Friday, March 28, 2008
Remember When??
Here is where all those memories go!! You know... who got caught in the parking lot without a pass, who had the best party with the parents out of town, what year the football team went undefeated..(did that happen?), where you hid the answers to the chemistry test, who was your first crush, what was actually in the brownies that you made for the substitute teacher, what went on after prom, well you get the picture. Now don't be mean....there may still be some things that should be kept secret even after 40 years.....but hopefully after this many years we can all look back and laugh! We know you can't remember what you had for breakfast or where those damn keys are but we bet everyone has a few favorite memories to share. You can also ask your old classmates to help you fill in the gaps....you'd be surprised what others remember about YOU!!!
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1 – 200 of 208 Newer› Newest»One time my friend had a slumber party and her parents were gone and one of the girls called her boyfriend and he and his friends came over and they brought MD 20/20 and beer and.......well maybe in a few more years I'll finish this story. Unless YOU were there and you can....my mom would kill me!!!
You asked for it. I remember having to have our skirts measured to see how far they were above the knee. I got in trouble once. I think CaraLee got in trouble for not wearing a girdle,
I remember not being able to wear jeans, and culats (sp?) weren't allowed, though if you got a good pair, it might go unnoticed.
I remember writing corny poems about my classmates in love, like Marsha Meinershagan (sp?, and wishing I had a boyfriend. I remember being in home ec and talking to a couple of seniors who had "done it" and said how great it was.
I remember getting stood up by Ed Brausa at homecoming. I had just moved to Topeka during the summer before school. I had bought a new dress and everything.
When I first moved here, we stayed at the Holiday Inn, no longer there, and befriended Ed who was life-guarding, and Nancy, who became my best buddy. I spent alot of time at Nancy's (but only got to sit on her fluffy couch once when her mom wasn't there). Ed and a different Steve (I think it was Steve) who was a senior came over too. Steve (?) asked me if I wanted to box. Hell yes, I said. So he took me up to the bedroom...put up my fists and said lets go. I found out that wasn't what he had in mind. Nothing happened.
I remember how much our French teacher (Mrs. Curtis) loved Margo, but hated me. Barb (a sophmore when I was a junior) and I used to compete to get the best score on our papers. We both got mostly A's, but I was a class clown and didn't feel comfortable speaking French. She gave me an F for the first 9 wks. When my parents went with me to the office, she refused to change it. Next 9 weeks, she gave me a B, but a D for the semester. I saw her at Margo's wedding reception and brought it up & she said "You deserved it". I served her wedding cake that day & you can imagine what I wanted to do with it.
I remember our friends gathering in the woods south of Jardine, listening to someone play the guitar and drinking something, but don't remember if it was beer.
I remember how much my friends (guys and gals) meant to me, and still do!
I remember going to Bobo's drivein to visit Stan, he was a great kisser, one of the best! Turns out I wasnt the only one that thought so. But he was taken.
I remember Margo and I each told our parents we were staying at the other's house. We didn't have any big plans, just to stay out all night. Barb, same French class friend, called my house to tell me that she and her boyfriend broke up. My mom told her I was at Margo's. She called Margo's mom who told her Margo was at my house. Need I say, she was blonde....and proceeded to tell Margo's mom that MY mom said we were there. Margo and I got tired of cruisin and went to Jaime's. The folks called there looking for us and Jaime's mom talked us into calling them to tell them we were there so they wouldn't be worried. My folks told me never to do that again. Margo was grounded and wasn't allowed to hang out with me.
I remember Steve ratting on me for putting ex-lax in our geometry student teacher's cupcake on his last day. Mr Boomer, I think. Steve helped....don't deny it Steve. I got in trouble, needless to say. I didn't mean any harm, I really liked Mr. Boomer, guess WE just put too much in and he got pretty sick. A few years later, I was wrapping Xmas pkg at Ray Beers and she came in. I asked her if she was related to our teach & she said, "You're not one of them that put ex-lax in his cupcake, are you?" "Heaven's no!", I told her. I was afraid she would come flying over the table if I had said yes. Don't ask me anything about yesterday, I can't remember shit.
I remember Margo making me take my shoes off at prom to show everyone my big toe. Go ahead, make fun...that big toe helped me catch my husband of 32 yrs....not telling how.
Hey, just so you know, it was Stan R.
Well neffy..you've got a great memory! I remember rolling up my skirts as soon as my dad couldn't see me...I got a better grade in debate for the effort...I remember listening to the radio to see if it was less than 10 so we could wear slacks..never jeans....I don't remember getting stood up...( Ed, not a nice thing to do...she had a new dress and everything)...but I do remember not even getting invited to the 9th grade graduation at Capper..by someone I thought was someone I couldn't live without...we had fun anyway but it rained and our new party dresses got wet and our matching shoes got muddy and our "updos" got soggy...I guess I never kissed the guy from Bobo's as my memories of those days were "mushy"!...I remember telling the Spanish teacher that it was fine that we left during class and went through the fence to DQ..different rules in the US than in Cuba...I remember the "X-lax Kaper"....could there have been several??...We have sooo much in common...I too have big toes...I just called my husband and read him your memories...we laughted until I almost p**d my pants...he says my toes had nothing to do with him asking me to marry him...but he wants to hear the rest of your "toe story"!!
I want to hear more about this "BIG TOE" thing? Also exactly what did you do to get that better grade in Debate?
My 1st impressions of TWHS weren't all that great. My family moved back to Topeka the 2nd semester of our Jr. yr. We'd moved to Calif. after my 7th grade year @ Capper. Well upon enrolling @ TW I was informed that you couldn't leave campus during the lunch hr.(I'd had a 90min. lunch hr. in Calif. & you could go anywhere. Also do to the difference in the school systems I'd have to have 3hrs. of study hall (all with a Mr. Blackburn). Boy, he wouldn't let you talk, look around or anything, your eyes had to be glued to your books. Took me awhile but figured out you could sign in @ the library & not show uo @ study hall. Don't remember much about classes, maybe that's why the GPA went down, but remember the good times.
How about cruising the Blvd. between "Allen's" and some other hamburger joint @ 21st & Topeka Blvd. (wasn't it Brothers II )? Remember the Chief, Community, & Cloverleaf Drive-Ins and beer parties on the back rows? "Purple Passion" anyone? Then there was "Walts Westside Tavern" And who could ever forget "THE ALBINO LADY", always good for some fun on a boring nite. Remember on such nite a bunch of us were up @ Walt's and decided to go to the Albino Lady. Well we all piled into my 56 Chevy and drove up there,(Rick Miller,Richard Williams, Dave Hope, Bill Cox, John Appleton and Randy Sawyer to name a few). When we decided to leave my car wouldn't start, bad battery cable. So two of the guys decided to walk back to the highway and catch a ride into town and get another car. Hours passed and they never made it back. We finally figured out a way to start the car a drove back. Randy Sawyer & I pulled into my driveway @ 6am. My Dad comes running out the house yelling & cussing @ us wanting to know where we'd been. Everybodys cars were left @ Walts & all the parents were calling each other trying to find us, they even called the police. Got into alot of trouble for that one. Senior Skip Day, & Mens Senior Breakfast @ "Gage Tavern" didn't go over to well at the old home front either.
