On a warm fall day, I parked on the Northside of Berkeley and headed for a Cal football game with Uncle Jim. On Ridge Road, I strolled by Ridge House, the first co-op I lived in as a freshman a half a century ago. Less than a block away I peered down a busy Euclid Avenue and was greeted by an old friend, the La Val’s pizza sign. It was a place of serious and not-so-serious college discussions with friends. A half a block farther, on the left side of Ridge Road was Stebbins Hall, where I lived for my remaining years at Cal. It was a place of great friendships, including with your Auntie Marlene and her frequent guest, Uncle Gary. The Forrest-Kozono Cal tradition began at that co-op on 2527 Ridge Road.
I ambled from the Northside across the Cal campus, passing the Faculty Club where Miko and Corey were married on that happy July day. Next to the tree-lined path were buildings where Miko and I attended classes. Many of them were built thanks to the vision of my great-grand uncle, Jacob Reinstein. He was in Cal’s very first graduating class in 1873 and served as a UC Regent. At the center of campus, I followed the University of California Marching Band up the hill to Memorial Stadium.
Jim, another Cal alum, and I were happy as we ate our hot dogs and chatted about family in the stands. The game was a disaster, as our Bad News Bears lost to an equally bad team. We were philosophical as long suffering Cal football fans of advanced years. The day was another precious Cal memory with my best friend. And the walk back through campus to my Northside did not disappoint.
