Wonderful memories of Jamie from Bill Clark - Class of 1975
Where have you gone, why were you taken away?
In the halls of Foothill Intermediate School I first saw you Jamie. She
was in 7th and I in 8th. And she was beautiful. I was of course to scared
and shy to say anything. How awkward growing up can be!
It wasn¹t until my junior year, her sophomore year that she knew I was
alive. We happened to be at the same party and started talking. I¹m sure I
didn¹t utter an intelligent word, but she must have overlooked that
because after that we became an item. My first girlfriend.
By the end of that first year we broke up and made up more times than I
care to remember, but we learned about forgiveness, passion, and fell in
love. The summer of '74 was one of great memories and good times; Lake
Arrowhead, surfing, sailing on her stepdad, Lloyd¹s boat, friends,
parties, movies, unlimited stops for food at Lloyd¹s Restaurant and being
togethereverywhere. She was smart, witty, and passionate and we talked
about life until the wee hours in my Ford, Pinto, listening to eight track
tapes. We had our own song (everybody had the same) Chicago¹s "Just You
and Me", and the Beach Boys brought us the anthem to the promise of our
sun filled days of fun. We even had a code, 1,4,3; the number of letter in
the words I LOVE YOU.
The school year followed with the kind of storyline that seems so very
cliché, but put me at the top of the worldquarterback of the high school
football team and the beautiful cheerleader Jamie Naef, my girlfriend. We
even won a few games that year. The dance continued all year long with one
week after another painting memories that live with me today. Holding
hands in the halls of La Canada High School, matchmaking our friends,
concerts, parties, ditching school to go skiing at Mt. Waterman, more
meals at Lloyd¹s. We were inseparable, even working at the same restaurant
together.
The Prom came and before we knew it graduation was upon us. The summer
ahead still belonged to us, more beach, baseball games, trips to Arrowhead
with friends, working at the Sawmill restaurant in Pasadena, Hwy 1 to San
Francisco, helping me move into my first apartment and planning the for
the future. When the future got here it came with new challenges and new
places. I was off to college and she was finishing up High School. It was
time for us to begin new journeys on our own. We grew together and now we
had to discover the pain of growing apart. The romance was over, but the
friendship, enduring connection to our youth, and our love for one another
never ended.
Over the years we remained in touch and occasionally see each other in our
travels, introducing each other to the changes and people in our lives. We
supported each other¹s triumphs and always a call away for the
disappointments.
She arrived in New York the very year that I headed back to the west
coast. This is where she found her home. A long way away from La Canada,
but would prove to be the place she belonged. My heart broke again for her
when I found out she was sick. How cruel, It can¹t be true. She was too
young. This isn¹t supposed to happen. She doesn¹t deserve this struggle. I
thought she could beat it. Her strong will, spirit and the man she married
proved to be the strength to endure. And she did for so many years. I¹ll
never know how hard the toll of illness took on her, because she never let
on. She was always more interested in how you were doing. When I went
through my cancer treatment she gave me the hope. That is who she
isforever optimistic and bight, never complaining about her plight. She
was, extraordinary.
What I learned about Jamie in the end was how incredibly courageous and
brave she was. It is a blessing for me that saying good-bye is so hard.
Thank you for the gift, a time we were free and shared our firsts. I will
miss you dearly sweet beautiful Jamie! 1,4,3.
Erin Dundee