I remember gas costing 32cents gal., beer 69cents a 6-pack (hot Black Lable), Cigs 30cents a pack,no computers, cell phones, gangs, drive-by shootings, meth or hard drugs. Life was so much simpler back then.
The 60's what a time to grow up in. Many consider it the BEST of all times, and we were all Lucky enough to be a part of it.
Charlie - it was Topper's Drive-In at 21st and Topeka Blvd (not Brothers II)! Memory failing a little? I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning so I'll forgive you!
What was the Albino Lady???I have no memory of her at all. Charlie...to answer your question...when you are an 18 year old girl with a short skirt on, you don't have to "do" anything to get a better grade from a man teacher. But...I actually did study sometimes too! I did an independent study for biology about the feeding habits of bluegill...very exciting cutting up bluegill stomachs and sorting the contents. I'm not sure if that enhanced my fishing skills but maybe!
You don't remember the Albino Lady? We used to go there frequently (out north) to try to get a glimpse of her. My mother REALLY did go to school at High with an albino and she thinks that's who the Albino Lady really was. Legend had it that her husband died and she buried him in a graveyard.....she and her dog walked to the graveyard every night and if you were lucky (yeah, right) you could see her walking there. The girls "always" saw her and screamed.....the guys never saw her but didn't mind hugging the girls to make them feel safe! I remember the Blue Light grave yard, the grave yard at 29th & Urish (used to make out there.....did I really say that?) Debbie Morgan, Cynthia Jameson, Ann Stydahar, Bobby Merrifield, Dennis Mayfield, Vicky McKnight....several of us had a swing over the Shunga Creek off of Shunga Drive. We used to play Tarzan and swing on this tire swing and pile on top of each other (did I say that too?). It was also a great place to go at night! See, I CAN remember some things I had a turquoise and white with rust giant 58 Dodge that had a steering wheel as big as my body when I was in high school. It had push button controls.....can you believe that?! Mary Lou Block and I used to sell ads for the yearbook and we'd drive my car so I could smoke. I can't believe I smoked but I think good old Dave helped me along with that and got me hooked for years. I used to drive that hunk of junk car to TWHS in my sophomore year and pick up Marcia Meinershagen, Nancy Burkhead, Jane Garhan and Sue Wright and take them to school. I'm tired from the effort of remembering...maybe more later..
Ah, high school memories. Hangin around at Gage Bowl with Tunnel, Whiz, Red Dog, Hope, Smoot Marshall and whoever else aspired to become a pin ball wizard. Late night trips to Poor Richards and the Ira Price Cafe, the most classic of which culminated in Rich removing his glass eye, placing it in his mashed potatoes and calling the waitress over to complain "there's an eye in my potatoes". Doing all kinds of dumb stuff with McKinney and havin the "hots" for Fern. Sneaking out of study hall with Marshall for trips to Dibbles to get donuts then returning and selling em in study hall. The Casino in Mr. Elmore's chemistry class over lunch hour. And the Blue Light Cemetery was real...the blue light came from the landing beacon at Forbes Field reflecting off the grave stones. I'd fogotten about the Gage Tavern breakfast, Charlie and Walt's tavern. And you're right...it was a great time to grow up.
I remember wearin' straight leg Levis and flannel shirts even when they weren't in style.
I remember singin' with Roy Rogers at the movies when the West was really wild.
And I was listenin' to the Opry
when all of my friends were diggin' Rock 'n Roll and Rhythm & Blues. I was Country, when Country wasn't cool.
I remember circlin' the drive-in, pullin' up and turnin' down George Jones. I remember when no one was lookin'I was puttin' peanuts in my Coke. I took a lot of kiddin'
'cause I never did fit in, now look at everybody tryin' to be what I was then. I was Country, when Country wasn't cool...
wait...it seems like I remember..no..hummm was it me or Barbara Mandrell???..oh d#mn!!! No wonder it seems so familiar...
Talk about a blast from the past! Charlie, I think we had the same study hall with Coach Blackburn. Actually, Coach Blackburn use to go to the back of the room where the windows were (B building)and would talk about the lady in the yard across the field who use to sunbathe and Coach Blackburn had binocculars! Butch P. sat in front of me. We were a thing for about 2 weeks. We never studied I know that. I remember looking at the back of Mark Shapiro's head (we were in alph. order) from Witson, Capper and TWHS. What's up Mark? My gang were the crazy girls - me (Shavey-legs) Bev (brown hair) Brown, Sandy Benson, Debbie Tippit, Vicki and whoever else we could round up. One night we all got dressed up in our "mother's" old prom dresses and went out to party. To say the least we got a lot of attention. OMG we had fun. I can remember going to Bev's house at lunch time and drinking beer out of her dad's tap in the basement. I guess that would put me drunk at school on more than one occasion. I remember the boy's bathroom explosion in A building when I was a sophomore. My boyfriend Jim C. (older classmate and ex-husband!) fired up the cherry bomb that blew up the toilet. I remember all piling in our cars after school in May and heading out to the "sand bar." Now there was some fun! Can't forgot our senior party at the rock quarry? That was the day I drank the most I have ever drank at one sitting - to this day! I "think" I had a great time! Does anyone else remember if I did? I remember all the kind comments and flowers from friends when my dad died in 1965. I hated Ms. Fowler - she was evil and would be a walking lawsuit if she were teaching (or counseling today! Nothing was confident with her. Can't forget our senior assembly - I was a go-go dancer for Kansas, along with about 7 or 8 of us girls, and had a blast. I've used that little secret at various seminars thoughout the country and everyone was always impressed! HA! I remember measuring our skirts in home ec too, wearing a hip-hugger mini skirt and being sent home, only to come back to school wearing a grannie dress, and was sent home again. What a little rebel. I missed the 1st Woodstock, but attended the 2nd one! I'm an old hippie and love it. Debi Shavey
jim c. said... Going to try this again Terry(s)B and D! I remember Paula McKenzie being the only girl in Mrs. Breitweiser's senior math class and all the ribbing she took, but always had a smile on her face anyway. Tyler Conrad played a Simon and Garfunkel album for class last day before Christmas break. I always thought that was SO cool, still do even now. More to follow if this goes through.
