Thomas Quimby:
CLASS OF 1965
Westfield High SchoolClass of 1965
Westfield, NJ
Thomas's Story
Hello friend where have the years gone? I hope your lives are full of happiness and joy and that the future looks great! I guess I never really thought about retirement until a few years ago but luckily there are still lots of activities I look forward to doing with vigor into the future. I'm really so proud to have grown up in Westfield New Jersey as it totally shaped the person I am. What a great school system we had back in the day. I really do owe everything I've accomplished in my life educationally to the high expectations they had for all of us.
Just finished teaching a graduate class in Adventure Educaton at BSC. Great group of young teachers............fun time, lots of climbing adventures and challenge, group problem solving and the usual....................how do I apply this to my life?
This blog must be read in totality for complete comprehension and compassion for the writer. Class of 65, class rank 327/675....not bad............."Are you kiidding me.......................327.....yikes!"
May 10- After waiting nearly a lifetime I decided to spend the last week in Death Valley, Ca. I don't know if it was that old TV show Death Valley Days that planted this seed many years ago ...flew into Vegas, rented a jeep and began my solo journey into this vast wilderness. It was truly one of the most significant visual experiences of my life. Words would fall short here to describe this vast land mass with very few humans due to the extreme climate. At one point i was on a road for 70 miles and didn't see another human being. It took awhile to feel somewhat comfortable, even in a modern vehicle but in time I saw land forms and spaces that were in the works for eons. Times like this help me to realize how insignifcant we really are in the true scheme of things. I have often had this same feeling after climbing a great mountain and looking back down on the "civilization" I had just temporarily escaped from.
I don't know if I was looking for something out here but I know it would be impossible to make any sense of this place in such a short time. This may be an annual pilgrimage for me as I realize more and more that every day is a great gift. I have been blessed with a great family and many of the greatest friends a man could have in ten life times. I have been places that I have never imagined I would see and most importantly.............After looking for love in all the wrong places I got real lucky on Sea Street Beach...in Dennisport, MA in the summer of 71. That's it for now friends........more to follow.
Hey Folks.......3 more weeks of this semester and I will be in the water at CC for quite awhile. It was a tough winter up here with my brother's sickness but he survived and looks forward to the future. Jerry Richards and I had a great conversation the other night. It was great to reconnect with my old friend. He told me my name was in the Westfield Leader in a sports column by Bruce Johnson recently. Bruce was kind enough to list me as a good basketball player that never played for the varsity at good old WHS. There were some very good players on that list.Luckily, I continued playing and even made a Div I team at Charleston Southern. I never really got over being cut by the coaches in those days. I still wonder what happened. B-ball was my life back then but I guess I had a "bad attitude" what ever that means. Oh well...you only get one chance at life so if nothing else it made me work harder for what I wanted to make happen. Life really has been good to me and I really loved those old WHS days. I hope all is well.
This says it all...........
I can indulge in endless prattle about my friends and neighbors, dissipating my life's energy a little at a time. I can wallow in self-pity, refusing to accept responsibility for my own circumstances. I can manipulate others into taking care of me, which is the way of all petty tyrants. I can complain about boredom, as if it were up to those around me to inject excitement into my day.
These are the patterns of the living dead, people who have forsaken life, who are willing to squander their most precious gift, because they refuse to face up to the reality of death. If they wanted to live, truly wanted to live, they would rise up in a resurrection of their own making and commit themselves to the life they have.
From Beachcombing at Miramar......
Oct 09- Clunker deal finally worked out fine. Bought a nice Mazda Tribute that gets mid 20's mph. Great for my commute from Wellfleet to Bridgewater, MA. Great students again this semester. Surf has been great on CC the last few weeks. I am the luckiest guy in the world to have found another great college teaching position in this climate. Hope all is well with you.Check out my new favorite song from the Noisettes Can't forget you...it reminds me of the great songs from our glory years, Let me know if you like it. Keep moving...
Papa Q
August 09- I have just attempted to buy a new car with the Obama Clunker plan. Wow...........what a friggin disaster. I am very seriously thinking of selling everything I own and moving on to New Zealand or anywhere but here.
Let me get his straight......a family member is young and living in CA....he is about to pay 66% of his income to the man........in the words of Don Imus..."Are you nuts?".
March 09- Life still good as i look forward to wrapping up this semester at BSC. These are the best students I have had in my college teaching career in terms of being fully alive in class and thinking hard about what the "Good Life" is for them and what they hope to achieve in this life. I don't know how fast all of these years have gone by for you, but to me..........wow.....I heard a country song the other day that basically said, " I can't believe I am getting so old and feeling so young!" Boy that says it all.
Surfing is still good as the winter was brutal here. Surfed yesterday in the sun for two hours. Air 50ish..water in the high 30's. Perfect.
