It was in September 1967 that I entered the class as a third year college man at St. Patrick's, Menlo Park. I was 30! Most of the guys were 20! Those two college years became the most satisfying seminary years for me. I wasn't ever a good student. I used to always say "IF" I become a priest after "all this seminary stuff". I don't even remember when or why, but at some point I started saying "WHEN" I become a priest É and one day I was ordained, June 23,1973. Even to this day, sometimes it all seems like a dream!

In 1975 I was appointed Monterey Vocation Director and did vocation work for 8 years [with Oakland VocDir and VG, now Bishop of Honolulu, Larry Silva]. I stopped when made a first-time pastor at St. Joseph's, Spreckels. In my 30 years as an active parish priest I had eleven assignments: in Salinas, Capitola, Marina, Pacific Grove, among the others mentioned. I took a year sabbatical [94-95] and worked in Carson City.

I found my own re-entering assignment at Old Mission, San Luis Obispo. My bishop then sent me to Cambria as Administrator for 8 months. Then I asked to return north in my diocese because it was time for my last assignment before retirement. That parish was Tres Pinos, near the cultural center of the Americas &endash; Hollister &endash; in San Benito County. After 30 years in pastoral ministry, I retired on September 1, 2003 when the TP assignment ended. I was 66 _ years of age. In retirement I decided NOT to run around to every parish to do weekend Masses.

I love being retired, not having a schedule, doing whatever I want whenever I want. I'm in good health (so far)! "Church-people" (bishops!) eat your heart out, I'm retired! For the first time in my life I'm on my own at 66. --the short version, edited by JB...with permission and apologies to LB