Tom Johnston:
CLASS OF 1965
Point Loma High SchoolClass of 1965
San diego, CA
Pacific Beach Junior High SchoolClass of 1961
San diego, CA
Florence Elementary SchoolClass of 1958
San diego, CA
Edward F. Beale Elementary SchoolClass of 1958
San diego, CA
Chesterton Elementary SchoolClass of 1958
San diego, CA
Tom's Story
Life
Got married just after high school. Had a son then moved to Scio, Oregon. From there we moved to Portland and had a daughter. Moved to West Linn, then back to San Diego where we got divorced. Played around for several years and moved to Salem, OR where I got married the 2nd time. Had a son and a daughter and moved to Tecate, Mexico to work with poor families building houses and distributing food. My then wife took our kids and ran away. In 1996 Rosario and I got married and now have two great daughters. We have a small ranchito in El Hongo, Baja California, where we raise rabbits. I work 4 days a week at Silver Creek Fine Art where I do custom picture framing.
Our home is located about 10 miles south of Boulevard California, on the Mexican side of the border. GPS coordinates: 32.49066, - 116.27746.
La Jolla India Reservation August 27, 2007
I believe that is was the summer of 1959 that I first went camping at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. For several years I went with my folks, my brother Dan, and sister Barb, and at times including some aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Later, during my Sex, Drugs, & Rock and Roll years, I went with my first wife, Connie, and various friends. One night after my divorce, I picked up a cute little hitchhiker in downtown San Diego and ended up going to the campground as a last minute decision. Many years later, I took my son Paul when we went on a motorcycle road trip. I've gone a few times since then with my present wife Rosario, and our daughters Veronica and Jazmin. In all I suspect that I've camped and picnicked at the Reservation probably eighteen to twenty times.
Back many years ago the campground was very informal and very wilderness in atmosphere. Of course now it is more designed for the modern day camper family. I'm not saying that it is bad, just bigger to accommodate the demand. That's OK, they are generating income without a casino, and that is great. I love that place.
I sometimes remember the time that my aunt Miriam and uncle Don got flooded out when they set up their site in the path of the flood area of the downpour that happened that night. We all got a good laugh, but of course Miriam was angry and ready to go home RIGHT NOW!!!! I think that we all ended up sleeping in vehicles instead of enduring the rain, since we never were much for tents.
One time that aunt Ann & uncle Bob (Castro) went with us and I saw uncle Bob naked. I was quite impressed with the size of his manhood, though it made me feel like the boy I was at 13 years old. Damn he's hung like a horse.
It was at the reservation that my uncle Bob (Resides) taught me to drive his Jeep. The first trip went great until I forgot to depress the clutch when stopping, so I slowly arrived to the point of pushing down a small tree before finally coming to a stop. Four wheel drive is powerful, perfect for a fist time driving lesson.
It was one of our trips to the reservation that my mom got the idea of farting into a mayonnaise jar to see if it would last until we got home. It di...Expand for more
dn't. Try it you'll see.
As an adult, one of the trips with my friends along with some pot and acid, I remember when Maureen came up to me happy on her reds and wine and asked in a very sensuous way Hi Tom, where's Connie? It didn't take long for my at that time wife, Connie, to say from behind me, "I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere!" Damn, that could have been good. I think that it was the same trip that we decided to go for a walk on the highway at midnight and Kenny Kemp climbed up to sit on the top of a sign with a flashlight in his mouth. Good thing that the cars that went by weren't highway patrol.
The time that I took my son Paul on the motorcycle was very special. It was a time of bonding between my son and me that we needed. I only wish that we could have had more time together. That trip was the time that a young boy came up to me and asked, "Mister is that bike a Hog? I confessed that it was not, but a Yamaha. I guess that I could have lied.
Last year Rosario, Veronica, Jazmin and I camped out there and Rosario found a ring with 10 diamonds. A jewelry store near home in Mexico said that it is worth 600 dollars. Sure, they wanted it so it, so probably worth more. She's keeping it since it has 10 diamonds, it was our tenth wedding anniversary, and was ten years since we had last gone to the reservation together.
OK, those are some of the highlights up to this trip. We're camping here now, it's mid-morning and I'm recounting the events of last night. I've got to say that of the many times that I've camped here, last night was the best of all.
I was laughing so much while Rosario was about to wet her sleeping bag for fear of being sprayed in the face by a skunk.
It started while I was sitting by the fire and Rosario and the girls were lying down for the night. All of a sudden I saw a skunk about ten feet from Rosario's head. I shined the flashlight at him and he started walking closer to Rosario while she was stunned with fear. After several seconds the critter slowly turned and walked away. That was just the start of our night of fun.
While I still sat by the fire, I looked up to see our friendly visitor about four feet from Rosario's face. All I could do was laugh which caused Rosario to turn to see him creeping closer once again. The flashlight and hollering caused him to saunter off as if he felt unwanted.
The entire night went the same. Several times as many as four skunks came up to our faces checking us out. One put his front paws on Rosario's bare arm. I finally fell asleep, but Rosario, Vero, & Jaz remained awake in fear that they would be sprayed with that familiar perfume.
I awoke early to the accounts of the skunks, a racoon, and a mole which all came up to us face to face in the night. Rosario wants to buy a tent if we are ever to go camping again. I don't know about that. What is camping without seeing the stars each time a critter wakes you up?
Thank You, La Jolla Indian Reservation for a truly unforgettable camping trip.
Tom Johnston
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