Erich Schmidt, Jr:
CLASS OF 1970
Thornridge High SchoolClass of 1970
Dolton, IL
Erich's Story
Update 2/2015
I dropped out of Grad School in 2013 because of my screwy work schedule. I may return but it is unlikely. I now drive a public transit bus in Indianapolis and I have been there since Nov 2011. Union member and minority employee (of both race and politics) I have to remain mostly silent on my views of the current government and society.
My late ex-wife Kathy, mother of my only child Erika, grew up in Ferguson Missouri. You may have heard of it in the news lately. Her parents headed for the suburbs when Kathy was in high school and live in Florissant, MO.
I have been trying to move back to Colorado but so far those efforts have fizzled. Money is the main reason. Cost of living there is much higher than Indiana.
I have been single for almost four years now and this part of my life is not looking brighter. I guess I have lost the magic in my old age.
Good luck to my Thornridge classmates!
I put the update at the top of my story this time. If you've got a minute read the entire story. Thanks.
Continuing story...I graduated this summer! I "walked" on May 15th but I had to finish one more class before it was official. I earned a BA in English, Writing and Literacy from Indiana University with an unofficial minor in German. Considering all classes (transfer) not just IUPUI, I finished with a 3.32 GPA, not too bad. Yeah! And it took less than five years. What now? Write a book, a newspaper column, teach a classroom of unappreciative kids (there's some irony, huh?) maybe grad school? Whatever, the point was finishing.
My 87 year old mother flew in from CA to attend my graduation. It was a great gesture.
This just in...today (08/20/2008) was my first day attending a brink-and-mortar school since, well, Nixon was president. It's never too late.
Wish me luck and good studying. Thanks.
Life
Erich Schmidt
Update:
They say (I have never found out who "they" are) you can't go back home but I have almost come full circle. I have abandoned the snow capped mountains Of Colorado for a female interest and a return to the midwest. I now live in the Indianapolis area and I am a teamsters driver. It's taking a little time to get used to but the midwest feeling is coming back. And it's a conservative, family values, not afraid to talk about God, reasonable cost of living, RED state.
My daughter Erika lives close by (she's 16 now) in St. Louis. There is baseball in three directions. This past summer I went to Chicago several times, Cincinnatti, and St. Louis for games. Da' Bears and my new add-on team the Colts are easy to get to.
My new lady friend is a long time school teacher (that seems a little ironic) in a small town outside of Indy. Life is good.
The rest of my family still lives in San Diego. Mom is 83 now and still very active.
New news and update. I am going to college. Who would believe that? I started taking courses online at the Univers...Expand for more
ity of Phoenix last year and I am working towards an Associates Degree in Business right now. I'm doing pretty good and I actually have my first college credits. Now I can check that box that says "some college."
I have to say, I am excited.
Also, also. My new favorite NFL team the "Colts" are now the world champs, Yeah! Having defeated one of my other favorite teams, "Da Bears." for the title. I guess I couldn't lose that day. Go Colts and Go Bears. And, as of halloween last year, I am a 5 year cancer survivor. Life is still good.
Later again,
Erich Schmidt
Update,
Almost a 9 year cancer survivor now! I am no longer a Teamsters driver although I keep my CDL licence current just in case. I am now a full-time student at IUPUI with about 2 1/2 semesters left and since my last post I have changed my major to English. My daughter is now in her 2nd semester in college and about to turn 19 in a couple of months. Time marches on. My mom is 85 and still going strong. She just got back (02/14)from a three day Mardi Gras celebration in Rosarito Mexico. Still reeling a little from the Colts blowing the SuperBowl but I am looking forward to my Cubs 2010 season to start.
I thank God that my family is doing well and that I remain reasonably healthy!
Erich
Another update,
One semester to go and then I will have my degree in English. I'm considering Grad School now. Maybe not. I'm single again and living in the "hood" in Indianapolis. Just me and my dog Walter. My next trip to San Diego will be at spring break. I was there last summer for a week. It's still beautiful there. I told my mother that whenever she needs me to come back and take care of her to just let me know. She's 87 and still going strong. I think I may go to the next Thornridge reunion in October. I guess it depends on what "life" is going on by then.
A small world story that is just too much. When I moved here to Indianapolis I found out that Quinn Bucker was a tv announcer for the Pacers and one day he was signing autographs at a local sporting goods store so I too my yearbook and went there. We had a good laugh (we were never friends in school, you know what it was like then) anyway he signed a picture for me and the yearbook. Fast forward about four years and in one of my college classes is a young woman with the last name Buckner and sure enough she was Quinn's daughter. I brought my yearbook in and she was amazed. I showed her a couple of pictures in the yearbook of her dad taking some shots and she had never seen any of those pictures before. That was an interesting moment. She is a bi-racial girl and very pretty.
I'm sure most of you know that Quinn was a star on the last undefeated National Championship IU team under coach Bob Knight. I'm thinking I should give Quinn a call and hit him up for some Pacers tickets.
I'm still reasonably healthy and I still have my hair and teeth.
Erich
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