Update 11/ Something-
It just occured to me tonight as I was watching Seinfeld that all of my childhood heroes are gone. The show was dedicated to Lloyd Bridges, one of my all time heroes. I watched every episode of Sea Hunt and wanted to be just like him. My father had a boat way back when but due to the dysfunction in our family it just didn't feel the same as watching it on tv. Oh well.........as I get older I can't get enough of the Rat Pack,Big John Wayne, Wilt Chamberlin, Bob Cousy, and who could forget Adam McKay of Adventures in Paradise. I have looked all over for 77 Sunset Strip but have yet to find it except on You Tube. I loved Route 66 and have driven across the USA many times and enjoy every single mile. I know a lot of this came from dreaming of that freedom and adventure as a young guy. My son and I actually rode our bicycles from Portland, Ore. to Campton,NH when he was 14. He is very successful in business now and tells me that the bike trip taught him a lot about goal setting, commitment and perseverence. Some of you out there really were my heros as a young basketball player in Westfield. When I was around 12 or so I really looked up to Dickie Myers, Bob Haines,Dave Liscomb,and sadly Raymond Bailey and many more of you fine guys. Wow you were good! Going to the high school game was really big time for me. I wish all of you fine men the very best. Just thinking out loud tonight.Of course I wish the fine women the same.........you just weren't my heros at the time. I had other hopes for my future with some of you! One day when I was 13 I went to a spin the bottle party with some of Dave Liscomb's girl friends and someone actually kissed me. I was "moonwalking" for weeks! I always loved that Luke Liscomb. I owe him one! One day Luke asked me if I knew what a "french" kiss was and I said no. When he told me I remember saying.......yuck!!!!..that is one thing I will never do!
Maybe I did.....maybe I didn't. What happened in Westfield, Stays in Westfield!Hope to see you one of these days old friends.
Am I College Material?
School?
What the heck was I thinking? The Citadel.............Did I really go there or is this just one big bad dream? Actually it probably saved my life from all of the parties and fun the rest of you were having out there in college land. Of course, some of you had it much tougher in Nam. I couldn't believe it at the first Thanksgiving football game after High School, when all of the guys returned with their newly grown long hair and I had my head shaved during my first year. That was me wearing the hat constantly before hats got cool. What a joke. When you walk into The Citadel from NJ and with a bit of cockiness.......you basically should be hearing that voice in the back of the room hollering..........."LET THE BEATINGS BEGIN". When is the last time you did 4000 push...Expand for more
ups in one hour and were basically harrassed for 24 hours a day for 365???. I should have been suspect when the upper classmen used to say, "you are going to hate everyday here, but you will be glad when you graduate from EL CID. what a crock. Anyway...........wow......I really hope your college days were good ones. I did make up for it at Cape Cod in the summers. Diane Damen, Pooh...you are two beautiful folks who have been there to Dede's. Gordon, Jay, Greg have been there. Remember....Ruta, Beruta, and Via.....3 wild and crazy Latvian young ladies. "Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end"...Wow..seems like an eternity back to our youth. I should have gone to U of Hawaii. Who knows what might have been? My kids went to UNH. Where is Sam Hayes anyway after all of these years? Let's rally at the reunion. Perhaps a quick, late night trip to the Clover Club. I know I will probably be seen at White Diamond.....to see if Slim is still there. Greasey burgers that only an Atkinian could love. I probably ate 1000! How many of you can claim that you went to Dukes on its first day. Still the best sub in the world...........Hersey's is good also.....but a copy at best. Those awful awful's were pretty good that you rich, northside chicks allowed us former Edison Jr. High boys to take you for a drive..actually, I think you drove as we didn't have many extra cars on the south side. Stay turned. I have just begun to ramble. Days are short.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Peace.
Papa Q
Optional Trivia Question- What is the name of the "alternative basketball team" that played in the Y league in early 60's that once score over 180pts in one game? Check the "Leader" if you don't know or ask Dave King? Where the heck did you go Dave King, my old friend! Those drives in your car through some backyards were........well....pretty fun! Yikes.....I hope my grandchildren don't read this. Luckily we've improved the DNA in the future Q's through good breeding.
Update 10/08
Hey friends,
I hope all is well. I will bet that this financial roller coaster we are on is not feeling so great for our crew. Just when we are getting ready to, or have just entered retirement......THE HOUSE OF CARDS begins to collapse. WE really can't say we didn't see it coming. Think of all of the credit card debt and foolish consumption our citizens have been gorging themselves on for the last 50 years or so. I learned long ago that "health is wealth!" I hope you are well and happy and can truly enjoy this great country that we live in!!!!!! My WHS days were really good ones as I am very thankful for the friends that I made back then. It is truly fun to see many of you...now and then.
