Cheryl R, I did notice Benicia under your name and wondered if I knew you. I graduated in 1982 though, so I've been wracking my brain trying to remember anyone from town, who was older than me, named Cheryl.
I did have a cousin who might have graduated around the time of your class, Gary Smith, I think he graduated in 1978, do you know him? Oh, and my name was Lisa Smith. My mother was pretty well known in Benicia, you mght have known her. She worked at the Tia Theresa for years, Betty Smith? And maybe you know her best friend, Cheena, who also worked there. Her niece, Kim Melendez dated my brother, Danny Cullen for a while. Another brother worked as a bartender around town in the late 70's, Kevin Cullen. I have nieces and an ex-sister-on-law who still live around there, and several cousins. My ex SIL's name is Lynn Musante, my nieces are Kelly and Amy Cullen (although they've both married and have different last names now, and Kelly is living in Napa, these days). My aunt, Jackie Smith, (now Presley), owned the old Driftwood Hotel, (I don't know the current name of the place), on West J Street, in 1976 +/-. Another aunt and uncle were the cooks at the Tia Theresa, and several cousins worked there in the kitchen also, Martha and Gary Smith, Mike, Laura and Cindy Smith. I have two younger siblings, Sherry Smith and Sean Smith, but I don't know what the chances are that you know them. Sherry did work at the Tia Theresa for a while and then at the Bronze Seal. Do any of these names sound familiar?
I miss Benicia, it is such a wonderful little town - sadly, I totally didn't appreciate it while I was growing up. Older and wiser now, I only wish I still lived up there.
Anyway, it's nice to meet a fellow Benician.
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