Best, Worst and Most Unusual

I was going to put up a post using this header as a guideline, but for the life of me I can't come up with a "Worst". There are some things I wish I hadn't done, and some things that if I could do over I would, but for the most part they were four great years (even though sophomore year was spent at Roosevelt High School in Atlanta, Georgia), shared with some of the greatest people it's ever been my pleasure to know.

The best has to be those I was closest to, and remained close to after I left. The best events included the state football championship, being the first class to go all four years in the new school, having classes with teachers like Mr. Headlee, Ms Stallings, Mr. Arp and even Mrs. Watkins; oh, and playing cat and mouse in the library with Ms Goode, and the Senior Banquet after which we were yelled at for taking things like the centerpieces and salt/pepper shakers for "souvenirs", and a million other moments and memories.

The most unusual would include the Driver's Ed car going through the cafeteria window, and the "student walk out" that was bought about by some long since forgotten wrong put upon us by school administration, when a bunch of us gathered in the big front entry hall (most out of curiosity I'm sure) while we waited for someone to take the lead and actually walk out. Nobody did, so we didn't; much to the amusement of the Herald reporter that waited for someone to do something he could write about in the paper.

What do you remember?

Embarrassing Moment

Okay, I'm not out to embarrass anyone but me, but I would like this place to be all about memories, so I'll start with some of mine. My first crush, and she shall remain nameless, stuck with me for awhile. I think all of freshman year I was moony-eyed over this girl and never once did I say anything to her other than hello. They say nothing ventured, nothing gained, so maybe I should have asked her out, but from a different perspective it can be nothing ventured, nothing lost, so I kept my mouth shut and my pride intact. Anyway, the crush cooled over time, like they all do, and eventually I did date a few times and had some awkward romances just like everyone else. But even though the crushed cooled, I carried it with me even after I left Loudon. Nothing serious, just a happy little nugget I could bring out and smile at from time to time. Then, at one of the reunions, I spent some time chatting with her and relived a few memories, and when it was time to go I said, "Bye *****, it was good talking to you," to which she said, "Yes it was fun, bye Jerry."

The First Day

What I remember most about the first day of school was thinking, "Where in the hell did all these people come from?" At the junior high there was only 30 or 40 of us, and here was a boatload of people I didn't even know. I remember buddying up with Pat Lowe and Jabo Lynn in the crowd of people in front of the school. I had known Pat for several years, so any friendly face was welcome. I had no idea there were that many kids in the county.

Recognize it?

I recognized it as soon as I saw the baseball field.
I spent a lot of time there when I was growing up.