I was in David Blackim's debate class for a few weeks, then bailed out when I figured wasn't cut out to be a politician. Interesting thing was he had all girls across the front row of desks. Think short skirts here. One time in Miss Henderson's math class she gave us the same pop quiz 2 or 3 times in the same week. After lunch, you could go over to the hallway outside the gym and listen to a jukebox and play ping pong, or at least watch. Does anyone remember Mike Clark and that import car (maybe Italian) that he drove for a while? It was a two-seater, just barely, and the whole front end opened up to get into it. Not your everyday ride for sure. I remember Mr. Henson, the principal, being called "mole", but never knew why. I recall how name brand clothing was a big thing for guys. Hanes t-shirts, Adler/Burlington socks, Gant and Hathaway shirts, Levi's jeans, Dockers and Haggar slacks, Florsheim and Nunn-Bush dress shoes, Evans "desert boots", Keds flag sneakers, Peters jackets, and "flag" jackets to name a few. I'm still a Levi's fan. To be continued... jim c
HA !!! See Charlie...I told you about those short skirts in Debate!!....thank you JimC for the verification!! DebiS...pull out that hip-hugger mini ...we're wearing them to the tour of the school on Sat. am..just let them try to send us home!( good grief..old women in mini's ..very bad taste..no cameras allowed) We think the "boys" should be rebels too...leave those shirts un-tucked..let the hair touch the collar of the shirt..what other rules can we break???
Howdy...This things really taking off, so much fun reading what everyone has to say. Each comment brings back more memories. Debi S. yes I remember the rock quarry party, didn't we get kicked off the property though? Don't know if you had a good time, think we all were in the sauce, but I'm sure everyone enjoyed themself. HA.. aren't we related, like 2nd or 3rd cousins, you were related to Nina, weren't you. Jim C... Please do me a big favor ...Don't start driving for 'BUDWEISER'. Everyone's working so hard on finding people, hell the missing list might hit "ZERO". I think we should have Jan F. bring her "NEW" boyfriend, or is it live-in, to the reunion. If things got slow or boring (which I doubt would happen) he could at least entertain you gals with his special talents. Later, everyone keep writing.
Come on classmates, there has to be more than 10-12 people who know how to use a computer and post a comment. Lets start filling these sections on website. Do not worry anonymous, I would not deliver beer, Budweiser or otherwise, too much heavy lifting (kegs), ha! I remember all the pep rallies in the gym. You gals have been talking about measuring skirt lengths, how about the cheerleader outfits. They must have had an exemption, you think. If no one calls the cops on me, have a confession to make. While cruising Topeka Blvd. on the weekends a carload of guys, I was a passenger, would pull into White Lakes Mall by Falley's grocery store at the south end near Penneys late at night after mall closed. The guy in the front passenger seat would hold on to a Falley's grocery cart out the window. Then the driver would take off heading north toward the Fox movie theatre at a fast speed and let the cart go flying. Since the parking lot was empty no cars got hit. Sometimes the cart would jump the curb and end up on Croix street. Then we would make a quick escape out of there. Whew, I feel better for confessing.
So, I'm likely out of my league her but I remember the local and area bands and the concerts er dances at Meadow Acres and the old Muni auditorium. In particular the Mods, the Rising Sons, the Blue Things, the Jerms and the Thingies. Greg Thompson's older brother was in the Rising Sons, Blake Hunningman (THS) sang for the Mods and Galen Senogles (I think HPHS) put together the Jerms. Jim Craig or Rich Williams could help me out on all this but I beleive our class's famous musicians (Dave Hope, Phil Ehart and Rich) were pretty much a garage band in Dave's garage. Later (in about 1970) they formed White Clover that shortly thereafter morphed into Kansas. I suppose all our music tastes differed in high school from the teeny bopper Herman Hermits to the obscure Country Joe and the Fish to the British wave (Rolling Stones and Beatles). I was pretty fond of the Young Rascals which shows you my tastes were fairly pedestrian.
To travel to the more obscure realm of memory - most of us had to work then also. I was a "soda jerk", Marshall Barber, I beleive, had a radio show and Jack McKinney worked at KFC.
And, if we decide to try some unique TWHS class of 68 trivia, does anyone remember what a Putnam scholarship was ("named" after a an incident involving a class of 67 student)?
Most of you probably remember the class of '68 gift to Topeka West. Hint, it is in the courtyard in front of "A" building unless they moved it. What were the other two choices for the class gift? Not real sure myself, just wondered if anyone remembered.
Hey Mike D, Besides the Young Rascals don't forget The Turtles or The Moody Blues. Also, The Association, The Fifth Dimension, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Tremeloes, The New Colony Six, Classics IV, Bread, Question Mark and the Mysterians to add to the list. Some of the best music ever was made during the 60s. Okay some of the above names might have been early 70s. To anyone seeking any kind of music on CDs, try www.tower.com. Best site I have found so far for buying new (unused) CDs.
I remember going to dances at Meadow Acres...saw Sam the Sham and the Pharohs(sp?)there..now that was a classy show. Also, saw Gary Pucket and the Union Gap at the Mun. Aud. They had some great songs. I may have been born a little late because I really loved the 50s and early 60s. I also remember going to a dance in the parking lot of Hayden and the band played Louie Louie and we all were trying extra hard to hear the words because I think the radio stations blocked some of them!!
Terry D, You have been holding back on your music memories. That is cool,thanks for sharing. This is pre- high school, but when I was 12 years old got a transistor radio for Christmas and listened to KXOX AM in St. Louis (rock and roll) On clear nights I could pick up WLS AM out of Chicago (rock and roll) also. When I moved to Topeka KEWI AM was the rock and roll station. Mike Manns on KMAJ FM 107.7 now, was a deejay or reporter on KEWI in the 60s. By the way, what WERE the censored words on the song Louie, Louie ?
Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs was in eighth grade. It's the only show that I saw at Meadow Acres. They tore the place down soon after that. The Pharaohs had a dance routine that they did on stage. It was the first time that I'd ever seen men dance "like women", ie. with soul! I was scandalized, but by the end of the evening I decided that I definitely liked men that could dance. These guys were from Jersey, I think. They had very long hair that was greased down and combed all the way back to their necks. Some of them had ponytails. Sam the Sham had a huge shock of very black hair and a huge black beard (neither were greased down). He looked like every hippie you were going to see in the next few years. He danced like a man.
The feeding habits of blue gill was the masters thesis for Mr. McGreavey, the science teacher that was at Capper and followed our class to TWHS. He had students doing part of the "dirty work" (ie. cleaning the fish guts and cataloging the contents) for his research. I was jealous that he had certain students doing special work for him until I found out what all it involved. I saw him at McDonalds about 12 years ago. He looked exactly the same, crew-cut and all. He was 27 years old the first year that we had his class at Capper in 7th grade and when I saw him over 30 years later, he hadn't changed at all. [he's the one that was kicked out of medical school for jumping rope with a cadaver's intestine].
Is Dave Hope the band member that lived on Holly Ln.? If so, they must have practiced somewhere else, because I lived a half a block away and never heard them playing. The guy that lived down the street from me told me that he had moved from California with his whole family to be in this band. At the time I thought that was pretty stupid. What did I know?
