Hello, As little kids, we were all pushed into thinking school days were the most important for all of us. Growing up each level of counselors told us that we had skills to become individuals and that we should all go to college to be able to pursue our dreams of adulthood. As little kids? We were just getting started playing kickball,recess activities, and enjoying lunch hours on the playground. So, from an early age, we were being groomed to our future as others would see it, but, not for our individual pursuits. This good friend grew up with me in our Westside of Long Beach neighborhood. She was a great student in elementary school and junior high school. Her parents were proud of her in high school, but towards the end, the counselor (yes, we had guidance counselors for all students) steered her to college to pursuit what was popular for girls back then. (Business classes to become a secretary, office worker, or possible school teacher.) Her testing scores were off of the charts with the scores above what most of us got in the same tests. A very high IQ test score was evident, but had no meaning for her. By the time we got into our college classes, she was lost. We talked and she was ready to quit, since she was not happy with the direction of the counselors pushed for the girl students. She did not know what she wanted to do with her life. So, it was late nights in small coffee shops talking about what to do in the next couple of years. Some of her close friends were off to colleges in other states or parts of California, so, she was totally confused. Then, just before I transferred to a northern California college for the next step in my own courses, she said she took a test in Los Angeles and was now a certified Pan Am Stewardess. Well, she did look great in a uniform and presented herself quite well in the tight, form fitting outfit, although the cap was awful. Although she had the means and ability to go to a four year college, she chose to be a nice looking Pan American stewardess. Everyone was impressed with her choices. Jnaki Well, while I was in northern California going to the next campus, she was flying all over the world with a home base in Hawaii. How cool was that? She would sent me postcards from big time cities from Europe and Asia, as well as her other stop over in New York. Wow, envious was the word best described for her and her new adventures. She was very happy and was having the time of her life. 20 years old and having flown around the world many times over. In her letters and phone calls, she mentioned that I could get on board for a flight to London as her brother for free. As nice as that sounded, I looked nothing like her brother and it would not have worked. But, a free flight to London and Europe was looking good as the months of dreary college wore on for intense classes and studying. Although, I would rather have a free flight to Hawaii for an extended stay. YES !!! Finally, she said she was coming to San Francisco for an overnight stop and wanted us to get together. So, we met in San Francisco and went to Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner. She did not have her change of clothes handy since she just stepped off of the plane when we finally met. She looked good in her official Pan Am uniform that was dressy.(Without the dumb cap…) For most that checked her out, as we walked into the restaurant and afterwards, around the touristy sites, she stood out. It was a very nice evening… She always liked my 58 Impala, but did not like the Flathead Sedan Delivery very much. Now, when we met again, after high school, she liked the 65 red El Camino. She said, it suits me perfectly... HA! The rest of the night was spent figuring our how I could go traveling all over, as her brother. I was ready for a new adventure in any direction. YRMV
The Jalopy Journal
