. . .One of the best magazines ever published was Life Magazine. The first all-photographic American news magazine, Life Magazine dominated the market for more than 40 years. At one point, the magazine sold more than 13.5 million copies a week. Publishing began in 1936, on a weekly basis, and officially ended in 1972, with special issues published after that date. Every important event during those years was covered, including some of the most unforgettable photographs ever taken.
Perhaps one of the best-known pictures printed in the magazine was Alfred Eisenstaedt's photograph of a nurse in a sailor's arms, taken on August 27, 1945, as they celebrated VJ Day in New York City.
In my collection of old magazines, stored in my garage, I even have some vintage issues commemorating special events. Looking through the Classic Life Magazine website, I went back to special dates in my life, and here are the covers that were on the newstand at that time.
My birthday, August 1949
Shocked and saddened by Marilyn Monroe's death, the summer before beginning 10th grade, at Crawford High School. I loved looking at pictures of Marilyn, and thought she was the most beautiful woman alive. Her life was so sad, and death is still a mystery.
First day of high school, and my favorite musical group, The Beatles, were coming to America for the first time. I still can remember watching The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, hearing them sing "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and wanting to scream at the top of my voice like the girls in the audience, but my parents were in the room and I wasn't going to act stupid in front of them!
Graduating from high school.
Beginning my first year at Mesa Community College. I loved Mesa, and for the first time, learned how to study and become a good student.
Began my first year at San Diego State University. Although I had lived across the street from the college most of my life, I had a hard time being comfortable on such a large campus. Most of the time I felt like I was alone in a vast sea of people, and never really enjoyed my college experience. Luckily, I was a Little Sister at a fraternity, and had a social life, but it was rare to see familiar faces while walking campus, and from class to class. Later in life I realized how important it would have been to live on campus beginning as a freshman, and make a life for myself, but my parents would never had allowed me to do such a thing. As a result, I made sure that my own children had the opportunity to live a life of their own. My only regret in life was not having a true college experience, and maybe I would have made better choices in other areas, but that was not to be for me. So now I am an advocate with my students to living out their dreams, and embracing every opportunity that comes their way.
Graduated from college with a Bachelor's of Arts Degree, from California State University, San Diego, which is now known as San Diego State University. For some reason and I can't remember why after all these years, but the college changed its name for only one year, but then went back to its original name.
I got married for the first time in August of 1972. Didn't last long. Guess I was too young and too stupid to realize how to make it work.
Got married for the second time. Much smarter the second time around, and we were married for 27 years.
Birth of my first child, Andrea.
Began my first year of teaching English at Bell Junior High. Andrea
began sleeping through the night one week before school began, and it
was so difficult leaving an infant each morning. This was one of my
most difficult years ever. Brand new teacher with no classroom
management skills, and a small baby. Boy was I clueless on so many
levels! On day one I started counting down the days until summer
vacation. The beginning of a career and motherhood. What a struggle,
what a challenge.
Birth of my second child Brandon.
Began my teaching career at Crawford High School. I was a
graduate returning to the Colt Corral. Going into the gym brought back
a wave of nostalgia. Remembering all my wonderful high school years,
but seeing such a changed population was difficult to handle at first.
Crawford was a virtual United Nations, and I had a lot to learn about
working in such diversity. My first year was very frustrating, and
many times I wondered why I had left my previous teaching assignment.
Looking back over the past 17 years I realize how much I have changed,
and how important my students have been to my personal development.
Who I am today is a direct result of the many students that have passed
through my classroom door. I truly am a better person because of my
students. I have been blessed, and I know that I will miss teaching on
a daily basis, but I will be back, but in a different capacity. Thank
you Crawford High School for making me a better human being.
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