Wow……….sure feels like looking back down a long highway when I think back to when I graduated high school three decades ago this May. Sometimes it feels closer, while other times it feels like a million miles away.
1985…….what a year. It was the middle of the 80’s – the golden age of arcades and when shopping malls were the “in” place to hang out. We would hang out down at Hardee’s on Friday night and cruise our cars from the southside up to the high school – or go east-west down Main Street. We knew who our friends were back then, congregated, did things together, and knew how to have fun without really hurting anyone.
At least, that’s the way I saw it in those days.
Now granted, I never considered myself to be one of the “popular crowd”. I didn’t join any sporting teams or any clubs save one – the Art Club – I so loved it. I was your typical geek back then – one of the social outcasts who never seemed comfortable around the “popular groups of people”. My classmates were always friendly to me, and there were plenty of smiles to go around. I did make a good circle of friends though – people I always hung around with. I was probably like just about any other high school student – got decent grades at some things, yet sucked at others (yes…….I had a weakness for math…….I just never got it after a certain point). I did love art, Science Fiction (yes, it was a class), drama, biology, and typing.
Biology? Why would you love THAT subject?
The teacher made it fun, that’s why! We had Larry “Griz” Mayes – a jolly, smiling, fun sort, who had a passion for hunting. Ever want to get out of a test? Just ask him how his last hunting trip went – that would easily eat up the first part of class………at least until he caught on to what we were up to. I actually took two years of his class, and actually learned quite a bit. Great guy………I miss teachers like him.
Mr. Seaton’s art classes were a hoot. Art II was great due to the varied assignments, but Art III was even better because you were able to make up your own assignments, and once approved, you went ahead and did it – no matter what media was used. Had Mrs. Pierce for 2 years of typing (you tend to gravitate to the cool teachers), and she made that class fun too. I don’t think there was a teacher I didn’t get along with, although Mr. Matson was a pretty hard case when it came to P.E.. I don’t think I actually took a PE class when I was in high school – sort of avoided that one.
Yeah……..plenty of good times. I went back to see the building in recent years, and oh mercy has that place changed. The office is no longer in the same spot, the courtyard is now all an indoor place that looked like a library or classroom from my glance through the doors. I guess things can change in three decades. None of the teachers on the roster are the same as when I was in high school, which stands to reason. I’m sure most have retired or are no longer with us by this time. Times change, and of course, we cannot live in the past – we can remember the good memories though.
I reached out to my friends that I remember that are nowadays part of my Facebook friends list, because this year marks the 30th anniversary of when we departed those hallowed halls for the last time. We got together 5 years ago for our 25th, so I’m hoping we can get together again this summer – at least some of us that can make it. Time changes people also, because some people I rarely even spoke to for one reason or another, are joining my friends list and we chat back and forth from time to time – even those who are not close by.
Some days I wish I was back in those days, but alas, we cannot. I am grateful for those who are still close by though. I wish you all well, and good times for the future!
