A Step Back in Time

The beginning of a perfect day at the Old Timer’s Reunion found John Hammond, emcee, greeting everyone with, “Welcome to the ‘umpteenth’ Old Timer’s Reunion!” I cannot really recall just when the Old Timer’s Picnic began. Someone said it was the 57th in number and that’s good enough for me. We called it a picnic then for it was sort of one. Joan Johnson recalls being called to bake a cake for the Old Timer’s gathering each year. Anyway, a feeling of camaraderie prevailed throughout the day. Memories being resurrected and relived were enjoyed just as much as when they had first happened.

Those who answered the R.S.V.P. numbered 258 but the actual count of guests and other old timers who came by amounted to around 300.

Sporting a hand held mike, furnished by Dusty Hoffsteter’s sound system, Jon table hopped and greeted everyone and gave us all a bit of history here and there. I was happy to hear, when he got to Laura Hawkins Warner, who is a direct descendant of the Brite pioneer family of this valley, that he said, they used to live in “Brite’s Valley” but somewhere along the recent years someone lopped off the “s” making it “Brite Valley.” Even Laura still calls it Brite’s Valley and she should know. I include the apostrophe ‘s’ when referring to it and obviously, so does Jon.

A highlight in the day was naming the eldest lady and gent in attendance. This year, Ed Shuster, age 97, was the eldest and Hazel Woodard, 96, confessed to being one year older than last year when she also was the chosen winner.

A photo wall was arranged by Donna and Dick Dieterle from a collection of class reunions. Jerrie and Harry Cowan used to maintain a “photo wall” when we used to meet at the Parks and Rec building and before that Herb and Ola Force always displayed vintage pictures for the early former Old Timers Picnic in the city park. It was good to have the wall renewed.

Dick Dieterle was a greeter of sorts laughing as former students shared experiences from Jacobsen Junior High of which he was Principal for many years. As Jon Hammond said, he handled the “wild ones!” It’s a rare person who can be liked and respected by both students and parents.

An excellent meal from the Mill Street Kitchen was served by the Tehachapi High Girls Volley Ball Team who served and then picked up our plates after the meal. These cute young gals were there to help set up and pack up later. In other words, “three cheers for a job well done.”

It was gratifying to see Jodi Dunn Stauffer introduce her husband, Dave, to her “wonderful former English teacher, Donna Schmidt Dieterle.” Jodi, now, a teacher herself, lives here with her family.

Under the guidance of Seth Carroll and staff of Tehachapi Recreation and Parks and the City of Tehachapi, everything went like clockwork. The Tehachapi Heritage League foots the bill each year for the bulk mailing that sends out the invitations. In other words, a community endeavor. It is such an honor to have been on the greeting committee with Del Troy and Donna Dieterle. It afforded us the opportunity to see almost everyone who came and to share a few words with old friends.

It was good to see Jean Lantz, a writer and local historian plus being the wife of another well remembered teacher, Dae Lantz. Jean was recovering from a recent surgery but looked good.

I enjoyed conversing with Tehachapi born ,Virginia Chabre, daughter of Pete and Gladys Chabre. Her mother, Gladys Hood Chabre was another of Tehachapi’s legendary teachers. We were bemoaning the fact that our home town had changed so much. That “know everybody in town” feeling was gone forever. Then she said, “There is nothing as constant as change.” Boy, she got that right.

It was a wonderful Sunday in our beautiful park with friends from former generations and even the fickle Tehachapi weather was on its best behavior. Not everyone gets a chance to revisit days gone by with a chance of being able to catch up on the doings of old friends. So many dear faces, too numerous to mention. Then, while traveling home we carried with us in our hearts, a bit of yesterday with the laughter still ringing in our ears.