Greg Alford:
CLASS OF 1965
San Marino High SchoolClass of 1965
San marino, CA
University of CaliforniaClass of 1970
Santa barbara, CA
Greg's Story
I was a trial attorney in San Diego for about 32 years. I retired at age 58. During my career I represented quite a few well known local politicians, judges, radio and television personalities, professional athletes and other really interesting folks. So, I'm writing a book about "my life in court." I don't know if I'll ever finish or if anyone would ever purchase it, but I'm having fun.
Seeking a slower pace after retirement, my wife and I purchased a small ranch in San Diego's back country, about an hour's drive to the beach. I still ride my jet skis and spend time at the Colorado River and adjacent Lake Mohave. We enjoy RV-Motorhome travel, photography and working our German Shepherd dogs.My real passion is cooking! I have over 600 cookbooks in my library at home and I read them like most folks read novels. I'm happiest in the kitchen.
As we approach "real retirement" we've decided to sell our ranch, upgrade to a really big motorhome and travel around the country for a year or two. We've just listed our home for sale and although it's kind of scarey, we're excited about what I've termed our upcoming "Great American Adventure."
I've enjoyed staying in touch with perhaps a half dozen old SMHS friends and would enjoy hearing from any of you classmates! We've got some pretty special memories, don't we?
UPDATE: June, 2013: We're traveling and exploring the country in our motorhome. If you do a Google search for Greg Alford RV Blog, you'll be able to follow us along the way. My blog address: Great American Adventure dot net.
UPDATE: October, 2015: We're still exploring American in our motorhome. If you'd asked me a few years ago how long our Journey would last, I'd never have guessed we'd still be "on the road" for this long a time. And, we've still got "a ways to go." I've heard from quite a few of you via my blog and really have enjoyed "catching up." Who knows, perhaps we'll be in your neighborhood soon! Wouldn't that be a hoot!
Sadly, I wasn't able to attend the recent reunion in Newport Beach. The logistics just weren't right for me to travel all the way there from New England, where we are right now. I hope those of you who attended had a blast. I'll bet you did. If you have a minute, let me know about it.
UPDATE: April 26, 2016: I'm just recovering from a real brush with death! Somehow I managed to contract Legionnaires Disease while we were in Florida. ...Expand for more
Remember reading about it many years ago when we were just kids? Anyway, I was in the hospital for more than 31/2 months here in Pensacola. My wife was told early-on that I had just about 6 hours to live. I was in intensive care for about 7 weeks and I have no recollection of that time at all. I was then transferred from hospital #1 to hospital #2, a specialty critical care place and finally to a physical rehab institute. I had been in bed so long that my leg muscles had completely atrophied and I was unable to even get out of bed without assistance, much less walk. All of my organs were oxygen deprived and suffered significant damage. My kidneys shut down and I had to have dialysis for about 6 months. My nephrologist thought I'd need dialysis for the rest of my life, and although I was trying desperately to keep a positive attitude, the thought of being tied to a dialysis for treatment three times a week was almost to much for me to bear. Then, miraculously, my kidneys recovered sufficiently so that I've now been taken off dialysis.
The day the doctor gave me this news, hands down, was the best day of my entire life. If you've looked at my RV travel blog: great american adventure dot net, you already know that my wife and I have been on the road in our large motorhome, like gypsies, for the last three years exploring America. We're having a blast and now it appears that I'll have recovered sufficiently in another few months that we'll be able to resume our travels. In the meantime, we're living in an apartment we rented in Pensacola, where I'm near all my doctors and physical therapists. The reason I've recounted all this, folks, is not to whine. Rather, it's to suggest to you: "Enjoy today. Be good to yourself and kind to others. You may think you know what tomorrow will bring, but my story is evidence to the contrary. I was fine one day and literally on my death bed the following day. Tomorrow is not a given."
In another year or so, we'll conclude our travels and perhaps pick one of the little towns we've discovered to begin retirement #2. We love San Diego but maybe it's time for a change. Hope all of you are enjoying your golden years. Can you even believe how old we've become? "Golden Years!" I have a difficult time with that. I still remember SMHS days vividly, almost as if it were yesterday. Now, if you ask me what I had for lunch today, that's another story!
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