Cliff Graves:  

Do you ever get over High School? I think not. My whopping WHS 2.2 GPA guaranteed me admission to the University of Ohlone, where I avoided the draft, played baseball, partied and tore up the streets of Fremont in my Austen Healey. Pretty much spent weekends (when not partying), going to SF for the music scene (which as you recall was epic at that time). You can hear me whistling in the background on Creme's "Wheels of Fire" album during the Crossroads cut recorded live at Winterland. Marc D'estout and Al Wardlow are witnesses to my artistic contribution to this great album ... Transferred to San Jose State my junior year as an Art Major (The subjective assessment that goes into Art, did wonders for my GPA) At twenty, having lost at puppy love, gotten cut from the SJS Baseball team, and being perfectly directionless, I fell in with some Christians and became one. Yes, truth is stranger then fiction ... After college, having switched to a Psych Major, I got on at Whitaker Pavillion Inpatient Mental Health Unit, then an annex of Washington Hospital, Fremont. Great vantage point for observing the human condition(5 1/2 yrs) ... Got married (#1) at 28. Long courtship, short marriage. Turned right around and got married again, short courtship, long marriage ... Went off to Fuller Theological Seminary where -- intending to become a Christian Therapist -- I graduated and went into pastoral ministry instead. During that time, my first daughter (Lindsay '83) came along. A second daughter, Jessica('84), was born with Trisomy 18. Jessica only lived 5½ months and died an arms length away from me in the middle of the night. She introduced me to the world of families with disabled children; a pretty amazing gathering ... Loved the first 7½ years of pastoral ministry, unfortunately the last 6 months were a small corner of hell (I believe they call it 'wounded by friendly fire'). Since I had completed my Doctorate and had a good rep in the Christian community, upon exiting pastoral ministry, I opened a counseling practice and got licensed by CA as a MFT. Did that for 16 years, always keeping my hand in with various local churches. Between the trials of Church, a lost Child and establishing a new career, Marriage #2 tanked and we divorced amicably after 18 years. Fortunately, the divorce has gone better than the marriage ... Was single for a couple of years, but after 2 strikeouts, I hit a homer in what I hope will be my last at bat. Remarried in 2004. Couldn't be happier with this wonderful lady that I share life and faith with. We will celebrated 22 years in 6/26. Had the opportunity to re-enter full-time pastoral ministry in 2009. So, I closed my practice and decided to give pastoral ministry another go. I was hired as an Associate Pastor at Fair Oaks Church (foc.org) just outside of Sacto. Loved it and because the church was big into foreign mis...Expand for more