1972 was a llllloooonnnnngggg time ago!

Forty years have come and gone since about 900 of us graduated from Napa High, at the time the only public high school in town.  Vintage would open the next fall term in September.  With memories in mind, those of us who chose to, met for our 40th reunion on September 8, at the Mont LaSalle Retreat and Conference Center, at the end of Redwood Road, in west Napa. The setting was gorgeous, the temperature was ideal, though it got a little cool as the sun slipped behind the hills around six pm.  The only problem were the yellow jackets, who waited poised, wherever they do that kind of thing, and pounced when dinner was served.  (My wife is allergic so we went inside.)   Many of the faces were familiar. It was a good thing that I was the only man there without gray hair and a paunch around the middle.  Some people had others waiting on line to greet and share memories.  It reminded of the 'Godfather' movies in which people had to wait on line to see  DonVito or Michael Corleone.)  Small groups of people began developing as soon as they arrived. By the time we got there around 2:45, there were about 200 there.  Though I have not seen any official numbers, it seemed like there were about 250 people, which included classmates and spouses/guests.  It was reported that one woman came all the way from Florida. Us: We came from Contra Costa County, about 50 miles from Napa.   Many times during the event I heard: 'How the heck are you?, or 'Where have been keeping yourself,? or 'Remember that time back in senior year when we...?  Ah, the memories.   Napa was around 45,000 in 1972.  With just the one high school and three junior high schools and more elementary schools, you could theoretically know about one third of the people by the time you reached Napa High. I grew up just up 2nd Avenue from Mt. George, located on Coombsville Road, in what the real estate people call East Napa, where is a thriving vineyard business.  (Every time I return to town and drive those roads I am amazed that everything is turning vineyards and houses are getting more grandiose.)   I saw a number of people I had known from Mt. George, including one of my oldest friends Colleen Clark, who has returned to Napa after years of practicing law in varied parts of the state.  Jeff Chambers was always the biggest kid in class.  We measured him once.   Napa High was a great place to learn.  We had really good teachers and a good atmosphere in which to learn.  (My niece attended Napa High for one year in the early 2000's and did not have quite the good experience as I did.)   There are probably a handful of people that you make sure you keep up with as you grow through the  years. I am in constant contact with one friend who is an InterNet entrepreneur in Southern California and another who is an environmental consultant in Alameda County.  I count them as my closest friends.  They were both at my wedding four years ago.   Forty years is a long time!   Tom Ontis is a Napa ex-patriate now living in east Contra Costa County wiith wife Shelley (also from Napa) and four darling and funny kitty cats. He grew up in Coombsville east of Silverado Junior High School, now middle school.