My beloved J spent time in Stockton, CA when she was a girl and finally escaped in 1987 when she moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University.
When we started dating, she was often very critical of Stockton (still is, actually) and would often mangle their city slogans whenever I teased her about moving there.
For example, one slogan was “Stockton. Someplace Special.” Which she added: “Stockton. Someplace Stupid.” Then the city council of Stockton must have gotten wise to her frequent belittling of their little corner of hell heaven and came up with a new slogan: “Stockton. California’s Sunrise Seaport.” Did that stop her? Nope. She came up with another one: “Stockton. California’s Sunrise Cesspool.”
Despite the fact that J’s family has lived in Stockton for decades, she hates it. Hates the racism, the lack of anything to do (except go to the mall), the rednecks, the creepy atmosphere of impending rape and murder, gangs, the weather, pollution, and crappy restaurants. The only thing she loves about it is her grandmother and great aunt. Okay, and maybe the fresh in produce in the summer. Oh, and her uncle and aunt, too.
Now she has (and I’ll join her) one more reason to hate Stockton: “George W. Bush Elementary School.” It just opened and if J was of elementary school age, she told me that she probably would have attended that school because she used to live near it.
Stockton…(still) some place stupid.
–PK
George W. Bush Elementary School in Stockton, CA
Download “Welcome to the Boomtown” by David & David HERE
J
October 4, 2006 at 8:34 amI thought of one other thing I love about Stockton. Neva. Really, the only decent thing about it is the few people I know and love, and I can drive in and visit them and get out when I\’m done. Oh, and the burgers at Manny\’s. 😉
For any of you out there who may think I\’m exaggerating, let me tell you, I had a friend named Rainie, who moved from Stockton a semester before I did. When she married, her father said that if she would move back to Stockton, he would buy her a house. She said no. Last I heard, she was still renting. And really, I think she made the absolute right decision. Really.
la luna
October 4, 2006 at 9:54 amOh my gosh, who in the @*@#!*came up with that name for a school. Yeap, J is right Stockton the stupid.
Beenzzz (Bean)
October 4, 2006 at 6:04 pmGreat! What is the school’s mission statement…”Cranking out the best C- average students in the nation?” I think I shall be avoiding Stockton! 🙂
Ml
October 4, 2006 at 7:45 pmUgh! J, is obviously right about Stockton. Now it’s cemented into history 🙂 We’re never going there. Py thanks for the heads up.
C-Lo
October 4, 2006 at 8:48 pmSorta reminds me of Modesto. Any city that involves driving on a freeway where the smell of cow poop randomly takes over your entire vehicle and makes your eyes water is not an option for me. Tracy is that way too. Funny blog today.
Lalapunci
October 4, 2006 at 9:26 pmWorked there for the APCD for over a year. I am glad I left. Good ole boys politics left a bad taste in my mouth.
Py Korry
October 4, 2006 at 9:47 pmI think Stockton has one of the highest crime rates in CA, too. Blech.
Dot
October 4, 2006 at 10:18 pmStockton is an armpit. I think it’s fitting there is a George W. Bush Elementary there, because he stinks like an armpit!
Gina
October 4, 2006 at 10:32 pmStockton- proudly continuing the redneck tradition!
CG
October 4, 2006 at 10:59 pmOh, I just remember, they have the best bing cherries and let’s not forget the asparagus festival. Jeeeeezzz I am allergic to asparagus.
Cherry
October 5, 2006 at 12:37 amThere definetly are some good fruit growers out there! But I like that many bring their tasty treasures to our farmer’s markets so we don’t have to travel to stinkyland.
Shelliza Ragnauth-McCarville
October 5, 2006 at 5:16 amWell, I don’t know much about Stockton but judging from your post and responses, it’s not one of the Top 10 Cities to live in the US. Besides, anything, rednecked sends me shooting in the opposite direction.
Thinking About… » Perfect Start to a Weekend…
November 4, 2006 at 9:18 am[…] Waiting until the last minute to call me and let me know she’s in town. I received a phone call from Janet on Thursday morning. “Hi J, guess where I am?” “I don’t know.” “Stockton.” I screamed in mock horror, because hey, I LIVED in Stockton for 11 years of my life, and that’s almost enough to kill a person. You don’t believe me? Read a bit about my opinions of Stockton, here. […]