Janet Wood Payne

I need to track down the photos of Hastings Ranch from about 1952 when my parents were selecting their lot to build a house (at top of Tropical Avenue). There was nothing there at the time so they got lucky and got the corner lot and convinced the builders to move the garage to the back of the lot. Found memories of having our street start the tradition of having Christmas decorations on the trees by the street. Remember how many people crowded the streets during the Christmas season? Also am remembering the time we had to evacuate Don Benito because of the fires in the hills. And remembering how terrible it was to leave the security of elementary school and be bused to the big scary John Marshall Jr. High where the teachers all seemed to be mean. Was it just me? It didn't help to have a bad haircut, glasses and a violin during those years. It was before being a nerd was popular!

Sorry the photo is sideways. Here's one of my birthday party photos...see if you can guess which girls were there from Don Benito!

Hi Ginny, you were my first best friend back when we went to Don Benito and had so much fun pretending to be horses and galloping around our living rooms! I am very touched to hear that you are a Christian and so am I. I really hope that we can get together one of these days since I live in Vallejo and am not far from you. I've reconnected with Pam and she would love to see you one of these days, although she lives in Tustin. If you see this, please email me at janetapayne@gmail.com and see if we can get together and catch up! XXXOX Janet

I'm so sorry to hear of Beck's passing.  DIdn't we all have crushes on him when he was a cheerleader? I enjoyed being in drama with him and everyone who enjoyed Abel Franco's great class!  May he rest in peace!

Here's the Don Benito Elementary song. Our school is snuggled in the foothills, our colors gold and blue, we are proud and loyal students and we always will be true. Was there another piece to it?
Remember when the mountains were on fire and we had to evacuate? Remember Mrs. Burr who was so strict but an excellent teacher? I got in trouble for comparing homework answers in math with Ginny Friederici because we both made the same mistake! And once I took my doctor bag purse to recess and a boy started grabbing it from me, and I succeeded in keeping my purse. He then kicked a kickball directly into my stomach and I fainted right there on the lower playground. Does anyone remember that? I was in about 5th or 6th grade. I also remember how fun it was to play on the playground on weekends, and they even left the bathrooms unlocked. What a different world we live in today!