Francine German:
CLASS OF 1967
San Joaquin Memorial High SchoolClass of 1967
Fresno, CA
Francine's Story
Life
My husband and I have dawned leathers! 57 years old and still going strong! We have a 2005 Harley Davidson Ultra Glide Classic and ride whenever we get a chance. We do fundraisers for charitable organizations for children, and our last trip was the California Mission Run to help restore California's Mssions...some of which are in dire need of repair. It was an awesome journey, and we discovered roads and places we have never been. We have one grandchild "Miss Maddy" as we call her, spoiled of course, but the love of our lives. Our oldest son has a Computer/Science Engineering Degree and presently works in Tracy, California in the cheese industry. He is already a Supervisor within the plant and hopes to extend his knowledge into better programing and applications for more efficient operation of the plant. Our second...Nicole, teaches High School Biology and Environmental Science at Hanford West High ...just had her first house built at the age of 24 and is continuing on to get her Master's; she plans to go on to Med School in another two years; and our youngest daughter Sarah graduated the Fresno Police Academy, December 06, and has her job on hold... She is married and is expecting her second child. Full time employment with a law enforcement agency is in the future. She was awarded "Female Top Gun" out of her Criminal Justice Association Club. My husband is Sharlene German's (63-67 SJM) brother...we have been married since November 17,1979. He is employed as an Electrical/Maintenance Supervisor for the tomato industry, and I work as an Administrative Secretary for the CCSPCA. We moved from our home in NorthFork, California where we had lived for 21 years back to Fresno. We travel to Hawaii as one of our favorite vacationing spots and love to snorkel; are going to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in Dec 07, and hope to do extensive traveling in our motorhome across the states in the not too distant future. We've been across the states with our kids when I was home schooling them back in the mid nineties, but want to see the things we missed the first time around. I love working on geneology and have been for about 22 years in all. Hope to do a lot more geneology when we leave on our motorhome trip someday. We take a lot of short trips on our bike around local areas and occasionally go to the coast. We're looking into a side car for the granddaughter. Riding has introduced us to a whole different spector of life and the many characters on the road. Seeing the world from the back of a bike is more real than being a protected passenger inside a car. I have also started writing a book about a personal life experience that hopefully one day will help others who may be experiencing or who have experienced the same dilemmas, as those written in my book. I just created a "My Space" with the help of my daughter Nicole, and it is exciting to be able to know you're keeping up with what is going on around you and haven't "Lost It Yet!" Anywhooooo....email me if you like...am loving hearing any and all you got to share!
School
I had a huge crush on a guy named "Tim". Sister Patricia Ann, Sister Claire, and Ms. Dee Pirrman inspired me. IF I could do it all over again, would I.....Not everything, but a good deal of it!
The funniest and craziest memory that stands out for me was during a championship volleyball game in the old gym. Our team was behind and there was not a lot of time left. I was serving the ball and as I came down from releasing the ball and bent forward I suddenly heard this r i p ppppppp! My shorts had ripped in the booty area and the parents and spectators began to laugh. Ms. Pirrman called time out, but I opted to continue playing, so she wrapped her sweater around my booty butt and the game continued. I had a hard, fast and fierce serve right over the net six times straight in a row without a...Expand for more
return play. We won by one point...with a score of 21 to 20. It was an awesome moment for me and especially since I had both the audience and fellow teammates laughing.
Happy moments were being a senior and having the priviledge of being a big shot on the senior lawn. Loved having lunch with our freshman buddy we were assigned on the senior lawn; liked chasing lower classmen off the lawn.
College
Well, had a roommate but not a on-campus roommate. Loved the outside concerts and guitars at Fresno City College. Listened to the guitars and music that was played in the corridor and fountain area of the old brick City College Administration Building. Had speech and typing class here. What a neat atmosphere inside the corridors of this old building. Would sit and enjoy all the music being played on different lawn areas. Joined in with the music and singing. Hung out in the cafeteria a lot doing papers. Showed up late for classes like a lot of people. Ended up several times dropping out...but eventually went back and finished. Lots of marijuana smoking going on everywhere on campus. Parties everywhere. Had a VW Magic Bus with flower curtains that I painted blue and white with a big peace sign on it. Went up to Felton near Santa Cruz a lot with roommate. Dressed in my hippie clothes and fuzzed my hair. Hung out in the Tower District during this era. Glad to see it revised. Didn't do drugs though...didn't want to "flip out" as the saying goes back then!!!!! Have Associate Science Degree in Business and Medical Secretarial. And miss those good old days.
Workplace
The idea of working at Yosemite National Park was so enthralling to me...no matter how I could get there, I was determined to work summers and school weekends there. So during my first year at Fresno City College I rode a college bus as an employee of Yosemite. But my soon to be perfect job became a drugery. I was placed in a position of maid service and to say the least...people are slobs. It soon ended and off I was to being a sales clerk at Ollenberger's in the Tower District. From there to receptionist at H&R Block, and office clerk at Rulison's Auto Body Shop. Finally my big chance...getting hired on for the county at the Fresno County Sheriff's Department lifted my spirits. And what a job...I was in love with all the undercover cops. I found them and their job filled with intrigue, excitement, secrets, daring and bold, hiding behind their cover of long hair, beards, mustaches, old clothes and other disguises. Not to mention some of them were very good looking...but, unfortunately also very married. I was single, attractive and looking. Flurting was my game, and I had a ball doing it. I worked warrants, in steno pool, front counter, and as Sheriff Hal McKinney's substitute secretary. It was perhaps the best time of my life. If I had stayed working, I would of been there 33 years this November; but the fact is I made another choice. Got Married. For the last twelve years I have worked as Adminitrative Secretary for the Central California SPCA. And most likely will be here for a while yet. That's all!
Military
Walking up the steps to the downtown Tulare Street Post Office...20 years old and thinking "I'll join the Airforce". Suddenly, I chicken out, turn around and am saying to myself..."four years of my life would be like an eternity". So much for that idea!
Now I look back and think how stupid..."why I could of had a pilot's license, an education, traveled parts of the world, and wonderful retirement! I could of made it a career back then and now reaped the harvest. Put in 20, 25, 30 years and had retirement at the age of 55, not to mention the medical benefits. Maybe a beautiful house at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii! And still had a civilian job and added that to my retirement income. Best of both worlds...Is this regret or what?
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