Highschool

     Highschool memories are a mixed bag of emotions.  My freshman and sophomore years were enthusiastic and rewarding.  I was a student council rep, in orchestra, honor roll, played football, basketball, track, and wrestled my sophomore and junior year.  

     When I turned 16 I got my driver's license.  That opened up an opportunity to escape what I perceived to be a really, really, shitty home experience.  I worked, made money and bought an old junker car.  A 1947 Dodge.  I paid $35 for it.  It started, ran, and I was excited!  Working (making $$) and the car opened me up to a lot of new experiences.  I could buy new clothes, go out with friends for burgers, beer etc.  

    I was much less enthusiastic about school after that summer.  I continued to make good grades but work didn't allow me to play sports, music or other organized activities.  Had I been stronger and/or more mature emotionally work and making money to spend probably would not have been as big a factor.  

    The summer after my junior year I bought a nicer car.  A 1954 Ford convertible.  A really cool car.  Silver with a black top.  Red rolled and pleated naugahyde seats.  Appleton fake spotlights, Oldsmobile bullet tail light lenses.  It was raked showing off scavenger muffler and chrome tail pipes.  A flathead V8 with 3 2 barrel carbs, high compression heads.  Stick shift on the floor. Should I go on?  I was in a good place!  

    Senior year was difficult.  I had no interest in school.  I was convinced that no matter how well I did in school unless I could play ball somewhere there was no chance that I would go any farther. Not playing football my Junior year didn't help with that. Counselor's only advice as they would show me all my 99th percentile in tests was that had lots of potential but I had to change my attitude.  No further advice.  Just change my attitude.  Anyway, I had enough credits to graduate at the end of first semester so at that point I started working full time cleaning carpets and making more money to spend.

    I joined the Navy that summer following graduation but didn't have to report until September; the same time my friends were heading off to college.

    So highschool memories were both good and bad.  I made some really bad decisions but it could have been worse.  I didn't get into any trouble.