My best friend from High School passed away yesterday (Feb. 22, 2011). I met Bill at the beginning of our Junior year, he had just moved to Sacramento from Torrance, CA and our family had just moved to West Sacramento from 32nd Avenue in South Sacramento. We were both new at the school and that was probably why we hit it off so readily. For the next two years, we were almost inseparable. We did everything together.
Bill was adopted. His adopted mother Olga was Spanish, I think, and his adopted father was a typical redneck American; Bill was the light of their lives. I’m a little ashamed that I don’t remember Bill’s father’s name, but I do remember the man. He was a diesel mechanic, large and rotund, and one of the nicest men I ever met. He took us everywhere and anywhere we wanted to go. He drove us North on the Sacramento River so we could spend a day drifting back to Sacramento on our inner tubes. He dropped us off at the “Y” in Lake Tahoe one summer so we could spend a week trying to survive on our own. He turned his head when we thought we were sneaking cigarettes, and he died right after we both graduated from High School. I was not there for Bill during that difficult time. Bill’s natural mother lived in Sacramento also. She owned a beauty shop near the intersection of 20th and “H” streets and we went often, to see her.
I left for England that summer after Graduation, and Bill married his High School sweetheart and settled down in Sacramento. When I returned from Europe, Bill had found a home working in the parts department of Sacramento’s largest Ford dealership, a position he retired from many years later. He loved stock cars and racing, and spent a lot of time in that endeavor. He also raced sidecar motorcycles and even gave speedboats a try. I think after the kids started arriving, he settled down a bit, but Bill was all about speed and competition.
I kept in touch with Bill over the years, and we spent three days at his home in Elk Grove on our recent tour of California. Bill’s kids lived here in Southern California, and he always stopped by our home when he came to see them. He made a difference in my life and it won’t be the same without him.
1 comment:
Bill was my lifelong friend too. I remember good times with you and Al, Nita, etc. You were always a good friend him. Bill and I were married a year and a half after graduation. We had two lovely daughters he adored and was always there for them through the years. Bill and I divorced after ten years but always remained friends. I loved him like a brother and will miss him greatly. He was luck to have such a good friend like you. He valued those old friendships always.
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