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5/12/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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Hi all.. I was compelled to write something after learning of the passing of Rick Purnell and Matt Krystafik. I had known Rick as he was good friends with my nextdoor neighbor Pat Moorhouse. Matt was one of the first friends I made when I moved to H.B. in 4th grade. Although I encounter a lot of peoples' passing due to my line of work, the loss of friends hurts and reminds us of how short our time here is. I don't know how many people will remember me as I ran within a pretty small group socially speaking, and most of our time was spent pursuing surfing at Brookhurst beach and other endeavors not found in Edison's curriculum.
I still surf a lot but I think I may have evolved a little in other areas since those days. Ironically, the Fire Station I work at is right across the street from our old nemesis Fountain Valley High School. I live in Oceanside where the pace reminds me more of the HB we all grew up in. I am looking forward to seeing everyone as we all shared a very special time in a great place to grow up, that by its present looks is gone forever. The first thing I will do is put on a name tag. I don't know about you guy's, but I bear little resemblance to that long haired kook in that year book photo.
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5/14/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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John Upp, Its an hour drive from O’side to FV, I leave at 6 and get there at 7. Fortunately for me the way my schedule works I only drive up there 10 days a month. I do my 24 hours, get off the next morning and go surfing. I usually go to a reef break called Tamarack in Carlsbad, but I know some other spots off the beaten path if you ever get this far south. Hi Sue. Yes I remember you, I even think I was at your wedding. Sounds like you have the same memories of HB that I do. It is kinda reassuring some people remember me, you may have to fill in some blanks for me as some of us had our memory function impaired for some obscure reason.
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5/14/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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John Upp. I know what you mean about Sano. I actually went there on a week day so it was still crowded but not like a weekend. Yeah, it has turned into a yuppie farm but its still fun if its big enuf and the good thing about most of the people there is that they mostly just sit in the water and you can get lots of waves. Yeah, my old van stands out amongst all the happening SUV’s most of the crowd drives there. I actually surfed with Mike Whelan last May or June. I heard he had a bad bike crash not too long ago.
Hey Sue, I know Craig Peterson was working at a ski resort in the French Alps for a while. I used to run into his brother Dave when I still lived up there. Seems to me I ran across something about him in a magazine recently, I’ll research that
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5/14/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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John U. I think if you click on the envelope icon on the bulletin board or the year book photos, you can send email. Let me know your email address so we can talk story and exchange surf info without boring these other folks who are trying to focus on the reunion.
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5/21/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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Sue Cross, I remember now that an older man lawn bowling in the park where your wedding was came over and sang to you and your husband in Italian. I am really enjoying your, and everyone’s, memories. You really struck a chord about the bus ride to Dwyer and riding bikes down to the wedge and all the places to go there then. For general FYI I think I can get a hold of Danny Nunes. Does anyone remember the door between the Boy’s and Girl’s
Locker rooms at Dwyer?
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5/25/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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Kathy M., of course I remember you. You had such a cute smile. I remember Denean telling me that you had a pet monkey that she described as being "real mean" and it would try to bite her. As far as the reference to the door separating the locker rooms, I think the school insured that there were no holes or other flaws. The most ambitious breach was passing notes under it asking someone to unlock it as the lock was on the girl’s side. This was actually achieved on only one occasion I know of. And as a young man opened the door a crack to look, someone playfully shoved him from behind and he fell headlong thru the doorway clad only in his tighty whities causing a great deal of chaos and shrieking from the occupants of the other side. And no, I was neither the looker or the shover.
Sue, you obviously had such a love and appreciation for the ocean. It is so evident in your comments. The area I live still has some fairly unspoiled spots by So Cal standards, but they too will fall to developments ax some day also so you gotta appreciate it while its there. And in another reference to that shrine known to memory as Bob”s big boy, we had a picture of Troy Beatly sitting on the burger. And I recall that if you caused enough trouble, the waitress would have the cook come talk to you. The highest level of distinction was to be ejected and banned from Bob’s. That august award was attained by Steve Dobernic I believe
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7/20/2004
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Jerry Juergens
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Wow, where do I begin? Firstly, may I add my thanks to the chorus of praise and appreciation to the organizers of this benchmark event in the lives of so many. Your super human efforts resulted in a poignant window into a past we all shared.
