My hat goes off to those who put the reunion together.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  My wife has a fresh awareness of my former talents.  Since its been 22 years I found myself remembering the quirkiest things upon seeing someone.  Richard gave me the chance to share some of those things but I got on stage with the lead guitarist  of the Speckled Sharks and I got all star struck and giddy.  You understand.  Upon driving home I kept retreiving files that had been lost in the cyberspace between my ears and thought I would share some of that.  Now don't e-mail me and tell me I need to get out more.  I already know that.  I would put this in book form upon early retirement but thats not looking to good right now.  And think of the lawsuits.

Drivers education was a curse on me.  I some how equated that little bit of training, at the age of 14, on that antiquated piece of machinery and that rinky dink screen with the thought that I should be driving on a regular basis.  Freddy Tull reminded me of the time Richard and I had taken my parents new Mercury out to rendezvous with a campout.  He remembered pouring water on the tires to keep them cool while I tried to get unstuck.  This lasted all night until daylight when we finally got it back in the garage after having to take it to the car wash.  Now mind you this was all done under cloak and dagger, pushing the car out of the garage,  sitting on a pillow, and keeping it between the ditches.  And you don't believe in angels!  Mine was working overtime. 

Lisa Glisson reminded me of a certain english teacher and her disciplining techniques.  I remember feeling sorry for Todd Moore after it became a regular routine.  I was the one who took care of that problem.  I kept that polka-dot paddle for a long time.  Leigh Ellen reminded me of band camp at Holly Springs.  The only thing I remember was jockeying for position to see which girl I could ride with on the paddle boats.  There was this beautiful cypress filled lake where one could easily get lost.  I never could find my way on to the right boat.  Mary Ann told me during the reunion that I was her first kiss.  That got me to thinking about who was my first kiss with.  I was able to rule out Buz and Richard right away.  Then I remembered it was on one of those paddle boats with a more mature woman.  An eighth grader.  Which brings me to the someone who use to place gifts in my locker as a ninth grader.  When I saw her I remembered the single 45's which I use to find.  They were normally Olivia Newton John love ballads.  This was serious stuff. 

Band was fun.  Lantz reminded me of some of those solos.  I remember a time before Christmas.  A cold football game where the trumpet section was due to play the Waltons theme.  I had bumped my lips on my mouthpiece and really messed the piece up.  Some smarty pants after the game yelled down to me that it sounded like I had said 'goodnight' to Johnboy for the last time.  If he only had known that I just had my heart stepped on just that week.  I had bought Christmas presents for two different girlfriends.  Two pewter wristbands.  You remember them.  Something possessed me to say love ya on the reverse side.  I know what your thinking.  Anyway, before I could get back from Gingers home and get to Lindys house the phonelines were burning up.  In short,  they both hated me by the end of the week.  Sixteen dollars down the toilet. 

Speaking of band during winter,  seeing Scotty reminded me of the times when I would borrow someones coat off their chair and stick it down the bell of Scotty's tuba.  To see him try to get sound out of it,  well, it was only a brief moment of fun and for this Scotty, please forgive me. 

Randy Smith reminded me of that first car.  He had gotten a Ford Fairlane if my memory is correct.  We all piled in for that "first" ride.  There used to be a dirt road by the school and the water tower.  After turning on that rode he "stomped" it for what was eighteen seconds of sheer excitement, and three seconds of climbing the bank.  There was only minimal damage.  I was feeling bad for Randy.  Randy was in shock.  And Todd Emmons was dieing in laughter. 

Danny Conniff was a good friend.  If there was a smoke bomb to be lit, he would hold it, or light it, or stand as the "lookout".  He reminded me of those days when we would try to rid ourselves of tension built up during a certain algebra class.  The only problem was I seemed to get to know Principal Burgess very well during those days.  I still don't know why x=y.  For this Martha please forgive me. 

I watched the end of a movie, (Stand by me), getting ready for Saturday nights gathering.  Richard Dreyfuss closed with "You never really ever have friends again like the ones you had when you were twelve years old".  I think thats true. 

Jon