I spent my early school years at John M. Dressel School, which was part of the Lindbergh School District back then. From kindergarten through fifth grade, it was the center of my world — a place that shaped many of my earliest friendships and memories.
Each grade had three classrooms, and to a kid, that felt enormous. We had art and gym, the two “special” classes that broke up our daily routine. I loved art class — the smell of crayons and tempera paint, the freedom to draw whatever came to mind. Gym class, on the other hand, was another story. I was not what anyone would call athletic. I couldn’t dribble a basketball to save my life, and a softball might as well have been a guided missile headed for embarrassment. Still, I tried. And the funny thing is, my best friend Rick — whom I met right there at Dressel — couldn’t dribble a basketball either. Maybe that’s what made us such good friends.
My mom was one of those parents who was always around the school. She volunteered as a room mother and was there for every holiday party and classroom celebration. Looking back, it’s a comforting thought — knowing that she was part of those moments too.
I was also in Cub Scouts for a while. We held our pack meetings in the gym, with Mr. Sadorf as our Scout leader. I learned how to tie knots and follow directions, but to be honest, the scouting life wasn’t quite my thing. Still, it added a few lessons to my childhood toolbelt.
Every spring, Dressel held a school picnic, often at a nearby park along with other schools. There were rides and games that, by today’s standards, would probably never pass inspection. But at the time, they seemed thrilling — wobbly Ferris wheels and all.
I finished fifth grade in the spring of 1972, right before our family moved. Dressel School itself has since changed — it’s no longer part of the Lindbergh School District — but it remains an important chapter in my life. When I drive past, I can almost hear the echo of the bell and the laughter of kids running to recess, including one boy with two left feet who was just trying his best.
Another piece of the puzzle that made me who I am.
Welcome! 