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Opinions subject to change at a whim.
WHAT'S UP?
It's 2011, so likely that plans are in the works for some kind of a get-together this summer (or better yet - fall). I guess I'll have to go find that Facebook page!
We had a quasi-reunion on
March 25, 2007 at our ol' favorite - Philippe Park, Safety Harbor!
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I went to Clearwater high.
I was still fairly new to the area (7 months) when I, and a bunch of kids from several local Junior High Schools commenced tenth grade at Clearwater High School. Nerdy and awkward during a period when peers place a lot of emphasis on looks, friendships at school were slow to form initially. I didn't care particularly. I found myself drawn to other new students as they arrived, as I sympathized with their plight. With one or two exceptions, it wasn't until my senior year that I "connected" with much of anybody at school. That summer, right before we had our senior pictures taken (see below) my dad told me to cut my hair for the last time. And once I let my freak flag fly, everything changed.
Although my wife and I are both alumni, and class reunions are an interesting "study" in people shuffling about on this mortal coil, it holds little fascination for me unless attended by some of these "connections", most of whom remained friends for some period following graduation. We were a motley group of anti-cliqueish near-hippies, and I cherish many memories from way back then. Okay... like Jack Handy sez, I cherish fuzzy memories from way back then.
As novelist Kurt Vonnegut suggests; "Remember the good, and ignore the bad". Here's a short list of the memorable people I'd like to revisit at a pending reunion, but they just don't show up:
Pete Corn - for awhile during the senior year we were inseparable. We both worked at IHOP (he as a cook and I as a dishwasher), we both had motorcycles (he used to love to smoke a cigar while riding). His younger brother Tom and his friends "corrupted" us, much to our delight. Years later, among other post-CHS memorables, Pete hired "Matt & Mark" to play a party at his house. They wanted hard rock... but we did okay. Pete was a hoot! Now he lives back in Arkansas. Do what?
Matt Carroll - I didn't know Matt too well in school, but shortly afterwards we became neighbors, then friends, and ultimately, partners (see Matt and Mark). He's since moved away, married and living somewhere on his boat in the Andros/Bahama Island chain. But we're forever "pals". He had a great sense of humor and timing. His memory and notable performances have been further revived in my fairly recent Backtrack releases.
Greg Caldwell - Greg has a refined sense of humor. We had some good times together, and also became neighbors (while Matt and he were housemates). I was starting a serious flirtation with music. Greg and his bohemian housemates allowed me to construct a "studio" in their free-standing garage. Greg even custom-carpeted the walls, I have pictures (left to right, Greg, me, Virginia). That roach-infested hole later became living quarters for a mutual buddy -- Babo. I remember girl-watching on Clearwater Beach, except Greg was driving...oops, rear-ended a car... We went camping up at Rock Crusher several times: I particularly remember one time when we spent most of the day fighting a small forest fire (which in hindsight was probably a controlled burn). It was desparate good fun, we thought we were heroes. I remember hanging out at his apartment in the Haystacks in Largo, watching Kung Fu and playing with his lizard. Greg recently called, we got together when he was down. He has held up well, and is doing good. Glad to hear it. In theory he'll be at the next reunion.
Lisa (Warner) Waller (above) - Our senior year we were lunch-time buddies behind the "pod". Barb and Lisa were always together, such a force to be reckoned with. For a short period after graduation we were housemates (same neighborhood as Matt and Greg) and have kept in touch over the years. Lisa always has a kind heart and a smile. Her kids are almost the exact same age (and gender) as ours. She's been doing good in the Atlanta area forever. Yearbook entry: "...when I think of you I WILL laugh..."
John Romano - another "up" guy, intelligent and enigmatic, we had a lot of friends in common, and enjoyed each other's company. I think he became a chiropractor. Another one who surprisingly lost touch. Where are you, John?