TQ
New Blog- 2/23/08
Well its been a while since I wrote about my strong memories of Westfield. I don't know how I could possibly be 60 big ones but life is flying by so quickly. As I think back over my life I can't but quietly smile about my great memories with my Westfield friends, teachers and life back in the 50's and 60's. About 15 years ago I was working at a college in NH and a group of guidance counselors were touring NE colleges so that they could better advise kids as to what the various colleges would actually be like. I asked if there were any from WHS and there were so I sought them out. I found a nice woman and wanted to tell her that I barely graduated from WHS in 65 but did because of the high expectations of the school and the great education that I received there. I wanted to have her go back and see if she could find at least one of my old teachers to say "thank you." Who knows if she did? I was not very interested working very hard on studies, but later realized how much I had learned in spite of myself. Of course all of my friends that were achieving at a higher rate helped me, especially Carl Ozimek..........but that is another story. Stay tuned......who else gives you truth among all this dribble. Anyway, I know that I was very lucky to be there during that place and time and wouldn't change my hometown for anywhere. If you would like to get in touch, or have a drink at the Jolly Trolley or here on the Cape give me a ring. I would love to hear from you. I have really loved reconnecting with Ellen H. in Long Beach Island and her crew!! She is a very generous lady and is looking good! Wow, how did i not ask for a date......way back when? Maybe I did and forgot the rejection......whoops!!!
Every time I see Happy Days......I realize that my crew was way more like Pottsy Webber and Richie Cummingham than the Fonz. Heels...........you know where you fit in Gordan you even look like Pottsie...................What a shock to those of you who know me. I wasn't a greaser after all??????????
I am not a member here but live on Cape Cod in the town of Wellfleet.
Keep moving.."You lose what you don't use!"..Yikes I better not go there!!....I am planning on winter surfing tomorrow as the waves look promising. Water 38F, Air 38F. Health is wealth........talk with you all soon, I will leave the light on for you.........
TQ aka Papa Q or the Profesor in the water up here.
New Blog-
I have just begun what I am calling the "No more excuses diet." I really admire those of you who have avoided getting "bigger !" I was 155lbs. in high school, could touch the rim on a good jump and was a fit young man. Well.............after years of staying active both on the courts and at the table.......the table has won. I am now 200 big ones but will set the new goal of 175. I don't think 165 is realistic, we'll see. I still go surfing every time there are waves on CC, Santa Cruz, Hawaii, Florida etc. and have noticed that most of these guys weigh 50--70lbs. less than I do. When you are in a line up of young ,aggressive surfers..........smaller is indeed better. Needless to say.......it's time to get serious and git er done!!!!!. I will keep you posted. The only diet that works for me is Atkins. I know.................beef, fat, etc., however. the research is confounding at best. After week one the results are impressive.......My belly is actually shrinking some. Don't worry.....there will be no pictures!! Watch out in the line up this week.....little Tom is on his way out!!
Future Blog will revisit the famous Green Man encounter. Only Bob Hicks, Dan Ahern and maybe Carl O can re-live that nightmare and near death experience in Clark near Charlie Kelly's!!
Reunion blog- The before
Hey you out there! I better see you at our reunion next fall or else! This is a test to see if anyone reads these things. See you soon. It's about time! I miss you guys and gals! Gordon P, Ruth, Chick, Joe Bag of Doughnuts, Willie Mook, Mike, Jerry, Laura, Janis, Kathy, Ellen, Carl, Gary, Kim, Jean, Challye, Karen, Greg, Suzi, John Holmes, The Green man ,Geri, et al. Of course I always hope that Laura is coming. Does anyone know the name of a reasonable hotel near Echo Lake? I haven't been there in years. "Who let the dogs out!! wup wup! Hey.Macarina,..Whoops there it is..... The forbidden Dance...hot, hot, hot, I wear my sun glasses at night!!..I am ready to dance! Just give me a little space and courtesy on the dance floor please. Hopefully you won't mind if Chick Coates and I dance with your wives..Just kidding.. I'll dance with you if you want...........We have been taking Arthur Murray dance lessons for 35 years to supplement the dance lessons in Westfield on the North side soooooooo it is time. What the heck was the "maringe?"
We will have EMT's on call!!!
No fights with wedding parties this year please!!! "When the rooster crows at the break of dawn...look out your window and I'll be gone.......don't think twice...it's all right. A few of your Mothers unfortunately saw me at the break of dawn. Sorry. It is really good to be alive!!! Yikes........Can't wait. "Let's get ready to rumble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you love me write me. Seriously.......come to this thing if you can. 40 big ones...yikes. Where the heck is Dr. Foose anyway? Was he a real person? I don't think I ever saw the man in 3 long years in detention. See ya....I'll keep the light on for ya! I get a little nervous going back to Westfield as I barely got out of high school. I keep having dreams that they made a mistake in my permanent record..........and I am really not "college material" after all. I better not tell any one here at Faber College about those days.........Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! What happened in Westfield...Stays in Westfield. Maybe Gordon Peterson will wear the Blue Devil suit again. I know that I would love to see the original cheerleaders put on those old cheerleading skirts. How about it Carol Dawson aka "Peaches"? You were one very cute young lady!!!! That's it for now. Check in next week.
I love you man!!!
Papa Q!
If you actually read this let me know. Thanks
TQ
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