Max Eckert:  

July 2009 A good life in reflecion. Safe and secure childhood. A little too much focus on being the good boy, until I found those "St Michaels kids" the summer after 8th grade. Hanging around with Tom, Jeff, Mike & Louie was a great time and a great contrast. Is still a strong part of me. Never did learn that romantic thing with girls though. After HS, still so immature, went to Chabot, then UCD and got a degree in Chemistry. Not sure why. School was all I knew so I when to Cal State Hayward to get a HS teaching credential. Not sure why. No jobs arond here so went to Australia to teach HS. At least I knew why. Had a good time. Imagine being so far away, nobody knows you, for the first time in your life you can experiment with who you are without anyone saying "that is not you". Actually learned to like wine in Australia, go figure. Teaching wasn't so great. Liked working with the adults (other teachers) better. After 2 years came back home to see what was next. Happened into job at the Clorox Technical Center in Pleasanton (my mom found the ad in the paper). Found my wife Pam there. House in Livermore. Two boys come along. 30 years later I am so tired of the "middle management, company politics thing" that I decide to retire. I do feel lucky I could do that. Two time cancer survivor (prostate & colon). Unfortunately, my oldest son Danny decides to kill himself the summer after his first year at UCD. My young man, so important to me. Barely 19. My second son, Scotty, has down syndrome and a few other disabilities, but is ...Expand for more