Early Years

I was born at 5:30 a.m. on May 12th, 1938 at St. Peter hospital in Eugene, Oregon.  I heard my first joke three months later.

My early years were mostly as normal as other kids in Eugene, where I lived until I was 16.

My first three and my fifth and sixth school years were at Whiteaker elementary.  My fourth year was at Lincoln elementary because of overcrowding at Whiteaker.  I deeply resented having to leave my friends and go to Lincoln and rebelled in class whenever possible.  When directed to answer questions in our workbooks, I simply wrote “no.”  I was passed conditionally but had no problem after going back to Whiteaker.