| '60s Recollections cont. |
Bob De Zayas (another unappreciated government worker), Class of '65 . . . . Thoughts of La
Paz take me back to the adventures of the "Invincibles" (Nolan Sessions and Alex, my brother),
the "Temerarios" (Walter Sessions and I) and "Los atomos en accion" (Willie Rodriquez and
Michy, my other brother). I remember climibing "La muela del diablo" many times, and having to
cross serveral creeks whose water contained everything and anything that you can imagine! But
we were young and had uncontrollable eagerness for fun and adventure, so I forged ahead and
crossed the creeks anyway. I think back to the fights we routinely had with our favorite Bolivian
gang in Calacoto (I have since forgotten their names). It seems that Alex always jumped right in
and I ended up joining him. Two revolutions took place during my stay in La Paz. I vividly
remember the one that took place while we were living in Miraflores. The planes flying right over
our house as they attacked the cuartel on th top of the mountain.
On the fun side, I recall that Alex and I used to take our father's car when he was away on
business, without his knowledge of course, to attend parties. (Editor's note: Brian Guerrini was
guilty of this also. I'll never forget when he drove his father's car off a cliff! What a hoot that was.
Remember Willie? Sorry Bob. Please go on, rk) A band known as the Blackbirds, normally
played at these parties. We spent a lot ot time in my "home away from home" . . . . the
Sessions'. I remember the night we baby-sat one of the Sessions' neighbor's house . . . a great
night only interupted by parents picking up their kids!!
I have great memories of Bolivia. Memories of good friends, an appetite for enjoying everything
we did to the fullest and the passion with which we lived each day. Indeed, they were good
times! See you in Austin!
Willie Rodriquez (geologist), Class of '68 . . . . I remember Los Atomos (Michy and I) decided it
would be very cool to shave our heads. We did and as we were watching all of our hair being
removed layer by layer, we had second thoughts about our great idea. My mother's reaction was
typical of everyone's we met, "Muchacho, que te has hecho!!"" I wore a hat for the next three
months.
I also remember climbing La Muela del Diablo with Dick Kraighman and others the first day of
summer vacation (actually winter). We had gone up and on our way down had to wait for Dick
who was taking his sweet time joining the rest of the group (Editor's note: I take exception to
Willie's comment. I had simply stopped to smell the roses, rk). We waited for a while and
decided it would be prudent to go back up (!) and find him. We found him sprawled on the
ground looking in pretty bad shape. He had taken a spill and hurt his knee (Editor's note:
"Hurt?!" "Totaled" might be a better description, rk) We urged him on (Editor's note: With friends
like this who needs enemies?, rk) saying it would only be a few hours. He bravely pushed on
(Editor's note: Make that "crawled on" Willie) until we finally made it. The next day (second day of
vacation), Dick's leg was placed in a cast (Editor's note: It still hurts when it rains, rk). He had
broken his knee. To this day, I don't have a clue how he managed to get down that mountain!
(Editor's note: 'Cuz I couldn't wait to have everyone sign my cast, rk)
(Editor's final note: No one had a better buddy growing up than Willie Rodriquez. Thank you my
old friend. You are the source of many great memories, rk)
Paz take me back to the adventures of the "Invincibles" (Nolan Sessions and Alex, my brother),
the "Temerarios" (Walter Sessions and I) and "Los atomos en accion" (Willie Rodriquez and
Michy, my other brother). I remember climibing "La muela del diablo" many times, and having to
cross serveral creeks whose water contained everything and anything that you can imagine! But
we were young and had uncontrollable eagerness for fun and adventure, so I forged ahead and
crossed the creeks anyway. I think back to the fights we routinely had with our favorite Bolivian
gang in Calacoto (I have since forgotten their names). It seems that Alex always jumped right in
and I ended up joining him. Two revolutions took place during my stay in La Paz. I vividly
remember the one that took place while we were living in Miraflores. The planes flying right over
our house as they attacked the cuartel on th top of the mountain.
On the fun side, I recall that Alex and I used to take our father's car when he was away on
business, without his knowledge of course, to attend parties. (Editor's note: Brian Guerrini was
guilty of this also. I'll never forget when he drove his father's car off a cliff! What a hoot that was.
Remember Willie? Sorry Bob. Please go on, rk) A band known as the Blackbirds, normally
played at these parties. We spent a lot ot time in my "home away from home" . . . . the
Sessions'. I remember the night we baby-sat one of the Sessions' neighbor's house . . . a great
night only interupted by parents picking up their kids!!
I have great memories of Bolivia. Memories of good friends, an appetite for enjoying everything
we did to the fullest and the passion with which we lived each day. Indeed, they were good
times! See you in Austin!
Willie Rodriquez (geologist), Class of '68 . . . . I remember Los Atomos (Michy and I) decided it
would be very cool to shave our heads. We did and as we were watching all of our hair being
removed layer by layer, we had second thoughts about our great idea. My mother's reaction was
typical of everyone's we met, "Muchacho, que te has hecho!!"" I wore a hat for the next three
months.
I also remember climbing La Muela del Diablo with Dick Kraighman and others the first day of
summer vacation (actually winter). We had gone up and on our way down had to wait for Dick
who was taking his sweet time joining the rest of the group (Editor's note: I take exception to
Willie's comment. I had simply stopped to smell the roses, rk). We waited for a while and
decided it would be prudent to go back up (!) and find him. We found him sprawled on the
ground looking in pretty bad shape. He had taken a spill and hurt his knee (Editor's note:
"Hurt?!" "Totaled" might be a better description, rk) We urged him on (Editor's note: With friends
like this who needs enemies?, rk) saying it would only be a few hours. He bravely pushed on
(Editor's note: Make that "crawled on" Willie) until we finally made it. The next day (second day of
vacation), Dick's leg was placed in a cast (Editor's note: It still hurts when it rains, rk). He had
broken his knee. To this day, I don't have a clue how he managed to get down that mountain!
(Editor's note: 'Cuz I couldn't wait to have everyone sign my cast, rk)
(Editor's final note: No one had a better buddy growing up than Willie Rodriquez. Thank you my
old friend. You are the source of many great memories, rk)
