Jane Williams Smith
This "Life Story" was written a little differently than most (Because Jane Williams is a little different than most). One of Jane's best friends, Gloria Dorcy, conducted an informal interview with her, to draw upon Jane's excellent memory and her thoughts about a variety of things. Enjoy.
Q: Tell me a good memory of a Grover Cleveland High School teacher.
Jane: OK, this one is about Mr. Cazes, in 11th Grade English Lit. I was in class with all of my surfer friends and we were to read horror books. All of the guys tried to transfer out of the class. But I went home to my mother and told her that I had to read a book. So Mom picked out "The Razor's Edge" from her impressive bookshelf. I read it and could not stop writing about it. My surfer friends came over and I helped all of them fake their book reports. Yeah, I was "in" with the Surfer Dudes. Once, after graduation, I went out on a date with Mr. Cazes. He was smitten with me, but I could not get over the fact that he was my teacher.
Q: What happened that made you move away from the Valley?
Jane: We had lived in the same Valley apartment building as Pam Douglas and her husband for awhile and my husband was going into a new business with his friend. In Upland, far away from my beloved ocean.
Q: Tell me about your favorite Christmas.
Jane: It was in Upland. I had three children by this time (2 girls and a boy). We had no money, my husband was painting houses and I was doing daycare for six more children (who were like my own). I watched soap operas on television just to hear another adult voice in the house. I wanted to have Christmas gifts for all of these children, so I began making things. Tons of embroidered pillows...anything and everything I could think of. They had tons of presents. Even my step-daughter was overwhelmed.
Q: Who are you still friends with from high school...and why?
Jane: Dixie (Reinhardt), because she would be so mad at me if I wasn't. And Julie Paglia, who I reconnected with at the 65th birthday event in 2012. And Tiko Platner from the Class of 1967. He was one of my brother Doug's friends and we met again at Doug's send-off on Christmas Eve, 2012. Tiko is still a surfer.
Q: You've said you loved high school. Why?
Jane: I loved all of the social interaction and I was a late bloomer in high school. I was finally "a woman" and the guys were all over me.
Q: Tell us about you marriages?
Jane: I've been married five times. The most unusual (the 4th) was not legal I guess. We were married in the desert by ourselves and then divorced later in the ocean. My 5th was to Chris, the father of two of my children and that has lasted for 30 years now. But I love living alone, doing my own thing and feeling totally free.
Q: What occupations have you had?
Jane: I have been a hair dresser, a real estate agent, a school bus driver, a daycare provider and an artist.
Q: And finally, why should our classmates attend the upcoming 50th reunion?
Jane: Because we can. Oh come on...what else do you have to do that's better. We are all so excited to have this to look forward to in October. I want to get a group of women together in a large circle and figure out how we can embrace this new age of Aquarius, where we finally become a Matriarchal society and wars can just stop.
Q: Last thoughts?
Jane: I am now a Great Grandmother. I gave birth to my first daughter when I was just 19. The women in my family are so strong, real female warriors and are so wonderful. As is my son. Now I am in a happy relationship. I have no regrets. All that I have done has brought me here.
Q: Tell me a good memory of a Grover Cleveland High School teacher.
Jane: OK, this one is about Mr. Cazes, in 11th Grade English Lit. I was in class with all of my surfer friends and we were to read horror books. All of the guys tried to transfer out of the class. But I went home to my mother and told her that I had to read a book. So Mom picked out "The Razor's Edge" from her impressive bookshelf. I read it and could not stop writing about it. My surfer friends came over and I helped all of them fake their book reports. Yeah, I was "in" with the Surfer Dudes. Once, after graduation, I went out on a date with Mr. Cazes. He was smitten with me, but I could not get over the fact that he was my teacher.
Q: What happened that made you move away from the Valley?
Jane: We had lived in the same Valley apartment building as Pam Douglas and her husband for awhile and my husband was going into a new business with his friend. In Upland, far away from my beloved ocean.
Q: Tell me about your favorite Christmas.
Jane: It was in Upland. I had three children by this time (2 girls and a boy). We had no money, my husband was painting houses and I was doing daycare for six more children (who were like my own). I watched soap operas on television just to hear another adult voice in the house. I wanted to have Christmas gifts for all of these children, so I began making things. Tons of embroidered pillows...anything and everything I could think of. They had tons of presents. Even my step-daughter was overwhelmed.
Q: Who are you still friends with from high school...and why?
Jane: Dixie (Reinhardt), because she would be so mad at me if I wasn't. And Julie Paglia, who I reconnected with at the 65th birthday event in 2012. And Tiko Platner from the Class of 1967. He was one of my brother Doug's friends and we met again at Doug's send-off on Christmas Eve, 2012. Tiko is still a surfer.
Q: You've said you loved high school. Why?
Jane: I loved all of the social interaction and I was a late bloomer in high school. I was finally "a woman" and the guys were all over me.
Q: Tell us about you marriages?
Jane: I've been married five times. The most unusual (the 4th) was not legal I guess. We were married in the desert by ourselves and then divorced later in the ocean. My 5th was to Chris, the father of two of my children and that has lasted for 30 years now. But I love living alone, doing my own thing and feeling totally free.
Q: What occupations have you had?
Jane: I have been a hair dresser, a real estate agent, a school bus driver, a daycare provider and an artist.
Q: And finally, why should our classmates attend the upcoming 50th reunion?
Jane: Because we can. Oh come on...what else do you have to do that's better. We are all so excited to have this to look forward to in October. I want to get a group of women together in a large circle and figure out how we can embrace this new age of Aquarius, where we finally become a Matriarchal society and wars can just stop.
Q: Last thoughts?
Jane: I am now a Great Grandmother. I gave birth to my first daughter when I was just 19. The women in my family are so strong, real female warriors and are so wonderful. As is my son. Now I am in a happy relationship. I have no regrets. All that I have done has brought me here.
Jane at Northridge Jr. High School
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The Big Carpinteria Surfing Trip
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The era of "Big Hair"
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With Ritchie (1971)
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With granddaughter Megan
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A "partial" family portrait
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With long-time friend Dixie Reinhardt
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A pensive walk on the wild side
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With newest granddaughters Aria and Arabelle
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Comments
Dear Jane, Thank you for allowing me to interview you my friend! I had such a wonderful &extremely interesting visit at your wonderful home. I am so glad that we are still friends & that these celebrations help us maintain this friendship. I admire you & your spirit & am so glad to be part of the "Aquarius
" you speak of! Love Gloria Dorcy
" you speak of! Love Gloria Dorcy