This is an absolute riot to read these! I've been gone for about 35 years, but all this is bringing back hilarious memories! I have a few stories about the Albino Lady that no one would believe. I'm flying in from Florida and looking forward to seeing people over a few cold ones!
So we are going back to the 8th grade now, what about the Friday night dances at the Crestview Rec Center. All the couples at the back of the room with the chairs set up in 2 X 2 rows, sitting there staring at another couple sitting across from you. Many Topeka Bands played there in the summer, The Jerms, The Jades, The Rising Sons, etc. Jim C I owe you an e-mail, trying to get time to finish it off. FOr the Reunion Committee take a bow, you guys are doing great!
I LOVED the Crestview dances. I wore several boy's ID bracelets at those dances! Wish I could remember their names! I would hide an Asprin bottle of my dad's whiskey behind the fire extinguisher in the glass case just inside the door. That was enough for about 4 of us girls! He-he. I dropped the rear end out of my 54 Ford trying to see how much rubber I could lay in reverse! I wouldn't recommend it - my Mom had to have it towed from the Crestview parking lot to the junk yard. With all of the bands mentioned at Meadow Acres, how about the Kingsmen? I remember the night the lights went out during their set for almost 10 minutes. Yelling and screaming the whole works. When the lights came back on there were sporadic fights broken out everywhere, and people making out all over the place! How exciting and educational for a tweeny. Does anyone remember Mr. Penny, the math teacher at Capper? What a guy huh? Or does the name "Louis Lamb" bring back nightmares to those ole Jawhawkers at Capper? EEEK! Hello - Echo Cliffs? I take my grandkids there all the time. Later - and keep those cards and letters coming!!!
OH MY ...I was at Meadow Acres the night the lights went out too...as I remember things got interesting...I suppose one of the boys flipped a switch on purpose...anyone want to confess??
Jim C. – I’ll start the ball rolling again so you can have some new
material to read. This is a long one.
I REMEMBER an incident I was involved in that occurred in one of the bathrooms during lunch one day….. I had left the cafeteria and gone over to the Gym bldg to use the ladies room. Upon entering the bathroom, I found it engulfed in a haze of cigarette smoke. There was a group of “fast” girls occupying several of the stalls by standing on the toilet seats, with cigarettes in hand, talking over the partitions to each other. At the same moment I went into one of the stalls, Miss Fowler (aka “Hall Monitor Nazi”) entered the doorway of the bathroom. Toilets started flushing, cigarette butts went flying out the open window and girls nonchalantly sauntered (slinked) past Miss Fowler and quickly vanished in the hallway. As I naively came out of the stall, in a flash (no time to wash hands) I was grabbed by the elbow and escorted to Mr. McGinnis’ office. There, I was asked to empty the contents of my purse. Because Miss Fowler “thought” she saw smoke lingering above my stall, I was now being accused of smoking. (Do I have a legal case here?) Since I had never smoked in my life, there was no evidence to be found, but Mr. McGinnis felt it necessary to call my parents. I could have let this whole smoking thing go, but it was now escalating into a humiliating situation. Not because I had been called into the office, but because - you see – Mr. McGinnis lived right next door to us and I babysat his kids.
I REMEMBER being abruptly awakened on a Saturday morning around 6:30 and snatched from my bed by Janet Z. and Terry D. (my Mom was in on this) and shoved into the back seat of a car and taken hostage to a breakfast “Come As You Are” party – Clearasil, rollers, nightgown and all (or not). I think I was able to grab a blanket on the way out the door. These girls were swift. It felt like one of those immigration busts as they were able to round up a dozen or more of us girls for one of the most embarrassing, yet hilarious moments of my teen years. (Jackie H. and GiGi P. any thoughts on this??) One of the games we had to play was to do impressions of the teachers and others had to guess who we were mimicking. I did a horrible rendition of Mr. Anderson. Everybody was clueless.
Here’s what else I remember…. Sitting for hours under a
bonnet-style hair dryer doing my homework or looking at myself in the mirror and anguishing over a newly discovered zit. At night I slept on large brush rollers and orange juice cans (blow dryers hadn’t been invented, yet.) and then wondered why my neck hurt the next day. I REMEMBER… .teasing my hair with a rattail comb, styling it in to a bouffant sculpted flip and plastering it with high levels of ozone polluting hairspray. I remember blue snap-front “prison” gym suits. (sans the prison #). The baggier they were the cooler you were. I REMEMBER …“Bubbles” – B&W saddle shoes, the “must have” wardrobe accessory to wear with your pep skirt, rolled at the waist and hiked up to your boobs for that peppy-look and all this strategically covered by your pep sweater. Years later, my sweater had a hot water washing machine mishap. It was so small, you could have used it for a “build a bear” garment. I still have my purple blazer – I don’t know why I saved it – maybe to wear to my 40th class reunion. Anybody want to wear theirs while we tour the campus?? (You know, those ribbons we had to sell before games to earn points, I wonder if they’re collector’s items now?)
I REMEMBER….empire waist dresses, shifts, peter pan collars, cardigan sweaters and madras shirts – or was that Jr HS and I was still wearing them in HS??
I REMEMBER….the boys wearing button down shirts and highwater pants that were tight enough you could read the date on a dime and see a suggestion of the “family jewels” – but, then who was looking (right girls??). Speaking of pants, I remember Mr. Wingo’s class where his shirt tail was sticking out through his zipper and he didn’t notice it for quit awhile, even as he paced back and forth lecturing in front of the classroom. But when he suddenly spotted the dilemma, he made a beeline for the podium and remained embarrassingly glued behind it even until after class was dismissed. I remember his hands were clutched around that podium as if he was afraid someone was going to take it away. His face was pretty red.
Say, Elaine - I remember that laxative incident. Chocolate cup cakes, I think they were, with white frosting. (I never forget anything where chocolate is involved) Chocolate is good for disguising all kinds of things. At the time, I was concerned for him and afraid that we had really hurt him – but now that we have all probably experienced a colonoscopy – that situation seems like a cake walk.
Oh, and Jim C., before I forget – yes, I remember the class gift. I actually didn’t see it till after graduation when it appeared in the newspaper. My Mom saved the article with photo (Knute Kreise, Steve Emerson and Mr. Gomez perched at the base of this metal monstrosity looking pensively into a puddle of water on the sidewalk.) I guess we bought it from an artist in Emporia and we moved it out of someone’s front yard from down there. Who was on this committee, anyway, and why were we shopping for a class gift clear down in Emporia?? Surely we could have donated a nice set of conservative benches or a statue of a Charger horse or some trees, or something. (For all you Denverites, I wonder what they did with the giant rearing white Bronco from the old stadium. Maybe it isn’t too late to make a switch). Well, I guess we were a little radical back then and needed to make a statement. Mission Accomplished.
