James Rettke:
CLASS OF 1972
Shasta High SchoolClass of 1972
Redding, CA
James's Story
I've been through some changes. Back in 1997 I took off with the intention of breaking all of the connections with all of my so called 'friends' and relatives. I know it's going to sound strange but, during my identity crises type soul searching days I changed my name legally twice: once in Tacoma, Washington in 1997 to James Roberts, and the second time in 2006 to Francis James Roberts (Francis was my confirmation name when I became a Catholic Christian in 2003). So now I'm legally: James Robert Rettke, (also known as) aka James Roberts, aka Francis James Roberts. I'm planning on actually changing it again this summer one last time to Francis James Robert Rettke. It's a long story so I won't bore you. The bad news was that I didn't get to officially say goodbye to my mom and dad before they passed though I did unofficially say goodbye, sort of, though, over a period of years. I have no animosity towards them, though. I just reached a point where I knew that I really had to break free completely. The good news is that I've re-contacted my siblings and I am in, at least some contact with them. Becoming completely independent of relatives is no longer necessary. I finally feel OK with myself; I didn't before. Also, I finally am sort of getting my life together. Talk about late bloomers! I'm enrolled for classes this semester as ...Expand for more
a junior at Humboldt State University majoring in business administration. I plan on eventually starting my own company in website design and internet marketing consultation if it works out as planned. I've been busy getting my head on straight. I hitch-hiked around the country for years and lived as a loner for pretty much over a decade. Now, after all of those life lessons and experiences I feel that I finally have come to a spiritually healthy state of being. It may mean that I'm destined to remain sort of a loner; it may not; time will tell. But either way, I feel much more at ease with how things are as life goes on. I converted to the Roman Catholic faith back in Phoenix in 2003 and that just felt right for me. I haven't lived other people's lives so I don't feel I have any right to tell others what to believe. But for me it filled the void in my soul in the right way. Well,you probably weren't expecting all of this deep stuff. Sorry. I just felt that I should be honest and not sugar-coat everything. Life's too short to live it in plastic. My story is kind of weird, I know. Still, I thought you deserved more than an 'everything's been just peachy kind of update. As John Lennon said, 'I have to admit it's getting better, it's getting better all the time, (it couldn't get much worse!)'
Peace be with you all. Francis (Jim)
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