James M. Garrett, a graduate of Benicia High School’s Class of 1961 and fomer longtime teacher, is the author of “One Great Season 9-0!” (Photo courtesy of James Garrett)

The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Letter 9: My Old Friend

Mr. Garrett,
It is good we have memories. At times they can block out what our eyes see and see in memory only what had been.
I grew up in Benicia decades ago. Like a lot of young people I couldn’t wait to get out. I often used the words “there’s nothing to do here”. They are some of the words my kids use now, and we live in a city far larger than Benicia probably ever will be.
They don’t “get it” just like I didn’t “get it” when I grew up there.
My generation played pick-up ball games, rode bikes, played in the park by the fire station and got wet many times in the waters of Carquinez Straits. We weren’t often found in front of the TV unless a weekly serial we always watched with our family, like “The Rifleman” was on.
Things like that change with time, though, as things will always change.
The last time I came back to Benicia was because someone I had known in my youth had died.
When I looked in the casket at my classmate, and teammate, of another time, I didn’t recognize him. I thought there had to be a mistake. I had last seen him when we were in our early twenties. It just happened that Uncle Sam granted each of us leave at the same time. Looking back on that time, we both thought we were pretty worldly.
That was how I remembered him when going to the funeral. In the casket he looked tiny. The only time I had seen his body in a suit before then was at our high school graduation, and he filled the suit.
After viewing the casket where my old friend lay, I talked with his wife, who was a few years behind her husband and I in school, and some of the figures from the past. His wife thanked me for attending the services and other voices from the past said it was good to see me again. I didn’t recognize many of the faces from which the words came.
I thought of the love each of those people held for Benicia, the same love I hold though I haven’t lived there for years. It is a love I hadn’t realized I held as deeply as I do.
After the services I drove around town. So much has changed since I had been there last. I had no trouble finding the old high school, but I was surprised that our football field, Sanborn Field, was now the Post Office.
Gosh, I love that place named Benicia and the memories made there.
When I drove away I knew the chances were remote that I would ever live in Benicia again. Family and job demand some decisions which have to be made. I made myself a promise, though. I promised to return to Benicia at least every six months and stay a night or two. If it isn’t love for place and people which draw people back to a location, I don’t know what it is.
I didn’t recognize my old friend. I didn’t know of most of his life until I heard people speak of him at the services. I would have liked to have known that man as I had known the boy he had once been.
Hank

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love”, “The Mansion Stories”, “Chief Salt”, and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work entitled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.” He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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