The Life Story Writing Class at Pico Rivera Senior Center started 30 years ago to offer a place for people to tell stories.
There was a Holocaust survivor. Japanese Americans imprisoned in internment camps. A police detective and many veterans. A treasure hunter. Pico Rivera’s longest serving mayor, Garth Gardner, took the class too.
The collection, titled “Our Stories” was finished before the pandemic and published in 2020, but its release was delayed until last month to give the authors a chance to attend an official book signing and launch.
Rudy Casas, 93, facilitates the class, which meets weekly at Smith Park. He said he didn’t want the book released without a formal launch because it’s important to celebrate one’s accomplishments.
“There’s a lot of history people don’t know, so much history we’ve seen in our time and now our stories are preserved in this book,” Casas said. “Nothing is forgotten and I know we will never run out of stories. I’m 93 and I’m still writing.”
Photo courtesy of City of Pico Rivera
Members of the Life Story Writing Class at Pico Rivera Senior Center celebrate the launch of their book “Our Stories” last month.
Casas, an Army veteran of World War II and Korean War and past president of the Pico Rivera Senior Softball Program Go-Getters, wrote about the first time he got wounded during the Korean War, working at Don Jose’s Perfume Candle Shop in Olvera Street in the 1940s, and his friendship with teacher Jaime Escalante of “Stand and Deliver” fame.
“When I see something I like, I pursue it,” Casas said. “If it leads me to the right direction, I stay with it. I love life and I care for people. I love to dance, laugh, smile and when I face something negative, I turn the other cheek.”
Casas said the writing group has produced four previous collections of stories, none as professionally produced as the latest.
Seven of the 17 authors featured in “Our Stories” were at the book launch, attended by about 100 people. Two of the authors had their tales published posthumously.
Nora Morales, born and raised in Pico Rivera, writes about shopping trips she took with her mother to Crawford’s Market on the corner of Whittier and Montebello. They would pick up two 25-lb. bags of La Pina flour and make fresh tortillas every day save weekends.
“La Pina flour, Morton’s iodized salt, Calumet baking powder and Amour lard,” she said. “Tortillas are good with fresh cooked beans, rice and homemade chili. Chiles and tomatoes roasted on the griddle and a piece of cooked steak, or simply with butter.”
The book also tells of David Ayala’s encounter with Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro on the 605 Freeway en route to Montebello and Ernie Lopez’s stream of consciousness story about his son, a bemedaled soldier who struggles adjusting to civilian life.
Newly published author Jackie Deardorff said the writing class is the highlight of her week.
“It’s been said we’re like a large family,” she said. “Wonderful friendships to say nothing of the educational experience it provides.”
Deardorff said when class members first meet each other, they form opinions on how they carry themselves or how they look.
“Then these members read their stories and wow, we get a glimpse of another person altogether,” she said.
Deardorff wrote in the book that she’s since become addicted to learning about other people’s lives.
“Everyone has life experiences, but for whatever reason, perhaps these events have never been discussed, or written about. That is why this writing group is such a positive source in our lives, and it not only heals but brings us all such joy.”
Copies of “Our Stories” are available at the Pico Rivera Senior Center for $5. The Life Story Writing Class meets at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, at Smith Park.
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