Remmick-Hubert Special Page - Lodi Union High School, Class of 1960-Newsletter

Vol.10:  29 May 2003 - Page One

Editor's Notes

Where have all the golden poppies gone? Gone with the blue lupines which has been replaced with the grape vines, fruit orchards and houses, known, also, as civilization.

When we were young this civilization was in and around our town of Lodi,  but, on a Sunday drive, in our family 1939 Pontiac, our  family would drive to virgin areas where we could see the untouched fields of waving wild grasses doted with native oaks that were so huge that it would take at least four family members to reach around the trunk on an old oak.  Oh, and the poppies truly made our hills golden and the lupines stretched across the cool meadows like a blue sea waving in the breeze....

In this new century, most of the old oaks have vanished because they have fallen from age, by the wind or the blade of man's saws.  More than trees and poppies fall as victims to civilization. There were many of the wild creatures who once roam over or flew over the valley.

I remember standing along the Mokelumne River seeing in the mud banks the prints of bob-cat, cougar, raccoons, deer, opposeums.....rabbits....  Birds of all kinds.  I always liked the red wing black bird that clung to the reeds......

There was a sign out by a huge old oak near a huge old weatherworn barn  just east of Lodi [Eilliot Rd, I think] and northwest of Lockeford  that told about the last grizzely bear being kill on that sight....

I vividly remember the human fight against cycotes who's carcasses were tied on fence posts to show the local people were doing their part in getting rid of these critters that were destructive to domestic animals of the farmers and ranchers. Thinking about those dead critters still make me sad. Civilization has cause many things to be extinct.  The cycotes, however,  have through the years managed to survive the human element in this world. Here in Lafayette at night they trek pass our six foot fence and mark where our dogs have marked during the day. While in bed we can sometimes hear the coyotes various barks and howls.  We can tell if they are chasing their late dinner or if they are just letting their kind know they are near. Sometime, in the spring,  we can hear the yips of the babies as they try to keep up with their parents.

This afternoon in May of the year 2003,  I hear the shrill shriek of the Bluejays overhead in the oak trees on our property.  Our Irish Setter has spotted a squirel and is running after it while the Golden Retriever pup [5 months and 43 pounds] tried to follow the Irish but can't and stops to watch the Irish running around the base of an oak and bark at the squirrel which is chattering down at him from a safe branch.

As I watch my private little world,  I can't help but wonder what private world the soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait are missing here at home in the USA.  Also,  I think of the all the people who have lost their lives in that far away place and how they will never see even the simple things in life, again.  I grieve for them.  No one I know, who is / was there, have lost their lives. I hope no one else has to die but I'm sure that is being too optimistic.  

In the Question and Answer section of our Newsletter,  there will be our Class of 1960's discussion about the War in Iraq. There will be those who felt we should not have gone to war, others will support Bush, while others will avoid the questions and not reply.  It is certain all our feelings are strong.  I hope it will be the last war we have to discuss.  But, I'm sure that is being too optimistic.

In high school I remember reading a book that was filled with words from  a variety of people who were in the graves  and it left it's impression upon me forever. . It was fictional about a fictional town called Spoon River.  One of the voices from the dead voiced:

"I came to this wingless void,

Where neither red, nor gold, nor wine,

Nor the rhythm of life is known." ₁

Did any of our own classmates lose the rhythm of life in the Vietnam War?  Did they go unnoticed by me and others to that wingless void....?  There must be many of our classmates who have served our nation then and later.  Let me just say thanks.  

My eyes return to my small private world. The golden puppy waits happily for the Irish Setter who walks back towards us on the path among the oaks under a beautiful blue May sky.  The three of us walk back toward my studio which is up on the hill away from the main house.  A butterfly flies just out of the reach of the puppy  who wonders about all new things to him.  

Life should be warm and fuzzy with butterflies and golden puppies.....

My thoughts go to my husband and our sons who didn't have to fight in a war, and , then to our grandchildren, all too young to undertand the full meaning of  war....  I speak softly upward and thank my blessings.  Life has been good.  Those around me,  whom I love so dearly,  continue to know the rhythm of life.

Editor, who never could spell, and Webmistress

Judy A. Remmick-Hubert

Judy A. Remmick-Hubert

Sunday the 18th of May 2003

Bear Oaks in Lafaytte, CA

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1. Page 21, last three lines of Benjamin Fraser in Spoon River Antholoy by Edgar Lee Masters

Newsletter - Vol. 9: 13 Nov 2002

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