FAQ's
As Compiled by Nicole Menard
January 14, 1991
SCHOOL:
Q:
WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN SCHOOL WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?
A:
Socially, the atmosphere was pleasant, despite the threatening
mood of nuclear war. As a youth in the 50's, I vividly recall "window
shopping" for fall out shelters with my parents after school. That
experience tended to bring the family unit closer together.
Economically, we were part of the middle to upper middle class and I
recall never being in want of anything of significance, let alone daily
necessities of life, and therefore had the opportunity to attend
private schools for the first 12 years of my education. Socially,
life was but a dream and the football and basketball
games were great, especially when topped off with a hamburger at Bob's
Big Boy. Bob really knew how to serve a hamburger and put just the right
amount of cherry syrup in their cherry cokes. Those were the days . . .
until the 60's and the draft. As a male, my biggest concern was to be able
to go to and complete college, as the government was no longer giving school
deferments. For me, despite my political beliefs about the then Viet Nam
"conflict" I wanted to complete my college education. Fortunately, it was
in God's plan that I do so, as I accomplished that feat while having to
dodge tear gas canisters and swinging billy clubs by the police who were
fighting those promoting peace on UC Berkeley campus.
Q:
WHAT KIND OF CLASSES DID YOU TAKE IN 8TH GRADE?
A:
Math, English, Civics, History, Religion. I suppose the same
sort of curriculum currently offered students in 8th grade today.
Q:
WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?
A:
Elementary school: St. Patrick's in North Hollywood, CA
High School: Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, CA
College: UCLA, UCSB, UCB and UCLA where I got my Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology
Law School: Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles where I got my Juris Doctorate degree
JOB/WORK:
Q:
WHAT KINDS OF WORK HAVE YOU DONE IN YOUR LIFE?
A:
Worked as a carpet cleaning apprentice and journeyman; made
submarine sandwiches in an Italian deli; bagged and checked out
groceries in the food industry working my way up to being a journeyman clerk; law clerked; practice law as a lawyer,
act as a pro tem judge and arbitrator for the Ventura County Superior Courts.
A:
Working as an apprentice to a carpet and upholstery cleaner.
Q:
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU HAD YOUR FIRST JOB?
FAMILY & CHILDHOOD:
Q:
WHAT WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD LIKE IN COMPARISON TO TODAY?
A:
My responsibilities then were not as significant as they
are today, however, my easy-going style tempered with the right degree
of tenacity remains dominant which has always seemed to, and does, get
me through whatever those responsibilities are.
Q:
HOW WAS THE MALE DIFFERENT FROM THE FEMALE IN YOUR FAMILY?
A:
Having been brought up during a time period when chauvinism
reigned, the then social thought was that the female did not have the
pressures and burdens associated with having to support a family. Of
course, concomitant with this rather negative approach, was the loss of
the positive side, that is, the female then did not have the freedoms
which the modern females have, such as the right to control the TV
remote control.
Q:
WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS EXPECT OF YOU (AS IN CHORES) IN YOUR
FAMILY AS A CHILD?
A:
As I had to pay for my private education from 1st through
12th grades, the money I earned working as a carpet cleaner's
apprentice paid for that. Around home, and without receiving an
allowance for it, I was able to wash dishes and my parents cars,
take out the trash, fix whatever I broke--which provided me great
opportunity to enhance my mechanical skills--and weed the front
and backyard gardens and lawns.
MOBILITY:
Q:
WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST HOUSE YOU LIVED IN AS A CHILD?
A:
In St. Albans, Vermont approximately two miles from the center
of town...just down the street from Lake Champlain.
Q:
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU MOVED FROM THERE?
A:
2 years old.
Q:
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM LIVING HERE?
A:
I truly don't recall, as I was only two when I moved out here.
BONUS QUESTIONS:
Q:
HOW IS YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED IN U.S. HISTORY?
A:
We are all part of the country's statistics and, though having
each made our mark in our respective areas of life, have not yet made
it into the history books. Time will tell, however the outcome on
this one.
Q:
WHAT IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST STORIES YOU CAN REMEMBER?
A:
The first time I acted as a pro tem judge after being a lawyer
for 14 years. When one of the attorneys said "Your, Honor" I looked
around the court room to see where the judge was, having forgotten
I was the judge.
Q:
WHAT'S ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL STORIES YOU CAN REMEMBER?
A:
A friend of mine asked me if someone he knew who owned a 50'
luxury yacht, which was on its way to Cabo San Lucas, could moor the
boat at one of my home docks for a couple of days. The boat arrived
with its own ship's captain. The "couple of days" lasted 4 months.
I got "boat privileges" for giving Lyle, the ship's captain, "house
privileges." Captain Lyle became a dear friend and member of my family. This
happened when I was home-schooling Nicole, so Lyle also became
her geography teacher, teaching her all about the various countries
he visited as a professional ship's captain. We would tour the harbor
and be spontaneously invited, during those harbor cruises, to homes
with on-going parties and would take the party's guests out for cruises.
It was a most unusual time.
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chris@chrisesq.com