Adrienne, your beautiful home was the perfect venue for an opportunity to reconnect and reminisce before the big event, even though my poor old van got egged by somebody who felt I was as incongruous in your snazzy neighborhood as I did. Don’t worry though, it didn’t hurt my paint job as I had already ruined it through years of careful neglect. Don’t let the posh zip code fool ya folks, this hood has a heavy vibe for unlocals.( Well Adrienne, what kind of remarks did you expect from a guy from O’side. Don’t tell me. This means no more invites, am I right?
My favorite embarrassing moment, of the many I can boast of, was being addressed by name and looked right into the eye by an arrestingly striking blond lady. I am sure I exhibited my best deer caught in the headlights look of panic as my mind reeled trying to connect a name with this knock out. I think my thoughts ran something like, “ I ‘m sorry I don’t recognized you yet, but just keep talking please.” I soon found out I was the victim of a Debbie J. stare down. Hope you enjoyed your moment of terror over me.
What is it about the Edison women of “74? For two nights I had the unbridled pleasure of talking to more interesting, intelligent, poised, classy, and extremely attractive woman than I probably will ever again. I know you guys were just being nice, but thanks for the boost anyway.
As I drove back to reality Sunday, the emotions I was registering gave testimony to the impact this event had on me. Again, my humble thanks to the selfless, admirable people who created this lasting memory for me. And all I had to do was write a check. JJ
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2/5/2005
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Jerry Juergens
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I read of Carl's passing in the O.C. papers at work recently. I had known Carl off and on since 7th grade at Dwyer. As we grew into surfing, he picked the pier while I chose Brookhurst and the River Jetties. The last short board I bought was from Carl at his shop in HB in the early 80's. He shaped it by hand, and signed his name on it. It gave me many moments of joy and pleasure, and so Carl touched my life in a very special way. I just finished holding that board. I have loaned it to friends, and now my son rides it. Its value to me cannot be defined.
I now ride a longer board, and for those of us who count our years of surfing in decades rather than years, the paddle outs for friends come with increasing frequency. I am sorry I missed Carl's.
Although Carl's passing was tragically premature, we all must draw solace from the knowledge that Carl was doing that activity that many of us fell in love with before we were dragged kicking and screaming into adulthood, but we somehow keep it alive. Carl's legacy now touches the life of a 13 year old fledgling surfer in Oceanside, my son Zack, as he is beginning his own personal, unique journey of the surfing life.
I will show Zack Carl's website, and I will tell him what I remember of him. We will paddle out and ride a wave for Carl, and maybe both of us will understand a little better we are all touching lives while we are here.
Aloha Brother.
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5/25/2007
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Jerry Juergens
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I was visiting some nostalgic websites that featured attractions that were a part of my growing up in O.C. but no longer existed and I remembered the Edison ’74 site and stopped by for a visit. I am so impressed and humbled by some of the difficult issues some of you have had to deal with and your transparent honesty in sharing and your courage in how you have met them. Spouses serving in combat far away, health issues of your own and of your invaluable children, and the passing of dear friends. Thank you for the inspiration, you have my admiration and prayers. I don’t see too much of our old stomping grounds though I work nearby. I pretty much get off the freeway, do my shift, then head back home. However today work took me by where the Bob’s Big Boy restaurant used to be, and you can imagine the memories. I also remember ridings bikes to the Speedy Mart before they became 7/11’s, going past field after field filled with mustard plants. I now find myself working alongside “kids” who were not yet born when I started riding around on red trucks “ putting the wet stuff on the hot stuff “ over 27 years ago. One of our alumni, Rich Hutchinson, ( who also earns a paycheck doing the same thing as me) , reminded me that we will be retiring soon. Wow. I remember walking off the campus of EHS for the last time wondering “ What the heck do I do now? “. That poor kid had no clue what he was in for, how about you guys? Thank You for indulging my nostalgic musings, could’nt resist exploiting a captive audience I guess. John Upp, sounds like you are adjusting well to your life change and even allude to it contributing to a “great” year, didn’t work that way for me. There’s a website called OC THEN that describes Knott’s Berry Farm before it went corporate, Lion Country Safari, and other places. I enjoyed it. Thanks for the air time.
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