Jan McAnally - oh, I had a crush on her for a while. I remember making out in the back of a hay-filled pickup as a group of us hitchhiked home from a concert. You know, when I think of it, all these people were pretty durn "up" (for those of you who need further qualification, I guess I mean "light-hearted" and "even-tempered" -- good qualities to strive for).
Dale Rowland (above) - was another "up" guy, he was musically inclined. I guess he's involved in racing these daysx. For a minute I thought we were pals, but he kinda drifted off... Yearbook entry: "...don't forget to squeeze a dead mole over your head." Yep, that's Dale all right.
Barb Siren - talk about tall, dark and mysterious... She was a good-natured earth mother figure whom everyone respected immensely. Like Lisa, I was very pleased and flattered when she became my friend. Yearbook quote: "I will treasure the memory of you as I tresure the above picture of the 'sacred mushroom'...".
Dan Gardner - We've had our ups and downs, but he's in the category of "life-long friend". He was a late-comer to CHS, and didn't graduate with us (he and Lisa and Jimmy Glinos were in the stadium cheering us on during the ceremonies, though) because he "dropped out", but he lived a block from the campus and his place was the greatest hangout for the occasional lunch, skipped class or after school. We've been through more than I could possibly cover here.
Dan does not like to keep in touch much (when he's living away), that's just the way he is -- an enigma. The problem with that is you really can't be certain someone is thinking about you (occasionally) when they don't tell you so. Every year we get a Christmas card, usually signed and addressed by his wife, Mary (bless her heart).
Lou Wood - I can't explain the connection we've always had, but that's the beauty of my friendship with Louise. And through the years we've always kept in touch, there's a lot of history there. She was a guitar-player and a singer, THAT might explain it. A LONG time ago we used to get together and we'd play drinking games (tsk tsk). Talk about overimbibing! For us that was the exception. I think for them that was the rule. Lou was the first to have a child, which matures you real fast. Her late ex-husband, Smiley, and I were both music buffs (he had very eclectic tastes, and the best taped version of "Matt and Mark live at Coffee Break Concert"). Lately she's had some health problems, and lives far away in Asheville. She's threatened to come to each reunion since ten, and hasn't made one yet.
Later note: Regretfully, after a long illness, Lou died a few years ago. I don't think there was a lot of pain at the end, it was kinda sudden but not unexpected, I guess. If you don't keep pushing the circle outward it just keeps getting smaller. That means she was a good friend, I'll have to make several new friends to equal ours.
Renee Baker - Speaking of reunion no-shows, Nancy's bestest lifelong buddy has yet to make it to a reunion. They're still quite close, so it'd be great if she could attend one. Good for both of them.
Other notables:
First and foremost is a friend who was a year ahead of us -- Don Martin. I don't think we met until I was a Junior, but we both took a math class with "Igor" Egolf whom we both loved to taunt, and hit it off. We shared a house off Greenwood (MLK) Ave. for a short while, and he was one of the first one of our friends to have a kid. We still hang out to this day. Don was away in the Army Reserves much of our senior year, so he missed out on my "transformation" (and had one of his own). Quick wit, dry humor, lovable curmudgeon. He and wife (and earth mother) Shellie are Wiccans and I think that is very cool. We have a musical connection, too. We've jammed for years. He turned me on to Led Zeppelin and Ten Years After. "You've GOT to, you've GOT to..."
Gene Fleming - It's been so long I don't know HOW I knew Gene senior year, but I did. I remember a poignant moment in his fron yard on Cleveland Street - I thought I was gonna die! When I hitch-hiked up to Gainesville (with Dale R.) a year or so after high school I looked him up, but he was away. I climbed into his dorm window, don't quite remember why. Never messed with anything, naturally, it might have been just to crash (that's sleep to you young 'uns). Hmmm... I really don't remember... I do remember barfing in his front yard.
Warren Schuler - A friend of Greg's. Lived near the school. He was enigmatic and aloof. I heard from him recently, he's still in Florida and I hope he makes it to the upcoming reunion... and Greg.