Oh bless you Debbie Crawford...I WAS a little fun in high school..I'm so glad you remember-- since I'd forgotten...can't wait to see you in June!!! I lived in Denver over 20 years...I'll help get the Bronco..great idea...and as you said I'm good at kidnapping!!
Debbie Crawford, Thank you for making me laugh tonight as I read your "Remember When" comments, still chuckling to myself. Didn't we have a class or two together, study hall or something? Have you ever thought about doing stand-up comedy? Lady, you have the knack. Also, think you are on to something about the choices for class gift. Seems like concrete benches was a choice, wasn't it? Glad you supplied some new reading material for everyone, including me.
Hey, Jim C - I’ll tell you what – you ride out here to Denver with Terry D when she gets her 1970 Seafoam Impala “barge” revamped, (should be big enough for the job) and us 3 will kidnap the 30’ tall (guessing here)Bronco statue out of wherever they’re keeping it. (might have to do a little reconnaissance here). Then we’ll strap it to the top of Terry D’s car like a trophy kill – careful, so as not to scratch the new paint job, maybe use those plastic seat covers for protection – and haul it back to Topeka. If the Hwy Patrol stops us we’ll tell them it’s a hood ornament for a very large car we’re rebuilding. Thanks for the compliment – I’m only funny on paper because I have time to think about it. I’m actually corny in real life. About classes we shared – after looking in the yearbook – I realized there are 4 Jim C’s (Clements, Cook, Cloutier and Craig) So, if you are at liberty to divulge your true identity, here and now, I can’t really say if we did. Maybe at the reunion you could “reveal” yourself to me (Code word: “Jim C.”). I was playing the “average, non-descript” role in school. Does that jog any memories?? I better stop hogging the “Comments” box. I think Cyberspace is starting to wake up. People will think we’re the “two computers” talking to each other, and God, we don’t want to start any rumors –even though this blogging thing can be addictive. Besides, I’ve got to knuckle down and write my Bio for the website. More later.
Debbie C, This is the Jim C that was on the cross country team. After checking, none of the other 3Jim C's were. I knew that. Have a couple of cross country stories to share. One time during a race, Jim M (class of '69) actually RAN into a small tree and fell over backwards. It looked like he had been tackled by an invisible man. He never heard the end of it the rest of the year. The whole team accused him of (A) Daydreaming (B) Running in his sleep (C) Being HIGH on something (D) All of the above. Just like pop quiz or test, take your pick. Actually, the correct answer is D. Another time someone asked Coach Schrag why the cheerleaders never came to a cross country meet. He talked with someone about that and at a meet north of Topeka hosted by Seaman in a cow pasture past the Plantation Steak House, lo and behold, the purple and white clad cheerleaders made an appearance. It was kind of awkward for them because they cheered at the start of the race and then stood around with nothing to do until everyone covered the two mile course and came into the finish chute. Then they cheered again and made a quick exit out of there. It was a first and last because it never happened again. I can just hear all the girl cheerleaders saying.... How boring was that!!!!
OK this is the last time I’m entering a blog – I REALLY, REALLY, must stop doing this. Jim C., now that I know who you are, I remember seeing you around campus and I remember you being active in sports. We did have several classes together, but couldn’t tell you which ones. You know, I was thinking maybe we had the same homeroom together – "A" Bldg in the orchestra/band room – but I can’t remember who the homeroom teacher was. Good cross country stories. Funny how those stick in your mind. Cross country events were a whole nether world not many of us saw – not well publicized. When I was training to run in a marathon 20yr ago I loved watching the NY marathon on TV. That for many was probably as boring as I find watching golf on TV. You just had to be apart of the experience. Speaking of cheerleaders, we need to hear from some of them – if it’s printable. Here is a quick truck story for you (and it has nothing to do with TWHS memories but you’ll have a laugh) While I was at WU, I was sharing an old house off campus with 2 other girls. One of them was dating a semi truck driver down the block. One day I saw his cab parked in front of his house and since I was always curious what the inside of a semi looked like, I went down and asked him if I could have a look. He said “Sure, climb in and I’ll take you for a ride”. As he drove down Topeka Ave, putting it through its 20-plus gears, he told me he use to drive a route - and this is no bull, you can find these on the map – from Intercourse, PA. to Climax, CO. OK. that’s it. I’m stepping away from the computer. No more blogging for awhile –seriously. We need to hear from the other 400 plus classmates out there.
You guys just keep going. Some of the comments under some of the posts are so very funny and some so touching. We are all enjoying this and that's why we started it. I don't think a blog "fills up" but if it does we'll just make a part two. Please keep "chatting". We're pleased people are using the blog and getting re-aquainted or in some cases getting to know each other for the first time. If the other 400+ classmates want to add there is room for them too!!
Debbie C, after reading your comments I ran out & got my CDL, so I could start driving trucks. Thanks for participating,some of these things are really funny. And you're right if some of the other 400 would join in, it'd be a riot. Can't wait to read your next post & don't forget your BIO.
Debbie C, Guess who? Yes, I have heard of both those towns though never been to either one. Wonder what the town founders were doing when they decided on those names?!!? How about Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. That had to have been before the tv show by the same name. Since we are filling up the "Remember When" section, do you want to move to a different section and start filling it up also. As for "A" building homeroom, that was NOT me, never had any classes in that building. I'm having a memory lapse so help me out here. Was homeroom a regular class or just starting point for the day? And when they gave the morning announcements on the p.a. system was that during homeroom or first hour class? You seem to have a pretty good memory, so thought you would be the person to ask.
Topeka West ‘Racing Team’?
At a time when us ‘dumb-ass Hot-Rodders’ were considered almost as much a menace on the highways as them ‘Dirty-Bikers’, Owen Henson and TWHS found themselves an unwitting host to a rather large contingent of ‘Car Nuts’. Arriving about a half hour before class, we would line up our cars on the north side of the east parking lot and sit there smoking cigarettes, swapping stories and bragging about our week-end street racing exploits. Kaw Valley Raceway had folded up early in ‘65 so Friday nights would find us cruising the blvd from Allen’s to Topper’s to Collin’s and back again. Gas was $.30 a gallon and 102 octane premium was 32 cents. So we could cruise all night even with a 5 MPG 427 Cubic Inch ‘Big Block’ under the hood. A ‘Run’ would occur anytime two of us lined up at any controlled intersection on Topeka Blvd. Once the light turned green, gas pedals went down, clutch pedals went up and them large bore V-8s would produce a deafening duet of high RPM thunder as they brutally punished the rear tires into copious volumes of smoke. ‘Rowing the gears’ as we gained velocity, the race was won by whomever was ahead at the end of third gear. White knuckled, adrenaline pumping, sweaty palmed excitement. What a rush! And if there was a cop around, you wanted to be the winner because the ‘Fuzz’ would inevitably pick on the slower car.
