Vic Currier:  

Life My good fortune was to have attended three high schools and made such good friends at each. Those are my best memories. Can't say enough about the friendships in Portland at "Willie Walker" and Sunset High. I was at Kofa High in Yuma, AZ when President Kennedy was assassinated. For me? That brought "mortality" right into the living room. I lived out the last American Graffiti "cruisin' year" ('65) in a bright yellow '57 Chevy that cost $500 (wish I had it now!). Attended all the Beach Boys concerts I could. Then, after graduation (East Bakersfield HS '65), I went to the University of Arizona at Tucson (Geraldo was there). My life changed radically. 'Saw Janis Joplin and Ginger Baker's "Cream" in the Haight-Ashbury for a dollar; and hippies making love in the Park (weird); Linda Ronstadt at a coffee house on 5th Avenue for 50-cents. Shared mead in an over-sized snifter with the "Mama's and Papa's" - at my buddy's house when they couldn't afford a motel.... 'damn, that Michelle was hot! We lived during an amazing era! Music was at the forefront of my life in those days. Shipped out to Vietnam in '69 and stayed 4-deployments. Lovely place. 'Got out in 1971, after seeing Australia, Japan, Scandinavia and England on Uncle Sam's dime. Had dinner, at the very gracious invitation of my Southern Belle cousin, with a co-founder of the CIA, "Bill" Jackson (...this man could tell some stories!!). 'Was the recipient of a "Dear John" letter the morning after a rocket attack at the base; and took more helicopter rides than I would have liked (I had no idea those Hueys could fly nearly upside down!) Worked for the SP (now UP) railroad out in Arizona and Texas until about 1980. At the same time, I was able to manage the beginnings of a second career: I became an insurance company executive in El Paso ('76); saw "Asleep At the Wheel" at the Anthony Gap; then moved to Austin, TX ('79) to manage a mortgage company. Had dinner at Windows on The World (twin towers), the Sears Tower (in the fog), the Four Seasons and Tavern on the Green in New York, and San Souci in D.C. (My boss, a Vietnam vet and two-time Silver Star recipient, had a penchant for expensive dinners and fine wine.... somebody had to do this, don't you know, so I volunteered). Saw Delbert McClinton at the old Soap Creek Saloon, and the Bob Wills Band & Kenny Threadgill at the Armadillo. Went to Willie Nelson's picnic at the Pedernales River golf course he bought in 1980 - 70,000 people for two days. Never saw so many beer cans, nor had so much fun on the river with my brother and 20 of our very good friends. Became a power boat fanatic, only to find that I really liked sailing, and racing sail boats, later in life. 'Been to Luckenbach, where everybody can be somebody. Saw the one hit wonder, Timbuktu (...'future's so bright, I gotta wear shades...), at the Cannery.... a little out-there for me. Managed to screw up two marriages, but "adopted" two of the best daughters a man could ask for. Then married wife number 3 - who was smarter than me (that rimes). We've been together for over 37-years now. She's a blue-eyed Commanche Indian; a descendant of Chief Quanah Parker and she keeps me hoppin'. 'Never know what's around the next corner, if you catch my drift. Denise and I were in the real estate and mortgage business in Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico for over 25-years, except for a s...Expand for more