Phil Sheiner - Several years ago we had some email dialog, and he's doing well in Texas. His kids are grown up. He and his wife are thinking about moving back to Pinellas. I wish him well.
John Strictland - another enigmatic late-comer. Never knew him much outside of school, but he was a "cool dude".
Mike Rilling - self-absorbed, but witty and good-natured. Mike was the first peer that had a "pad" - his Grandma's house. He had an upstairs "smoking room" that was jazzed up to the max. You know the drill - posters, black lights, cable-roll table, etc. Cool hangout.
Tina Schulte, Doug Leary, Ben Stortenbecker (well, I do see him once or twice a year when I sub in my dad's "Lonely Heart's Club" monthly hearts games), Pat Rhoads, Leslie Ernst.
Behind us one year: Bob Titus, Mike Andres (man, was he a force to be reckoned with), Debbie Waterman, John Zahner (peripherally).
Mike Linenberger - Thoughtful and intelligent. Mike and his brother Mark (class of '71) were in our anti-clique. I remember a killer party at his house, reading Baba Ram Das' "Be Here Now" and watching zappers in the garage. He and a friend from up north allowed me to tag along as we attempted to travel to the "Celebration of Life", a Woodstock-like fiasco in Louisiana the summer after graduation. We ended up dropping that (after sleeping in his car on the levy in New Orleans - cool) when we couldn't connect with our other friends, who apparently forgot about the differing time zone. So we ended up lavishing in the Smokies, and after a brief visit in Bethesda MD, I proceeded to hitchhike to the White Mountains of New Hampshire (to visit Lou and Denise) and then to the midwest, never to see Mike (or his friend) again.
Darlene Molander (and Danny Richard) - The summer before my senior year I volunteered at "Camp Wecando" for retarded children, my brother Brett included. Darlene and Danny were counselors there, very dedicated. And Danny was an incredible left-handed guitarist that looked and sounded a lot like Jimi Hendricks. We had an adventure or two...
I sure would like to hear how they have fared in this wonderful, wacky, wild world.
Whatever happened to:
Ramone Jacobe? I bumped into him a couple times at U.F.
Tyson Sever? He was a nice guy, I got to know him a little bit in home room. Notably absent from any reunion.
the Clarkettes (Phil and Bill Clark)? They were part of the gang. Long story there.
Helene Lardner - Talk about enigmatic... She moved into my neighborhood toward the end of our days at CHS (apparently from elsewhere in Clearwater), so she and I became fond acquaintances (her and Melissa Hattaway were perceived as textbook "hippy chicks" and admired by all). We saw her once or twice since then, although we all lived in Dunedin. I later was shocked to learn she was murdered by her ex-husband.
Al
Paul Allison - A year or two behind us, this brazen NJ delinquent was an inspiration and outspoken clown. He was a musical and philosophical ("fuck it") influence, since he came from Nutley, NJ and knew about stuff like, The Fugs, Howlin' Wolf and larceny. Ultimately he left oweing us money, so I'm not so much concerned about rekindling a friendship as I am curious about a train wreck.
Richie Brinson - became a successful lawyer, but we lost touch after a few years. In his thirties he died in a traffic accident on the beaches that he seemed to have intentionally caused. It was a complete mystery to everyone...
Jim Glinos - A year or two younger, Jim lived in Seminole and did not attend CHS, but he was a frequent drop-in much of my senior year. He was pals also with Dan (class of '71) Gardner and Don (class of '70) Martin, and later became a housemate with Don and I. Now he's got religion and kids, and I visited him in Mukwanago [sic] Wisconsin during a business trip. Jim no longer has ties in the area.
Worth mentioning here are the people I knew vaguely in high school but are now reunion friends; Scott Stevens, Mark Kerns and Chuck Billingsly. Scott is a photographer and generously allowed us to take one of his prints (Nancy picked my lease favorite) which hangs proudly in the bathroom. |
Right after my last haircut for many years. Looking so serious...
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Mark Scott, All Rights Reserved.