Between the fall of ‘65 and spring of ‘68, there were at least ten of us ‘outlaws’ in our class alone. And if you combined the upper/lower classmen, there were thirty plus (that I can remember). They were as follows;
our class:
Tim Foster; 68 Chevelle SS 396
Tracy Fisher; 65 Mustang
Clark Gross; 67 Mustang Fastback, 390 4 speed car
Rusty Barnes; 57 Chevy
Greg Martin; 65 Pontiac GTO (it was that gawd awfull Lavender, YUK.)
Ron Meyer; 57 Chevy Bel-Air hardtop (black and real pretty)
Doug Montgomery; 64 Pontiac GTO
Butch Pile; 55 Chevy/34 Ford 3 window coupe/63 Impala SS “409"
Duane Post; 56 Chevy
Steve Webb; 64 Ford Falcon ‘Sprint’ with a Shelby Cobra engine in it.
Gary Kniss; 55 Chevy Sport Coupe (adolescent orange)
Upper Classmen:
Rick Jackson; 60 Ford Starliner, yellow (This was the car he and Lynda Howell were killed in)
Jack Eklund; 62 Impala SS “409" (Blue 4 speed car)
Sam Carkhuff; 67 Pontiac GTO (graduation present. He totaled it within 3 Months.)
Tom Gassen; 58 Chevy
Jim Eaton; 64 Impala SS (red sport coupe)
Jim Cunningham; 56 Chevy (turquoise/white and nice.)
Jerry Metz; 56 Chevy sedan.
Under Classmen:
Moyer Bunting; 68 Chevelle SS 396 4 speed car.
Jerry Raab; 67 Ford Fairlane GTA Red (nice car for a Ford.)
Steve Stone; 57 Chevy Bel-Air post (metallic green.)
Jack Eaton; 62 Impala SS (it was never pretty cause he kept crashing.)
Bruce Luetje; 56 Ford 390
Rod Launer; 50 Chevy with a 301 CID Chevy small block
*Ron Harrison; 70 396 powered Nova SS
*Steve Smith; 69 396 Nova SS
One cold morning, Steve Webb figured out that if he backed his Cobra powered Falcon up to the curb on the north side of the TWHS parking lot and just dumped the clutch in reverse, he could literally sit there and spin the rear tires for minutes on end. And he did. Of course, the rest of us had to try that too and once we all figured out how to do it at the same time, we managed to produce enough noise and white smoke to hide an aircraft carrier. Minutes later, we had a huge plume of smoke rising so far up in the air they could see it from the Forbes Field Control Tower. By the time the Topeka Fire Dept showed up, most of the smoke had dissipated, and we had gone to class. But now we had Owen Henson’s attention. And he was pissed. One by one, throughout the day, Henson had each of us in his office. But, since none of us would confess, he couldn’t kick any of us out. We never did that again.
Looking back on all of that now, it’s amazing we didn’t get into anymore trouble than we did. I only got busted once, and that was for “Exhibition of Speed”, not “Drag Racing” which carried a lot heftier fine. I did, however, get a lot of tickets for loud mufflers but refused to replace my ‘glass-packs’ for anything quieter. Simply because I liked the way a Chevy V-8 sounded with a set of ‘Pipes’ on it. I still do. Only now, cops don’t pick on me for that.
In 1968, the most expensive car on the above list would have set you back around $4500. The 55 through 57 Chevies would cost $250 to $1,200 depending on condition. Now, a mint condition, original 67 Pontiac GTO can go for up to $250,000.00 while an average example will range from thirty to fifty thousand. Those of us who are privileged enough to still have these cars drive and treat them with a good deal more respect than we did in the sixties. But, then again, I have a great deal more respect for just about everything now than I did then. Must be a side effect of softening bones and hardening arteries. The hair I used to have on my head is growing back, just not on my head. And the only thing that gets stiff when I wake up now is my back.
G Kniss
*Sadly, both Ron Harrison (class of 70) and Steve Smith (class of 69) were killed shortly after we graduated in separate but very similar accidents involving these cars.
Hey anonymous - loved your hotrod stories. I too remember the drag races. I dated Butch Pile for about a week (ha-ha)and he would let me borrow his car all the time. It definately was a cool car and man could it go! Sounded good too. You also mentioned upper classmate Jim Cunningham and his '56 Chevy. Well I whooped his butt with my dorky 64 4-door Ford! No joke. Jim and Glenn While (who had his own really cool GTO) were in Jim's car at the light at Huntoon and Gage. I was right next to him in my car with Sandy Benson, Bev Brown (brown hair), and Debby Tibbit! I had to wait for them to show up at the stop sign at Huntoon and Oakley. They were sooo embarrassed. I eventually married Jim in '68 and we had two kids! I kept the kids and got rid of Jim eventually! I have always had a thing for "speed" and have many traffic tickets to prove it. At age 58 I still have a heavy foot. I have a Seadoo Jet Boat at Lake Wabaunsee where I live and that gives me that "rush" too. Keep those cards and letters coming folks. I love everyone's comments.
When my boys started talking "cars", I told them I had to "share" a car with my mom and it was a Corvair...they said.."wow cool Mom, a Corvette!" and I had to explain the big difference...one time Mom was driving the Covair and we were at Gage and 21st..there were some boys from school next to us..at the light..she sat there grinning at them and reving(sp) the engine and then killed it in the middle of the intersection...I tried to crawl under the dash from shame...My mom for heaven's sake. Ahh... but later after my freshman year at K-State while I was working at Some Place Nice on 21st street...does anyone remember that place?? ..my dad and I had a fight about me working in a "bar"..and being a man of that era was unable to say he was sorry so bought me a brand new 69 Mustang...Indian Fire Red and fake scoop...oh I was living then. I always had to wait 20 minutes before calling that I was back at school due to the time it took me to get back...did 90-95 quite nicely...and I did get a ticket for drag racing...wore a nice prim dress with a Peter Pan collar to court but it didn't work!! $ 75.00 ticket..that was a lot of $$ then...but it was worth it. I won.
