The REAL reason I am not attending a 50-year class reunion.

     To be blunt, you people treated me like crap for four years.  I wasn't a "local," or someone who'd lived in Vacaville for a long time, I was somewhere between the military dependents, and the people who were drawn to town by CMF; I was actually both, because my dad was retired from the Navy and worked at CMF.

     I wasn't an athlete, at age 14, I had a nicotine addiction, but I did know a little about wrestling.  I "lettered" in wrestling for three years.  I spent a lot of nights keeping score for the leagues at Vaca Bowl, and knew some of ya'lls parents before I got to know you.  I hung out at "The Wall," one full block from campus, and a place where the smokers hung out.

     I went, alone, on Rooter's Busses, and felt like a part of something, until we'd get back to the school's parking lot, and I'd walk home, alone.  I was bullied, even knocked unconscious by a "blind siding," on the front lawn, no one cared.  The office refused to believe that the student who did it "would do such a thing".

     I admit, a lot of my problems were just that, my problems, and looking back, I didn't handle things as well as I could have, and that has nothing to do with you, my classmates.  I have a "back story" that effects my ability to trust people, and I'll leave it at that.

       I have a few friends from high school.  I play golf with a couple of them every week.  I've kept tabs with some of you through Facebook, and hope we can continue those relationships.

       Few people, if any, will notice that I am not there.  I went to 40 and 45, and few people even knew I was there.  Go back into the yearbooks, I'm not in any of the clubs or organizations.  I didn't help build any of the Homecoming floats, or do any of that stuff because nobody asked or invited me.  I'm not bitter.  I don't have any sense of loathing about my high school days, I've just had so many other experiences that have meant so much more to me.

     To my classmates of 1969, I send you my hearty greetings on the passing of another year, condolences for your losses, and my prayers that you will have health and success in your future.