Dwight Magness
After graduation on or about the 15th of June I started
an incredible journey. My first stop
was West Covina Ca. to take advantage of a residence offer my dad had made to
aid my attendance at Mt San Antonio College. I attended Mt SAC for 1 semester
before my hunger for adventure compelled me to enlist in the USAF (also my gpa
wasn’t high enough to maintain a draft deferment.). That’s when things really
got good. My government actually employed some one to tell me how pitiful and
uncoordinated I was. (I had always been a little suspicious that this was the
case, but never would admit to it) After a great deal of training and more
training, I became part of the steel sword of our nations defense. (I was
impressed with me for the first time in my life) After a couple of years of O.J.T., I became a crew chief on an
F105d fighter jet and I was stationed at
Victorville Ca., life was good…. I had
a steady pay check, a good car and more free time than I knew what to do with.
(it was a situation that was easy to get use to) Then some wise guy comes along
and says “get on that plane over there your on you’re way to the far east,” oh
and here’s a top secret security clearance “ don’t tell anyone you’re going to
Thailand to bomb the “B” Jesus out of the North Vietnam.” (at the time it was
suppose to be a secret, they didn’t want the North Vietnamese to know where the
bombs were coming from Ha! Ha!) I retired from my air force career in 1966 (for
health & safety reasons…. bombing can be hazardous to one’s health)
Shortly after returning to Ca. I enrolled in Pasadena City College
where I became acquainted with the cutest little Polish girl one could ever
hope to meet..(I was bewitched). She had a bit of an accent and I was curious;
because by this time, I felt I was very knowledgeable about that kind of stuff;
so I asked her where she was from? She explained that she was Polish but she
didn’t come from Poland; she was born in England but she didn’t come from there
either, (boy, I thought guys were suppose to have the lines) she said she was
from Argentina. (right). Well, when it seemed to her that this story wasn’t
going hold water with me… she had her mother explain it to me… in Polish...(I
think she ended the explanation by complimenting me on my impressive military
service.. anyway they both laughed). By this time it didn’t make any difference
to me where she was from, I needed help with geology and she had already passed
the course. (she could kiss pretty good too). In Sept. of 67 in the Mission at
San Gabriel, Eva and I exchanged a promise to do each other to death. In November
of 67 our first daughter Yvette was born (at this time Eva’s mother, I think,
complimented me on my military service again.. but she didn’t laugh and Eva
wouldn’t translate for me)… I was happy … I passed geology, got the polish girl
with the great tale, and my dad gave a job in the family business so I could
move out the house…(it doesn’t get any better). In “68” I discovered the meaning of the term mortgage…it’s a
sentence of usually 20 years in length; but they give you a house in Arcadia
Ca. and a dog with it. Got that done just in time for Jessica who roared onto
the scene in 69.
I was ready for the 70’s …I had a wife, 2 kids, a dog, a mortgage,
a job, a new TV so I could watch the war protest and 2 cars (bring it on). In “
73” I thought it would be a good idea to go into the trucking business for
myself and in “77 “we incorporated Fleet Lines which thrilled me. 1977 was a
bittersweet year, even though business was good; my dad passed away in
June. Work, work, and more work it was
the 80’s before I knew what happened.
In the mid 80’s the government changed a lot of rules effecting
the trucking business so we sold most of the trucks and bought an avocado ranch
in Fillmore Ca. and built our dream home… my 2 suburbanite daughters thought I
had taken leave of my senses when I told them we were moving to a place where
they could have horses and sheep and what ever animal they wanted to take care
of. (“But dad its 25miles to a shopping center”) they made the adjustment. In
the late 80’s Eva took a job with the county of Ventura (currently supervising
the child protective services foster care program).
The “90’s” were when things really started to rock. The trucking
business made a strong come back, Jessica got married in 90, Yvette got married
in 92 and the grand baby derby was on. Jessica had Brittaney in 91; Yvette had
Tyler in 92; sadly my mother passed away in 94; Yvette was KOed buy a horrible
traffic accident in 95 and spent 2 months in intensive care of the 3 months in
the hospital and 6 months of rehab. Austin, 96 and Jordan, 97 were born to
Jessica. The trucking business was going crazy and gray hair was popping up
everywhere on my head (I keep wondering how a guy who was happy with military
pay and a lot of free time got himself into this mess. Next time I’ll stay away
from Polish girls with great tales.)
Well, it’s a whole new century, but the same life. Jacob arrived
in 00 courtesy of Jessica and Shannon 00 arrived via Yvette. (Now my fellow “
61” Spartans I know you all think your grand kids are the best..Right?.. well,
I have NEWS for you.) The Grandpa gig
has some real potential; by the way the current score is Jessica 4, Yvette 2..
I have been blessed with this life of mine and I wouldn’t change a
thing except for Yvette’s accident. Eva has given me comfort, patience,
confidence and love for 35 years. All of my daughters’ children are with the
same fathers who work their butts off supporting them. (I couldn’t ask for
more). I have enjoyed good health and reasonable prosperity and the “R” word is
starting to pop-up often. I’m looking forward to a great decade.. See you all
in October.
Dwight Magness aka Corky