Since "Remember When" has turned to car talk, thought I'd add some items. First, Gary K. you can add Bob Wade to the list of underclassmen with a "hot" car. He had a '69 GTO powered by a 389 cubic inch motor (think that was Pontiac's big block anyway?)tied into a four speed manual, or maybe it was a three speed back then. It was Royal Purple with white vinyl interior (that's right, school colors). He drove the p... out of that car and also "scored" nicely with the ladies. Something about that school colors thing, loyalty, and all of that!!! Mike Clark of our class had a early to mid-60s big barge Oldsmobile or Buick. That "living room on wheels" had about a 50 gallon gas tank onboard. It leaked oil and smoked some, so when he went to a gas station (full service back in those days) he would tell the guy... "fill the OIL and check the GAS", not kidding. One day Mike, Steve Newcomer, and I were riding around in this behemoth. Mike says... let's take this out on the highway and see what it will do. Starting at the Burlingame Road on ramp to I-470 heading west he starts standing on the gas pedal and away we go. By the time we were just past Fairlawn and 470 he had the speedometer buried past 120mph. The shocks on that monster were not real good, and the front end starting floating up and down like a Miami Vice cigar speedboat cutting across the ocean. Mike and Steve worked at the Dillon's grocery store at 17th and Fairlawn. One winter after some really heavy snows there was a pile of snow in Dillon's parking lot about 20 feet high. Mike decides he is going to make a long run at the snow pile with his "tank" and see if he can punch through it. He ended up burying the car into the snow about half way through and had to finally call a wrecker to get it pulled out. Oh by the way, Gary, I got one of those "Exhibition of Speed" slips from the Lake Shawnee cop in the early 70s on a motorcycle with my future wife along for the ride. Just goes to show what "showing off" gets you.
Jim C. this is the funniest story I've read yet. I thought Jan V's story was hysterical, but this had me laughing out loud with tears rolling down my face. You're an amazing writer. Keep those stories coming. OOOPs, suppose to be writing my Bio - later.
Jim C;
In my pre-HS yrs, Bob wade’s family lived just two doors north of mine and as kids we played sand-lot ball together for many summers. He was one or two years behind us and would have been soph or jr during 1968. If indeed he had a 69 purple ‘Goat’, it would have been post ‘68 and that’s why I wouldn’t have remembered it.
Additionally, the Nova SS cars Ron Harrison and Steve Smith had didn’t actually show up at TWHS until the 68/69 school year. The only reason I do remember them was because Steve’s Dad was one of my co-workers at Kent-Brown Chevrolet and Ron was neighbor to Rod Launer. Who is still a good friend and car nut.
And if your Dad owned a Conoco Station at 8th & Topeka, then I remember you too.
Terry D;
My Mom had a Corvair too. She hated Ralph Nader because he called her little car “Unsafe at any speed”. Trouble was, it was.
Debi S;
If you’re who I think you are, I’m not surprised. My recollection of you is of an absolutely lovely little girl who, shall we say, was ‘adventurous’?. Correct me if I’m mistaken but, I think Jim wrecked that pretty little 56 Chevy, and you were in the car at the time. Also seems like you ended up wearing some ‘band-aids’ for a while? Word on the street was you actually caused the accident ;-), but, that’s just a rumor I heard. It’s okay, I won’t spread it around.
G Kniss
Hey G Kniss - your memory is bad like all of ours! Yes, Jim C wrecked the 56 Chevy my sophmore year at West, BEFORE I had met him. Couldn't have been my fault, but Jim always claimed a red mustang ran him off the road on Huntoon. The car was totalled and he was seriously hurt and this will ring bells "he lost his left ear." Now remember? He always wore a bandage over that ear. Wasn't me with bandages - it was Jim. He had many operations at KU med. I met him about 3-4 month after the accident. And yes, "adventurous" is a great word to describe me. Thnaks Gary!
Debi S,
I remember the 56 chevy and the crash and I remember you and Jim were a pair. I remember the patch but, for some reason, thought it was yours. I appreciate the tactful manner with which you informed me I’m full of s**t.
The rumor may have related to Sam C and the girl he was with when he crashed that brand new 67 GTO. That would have occurred the following year. I don’t think she went to West but I do think she was hurt pretty bad in the incident.
I had confused the two events and I apologize for the inference.
You said that during the brief time you dated Butch, he had let you borrow his car. I am curious, was that when he had the blue 55 Chevy or did he have the red 63 Impala by then?
Hey Gary - I need to correct some of what I said - it's hell getting old! Jim lost his "right" ear and the accident was on 10th St. across from Gage Park. Also, it was '57 Chevy - you know with wings. I also remember Sam's accident, and came upon it on Hwy. 4 coming home from the Lake. The "girl" was a distant cousin of mine. She was dragged by one foot on the Hwy. for over 400 feet. Get this - she lost her left ear. Weird huh? Ya, I guess I dated Butch more than a couple of weeks because I remember "racing" his '55 up to Lake Wabaunsee a couple of times. I would "skip" and take off in Butch's car. Sometimes Butch even came along! Hurst shifter on the floor. I probably ruined his tires for sure. Hey - did anyone wreck on Huntoon Hills like I did in my mom's 64 Grand Prix? I tore out the underneath of her car when I landed back on land! Now that was a kick - until I had to tell my mom!.
Debi S. - How funny you would mention that hill on Huntoon. I as just thinking about that this morning. I remember the thrill you'd get climbing up the side of that tall hill with a car full of your girl friends, then gun it as you approached the crest. The car would go airborne and everyone would scream their heads off - certain we were going to die. I always liked the way my stomach felt.
This "Remember When" section Rules. There is a good back and forth going between Debbie C and Jim C, and also Debi S and Gary K. Hey, if nobody else wants to join in the fun us four will keep it going. Gary K, I always thought Steve Webb's Falcon was "bad", "rad", "tough". or whatever the "hip" word was for awesome 40 years ago. It was medium blue metallic, right? I never had a car during high school, so was envious of all you guys and gals with "wheels". And no, my dad did not have a gas station at 8th and Topeka. Debi S, Was your '64 Ford white with round tailights? If so, I remember you "tooling around" with a car load of girls. At least in the school parking lot!!! Debbie C, Are you doing research on YOUR bio? If it is as funny as your "I remember" segment, guess it will be worth the wait!!! As for me, I CAN NOT remember laughing so much in my life as I have for the last month or so, reading everyone's entries. Thanks to Charlie and the gals on the committee for planning everything and putting this website together. Here is a challenge to other classmates, JOIN IN ON THE FUN.
jim c., charlie t.& et all – my apologies for the delay. I’m sorry the suspense is more than you can bear. You see, I don’t have a computer at home so I have to discreetly use the one I have at work and my supervisor sits within visual range – so you get the picture. I work on my Bio in between things and piece it together as I go along. And, yes, I am doing “research” – I’ve had to go back and dredge up some really old memories, but I’m having so much fun doing it with you guys. So talk amongst yourselves till I return.
OK speaking of times in High School what about the field parties or going to "Swim" in the Kansas River after school, buying a case of beer for $5. I also remember some senior women hay rack rides that got a little wild. They got closed down after some of the women got caught feeding the 15 year son of the hay rack ride owner beer. Won't mention names but they know who they are.
Hey Jim C - you have me pegged now - I did have the white 64 Ford and you're right - it was always filled with a bunch of girls. We had some good times in that car, even if it was dorky. By the way, are you the Jim C who went to Capper and invited me on my first date to a party? Hummmm?
Debbie C - The Huntoon Hills were "sweet" weren't they? Did you risk you life and get in the car with me? We had a blast.
