael@innerharmony.com
site: www.innerharmony.com

p.s. Audrey, I send my prayers for your niece

10/10/97 I had a dream the other night which was really interesting to me. My seven year old niece has cancer. In the dream all the people I went to Pacific with were all in one place. We were all the same ages we are now, but everyone was there praying for my niece. When I woke up, I was not sure how to understand the dream. These are people I have not seen in over 25 years, and yet they were with me during this very difficult time.

Audrey Malan

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