Wendell and Friends

As you may know, my dad , Charlie McIntire, taught with Wendell at San Dieguito High School in Encinitas. 

Because it was San Dieguito, I was allowed to not only have my dad as a teacher, but also to work as his aide one semester, helping him with grades, organizing his office, etc. Coincidentally, that particular semester, Dad and his good buddy Wendell had the same prep period, which meant that I, as his teacher’s aide, got to hang out with my dad and your dad in the teacher’s lounge, drinking coffee no less, for at least the first twenty minutes of the hour.

Those are some of my favorite memories of high school! I’m sure it’s no surprise to you that every female on the face of the planet found Wendell attractive, including me at age 17, but that semester I actually got know him much better.

He and my dad would blow off steam talking about the students, the administration, politics, their wives ,and the general state of the world, and one comment was funnier than the next, to the point I would have trouble not peeing my pants, I would be laughing so hard! 

And then dad and I would go off to grade papers or do whatever, both in a better mood, and still laughing about whatever Wendell had said that day.

Wendell’s whole take on life was always so funny and relaxed that he was very good for my dad Charlie, who tended to stress too much about teaching, and who took every parent’s criticism to heart. I can just hear Wendell now, saying “Oh Charlie, just tell them to go to hell!” 

We were so sad when Wendell quit teaching, but so happy that your parents stayed close to their old friends here, and that we got to see them periodically. Thanks for the opportunity to re-live the good memories. We all loved Wendell.