"The 50s and 60s were innocent, simple times as I look back on them now. Of course, we didn't know that then. Also, we lived in a place where we were fairly well protected against harm. Our community was experiencing boom times and there was a lot of disposable cash floating around. We benefitted from this. It is how we got our new gym and natatorium, just to mention two examples. We had excellent teachers because there was money to get the best available. We received a very good education there. It makes me sad to go back to Jal now and see it crumbling. El Paso Natural Gas left years ago, and it seems the plug was pulled then. Sometimes we go 'cruising' through town and see where certain people used to live, the local former 'hot spots' , etc., and it all seems so much smaller now.

That's one reason why these reunions are so special to me. There's a bond between Jal people that seems to be unique to us. A friend of mine here in Carlsbad says that she wishes she was from Jal because 'you Jal people are always so glad to see each other', and she's right. It gets more and more wonderful as time goes on, too. The old friendships become deeper, and the renewed ones become lasting. At least that's the way it's been for me."