Michael Carlson:
CLASS OF 1967
Fairview Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Fairfield, CA
Stephenville High SchoolClass of 1972
Stephenville, TX
Armijo High SchoolClass of 1971
Fairfield, CA
Michael's Story
My "story"....hmmm! Well it all started in Texas. Dad was in the Air Force. We then spent a couple of years in Newfoundland. Then got transferred to Travis AFB where he enventually got out. (5 moves in 5 years!) I went to grade school (Fairview)and part of high school (Amijo) in Fairfield. I was kind of low on the self esteem side back then. A tall gangly, wanna be, hard ass. Looking back I was pretty pitiful. I guess a lot of us were. We moved back home to Stephenville, Texas where I finished high school. We bought a 213 acre ranch and raised cattle. I went from being a punk to being a cowboy. That was quite a switch. Ranching went good for a while but then the market tanked so we put in a motorcycle track. That was more work than cattle. I had started rodeoing (roping & team roping). Had a blast but still too lanky to be great at it. Loved country dancing and really was great at that! And still pretty dern good! Nothing better than a pair of Wranglers on a cowgirl! Unless they're off!!! =^)
Moved back to the Sacramento, CA area in '78 because I wanted to learn to ski. One of my friends in Texas set me a t-shirt that said "if God would have meant for Texans to ski He would have made Bull Sh__ white!" I learned anyway! I was on two different Ski Patrols (Nationals and Pros) for a few seasons. A little later a car wreck put me out of commission for about 3 years. You've got to go through "stuff" to get where you're going, right?! It got pretty thick there for a while.
That's when I met my bride... country dancing in 1989 and got married in '90 at the NFR. She's a little cowgirl from Susanville, CA. We had a daughter in '92. (It was God's way of teaching me a lesson for my past!) Wow, that sure slowed down my wild and obnoxious ways. Now I have to set the example! JEEZ! She's a beautiful & great kid but a bit too much like her dad at times. She graduate early and is working full time now while taking a bit of a brake before any college.
We live in Fair Oaks and just finished a massive, 1 year remodel on this old place we bought in '03. The framing was hired out but did all of the finish work ourselves...and we're still married! Those of you that have done it you know what I'm talking about! And for those that don't.....Good Luck!
I've been in the Auto Glass business since '93. Finally started my own business..DUH! My wife, Holly, is an Instructional Aid for autistic children. She's a true blessing to those kids, and to me as well for that matter!
No riding horses or skiing anymore for me. Bummer! The back can't take the jarring from that old accident. I never was much on pony rides or shushing anyway!
I got certified in SCUBA way back in 1968 and still do a ...Expand for more
lot of it today. We abalone dive, pop scallops, spear Ling Cod, Halibut and snapper up on the north coast of CA. Lobster down south. Then there's the sight seeing / spearing in various parts of the world. Last year was Costa Rica. Drift diving the American and Sacramento Rivers. Even a lake at 10,000 feet, though there wasn't much to see. Too much silt and the bubbles scared the trout. But if there's water... I'll dive it. Still waiting to go real cave diving though, not just the Cenotes.
I do play my guitars every so often, but not nearly enough! Do any of you still remember those polka dot shirts we wore in our band, PRYME OF TYME in about 1965 or '66? We thought we were so cool! And the only art work I've done lately is the faux painting on the walls but I still have hope that one day I will have the time before I die to do some more pencils and inks! Who knows, maybe even canvas.
I flew back to Stephenville for my 10 year reunion. It was interesting that the nerds and intraverts had become nice and relatively successful people but the jerks hadn't changed a bit! ...Except for maybe a bit of a pot belly and a little less hair. I'm one to talk. Mine's turning gray and the rest is turning loose! I keep threatening to shave it all off. One of these days....
In 1981 did I accidentally find out about our 10 year Armijo High School Reunion. I haven't heard of any since. I have run into very few classmates in the last 30 years. I have tried to locate some with no success and there are a few I have found but not yet called. To those old friends I am truly sorry.! One of these days I'll surprize you. I really do have good intentions!
If you read this, look me up! I'm listed. Iced tea, cold beer, or a Margarita! There's always something cold to sip on around here. There's even coffee! We have a guest house too with a big game room! Holly calls it "the cottage". I call it "the dog house"...so I'll have a place to go if she kicks me out. lol. The guest house out back is one of the reasons we bought the place. Family and friends are always stopping by. Sometimes they're just passing through. That's fine too 'cause if you're here, you're family! Just plan on kickin' off your boots a while.
Well, I do believe I'm just about caught up to date with the auto biography... the short version anyway. I guess you'll just have to call or stop by!
Oh yes, one other thing... I haven't gone by "Mike" in well over 20 years... long enough that if you shouted at me I probably wouldn't pay any attention to you. What I typically say to someone is, "My friends call me Michael. I'd be honored if you would as well." That gets me off the hook from being some sort of snoot.
Blessings to all, MICHAEL
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions
Photos
