I wrote this entry some time ago but couldn’t log into the Pasquini Family site and by time I could was sidetracked and then when I went to find what I’d written, it wasn’t anywhere to be found.

So I’m writing an abbreviated version.

I had David Ramos in my class my first year of teaching.  He was a 6th grader and I’ve never forgotten the time he jumped out the window during class and I never noticed until he tried coming back in.  He made me feel like a failure for not having noticed.

I became good friends with their family and coached Pop Warner with David’s father who has since passed away.  I’ve maintained contact with the Ramos’ all these years and went to see Ethel, David’s mother, in April on my way back from Santa Cruz.

I stayed there for three nights and had a joyful and wonderful time.  She fed me like I was special and it was the best I’d eaten in a long time. Ethel is now 83 and David is 56.  Ethel had dinner for David and his wife and me and it was hard to believe so many years had passed and that the same kid who jumped out the window is now a lawyer in Napa.  Ethel lives in St. Helena in the middle of the wine country.

We talked of others I taught with and David passed the comment, that none of them would have been welcome at their table like I was.  Made be feel grand.

Ethel always has a puzzle on a table in her house and everyone works on it at various times during the day.  I’m terrible at it but gave it a try anyway.

You heard me talk of the death of Ida Shiplet a few months back.   Ida and Ethel had a terrible thing in common.  They’d both lost adult children.  Ethel still gets tears in her eyes as did Ida when we talked of their children.

I was filled with joy and confidence when I left Ethel’s for home.  Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone made us feel this way.