Anonymous - I mentioned the swim parties right after school at the Kansas river in my first post. Knowing you use to go to those parties narrows down a LOT of who you might be. Loved field parties, Echo Cliffs, cow tipping, and yes, cheap beer. I had nothing to do with any hay rack rides, but sounded like fun.
I also remember a bunch of us would park before school about a block from the school on the north side. We would all back our cars in and smoke. I remember Mike Hurley driving his mother's car (with her in it) coming down the street each morning at about 5 mph, slowly make his right hand turn and proceed on to the school. One morning about 15 of us waiting for Mike to come along, and when he was making his slow right hand turn, we all hit our horns at once. Mike got all shook up and jumped the curb and was getting hell from his mom. Sorry Mike. I guess I sick but that was the funniest thing!
Debi S. - I don't remember who was driving the car any of those times. Once the car was airborne names and faces were blanked out from sheer terror. I kind of doubt I was in your car as it seems you ran with a "tougher crowd". I was home for Christmas this year and by coincidence my Mom pulled out of the Wanamaker shopping area by way of Huntoon. As we were driving up the hill, I started having flashbacks. I asked her if she wanted to experience a cheap thrill. She asked me what I had in mind. I told her to “punch it” and she’d see why. It just wasn’t the same without all the dust and gravel spewing from under the tires. Actually we just cruised on down the other side. I swear they must have shaved off or leveled out that part of the road when they laid the asphalt. Maybe it’s all the retail and houses around that make it seem smaller. Even Burnett’s Mound seems smaller.
Debi S, this is Jim C and not your ex-husband (Jim C)!!! I went to Jardine, any other Jaguars in the blog group? How do you and the others get the gaps between your paragraphs? I've been trying for over a week to do that, and my text just keeps clumping together. I'm the Jim C that has been keeping Debbie C busy with return comments. Have some science building stories to tell, do not think anyone has posted any yet. During Mr. Elmborg's physics class we were doing the "wavelength" lab experiment with the flat glass container, agitator, and spotlight. One of the guys, do not remember who, was bringing the flat glass container to the lab table when he dropped it. Water and broken glass went everywhere on the floor. Mr Elmborg, who I never, ever saw grin or smile, (always had such a serious look on his face) just shook his head in dismay. These next two stories are from Mr. Benortham's chemistry class. One time during a lab experiment involving a Bunsen burner, Mike Clark, (the mad scientist) was waving his burner around like a sparkler on the 4th of July. The rubber hose that connected to the gas outlet came off and the flame from the burner flashed back to the gas outlet. It was shooting like a flame thrower and Mr. Benortham's eyes got big as saucers. Think it was Randy Jones to the rescue. He reached across from his side of the lab table and shut the gas valve off. The class gave him a standing ovation for saving the day, and also for not letting the classroom catch on fire. Part two of chemistry class memories was the take home assignment of growing crystals in a glass jar. My end result crystal turned out dismal, which frustrated me and earned me a not so good grade for the assignment. One person turned in common table salt that it looked like was sprinkled on a blob of Elmers glue. That person, I think, got a D- or F+ for at least turning something in. Two people turned in colored crystals that were SO perfect, I think they went downtown to Briman's Jewelry store and bought a piece of jade and ruby. Needless to say, those two people got A's for the assignment.
Jim C. - you might try typing your blog in Word document the way you want it to appear (gaps between paragraphs)then copy and paste it into the "Comments" box. Just a thought - Terry D. seems to be a whiz creating websites and probably knows a trick or two.
By the way, I was a Jaguar. Still have my red corduroy pepclub vest. Feels like a size 2 when I try it on. (Maybe I didn't have boobs yet back then). Sorry, I don't remember you AT ALL from Jardine. You must have been up the hill in the science and math buildings where the brainy people congregated and my locker was in the lower bldg. Besides I was very shy back then and could hardly look at a boy.
Debbie C, Hey Lady, If you wear your purple blazer from pep club, then I'll wear my letter jacket. It still fits me as long as I do not try to button the snaps. Maybe a girdle would help, but then that would make me a "cross-dresser" or something like that. Anyway, we would be able to identify each other among the crowd. My locker was in the lower building at Jardine also. Small world isn't it?
Jim C how the hell do you remember this crap, all I remember is the hot looking babes and trying to get enough courage up to ask one out. I remember one girl I wanted to ask out but my friends kept telling me she was out of my league. Always wondered how things would have turned out if I had. Hope she is coming to the reunion, I wonder if the committee will publish a list of who has signed up, I would hate for it just to be the divorced guys in their dockers and golf shirts hanging around in the middle of the dance floor.
All this talk about cars back then is amazing. Every year, the Daytona Speedway has a Turkey Run the weekend of Thanksgiving. I go with my son most years because he enjoys old cars as much as I do…he sees them as relics…I seem them as memories! There are THOUSANDS of ‘60’s cars on the speedway and inside the track. The l960’s music is blaring…the food is cooking…and the oldies men are out looking at all these cars. I always walk through and yell out, “Oh, my God…there’s so-and-so’s car from our junior year!” I have such great memories of all my friend’s cars, plus my own. What is the most shocking, though, is the COST of some of these cars. I saw a bright red l967 GTO with a $l30,000 price tag…and people BUY THESE CARS!!! My son had a l965 navy blue mustang until his father sold it…devastated him. Come to Florida on Thanksgiving…we’ll go look at cars!
Debi S., Debbie C., and Gwen G. Have a little known secret place that is BETTER than Huntoon hills for getting that "roller coaster" effect by driving a little bit faster than the posted speed limit and tickets are YOUR responsibility. It is on the EAST side of town, north of Lake Shawnee, E. 21st Street and Wittenberg Road. The Highland Park people probably all know about it. Since the picnic is on that side of town, a bunch of you girls should load up a car or two and go try it. You have to be coming from the east, going west to get the "hollow feeling" in your tummy effect. At the bottom of the hill you will see scrape marks where many cars have bottomed out. Before they closed off E. 21st at Croco Rd. you could have left the picnic and drove north on Croco and then west on 21st. I think Wittenberg Road still connects to 29th Street somewhere north of the Lake Shawnee dam so you can go that way, head east up the hill on 21st, then turn around. Please BE CAREFUL cause think there have been some fatality accidents in that vicinity. Happy motoring, buckle up, enjoy the ride, and for God's sake BE SAFE.
After reading all these posts, I thought I must have a terrible memory! Then I started thinking......I remember..... switching skirts with Babs Fenton in Mr. Conrad's 1st period govt class to defy the Skirt-Length Monitor Felicia McGinley.....the highlight of my senior year was being Mike Davies' Official Girlfriend (does it get any better than that?).....the NY-Wash trip with roomie Louise Van Vleck (weren't we the LAST class to go by train?).....hanging out in the band practice room with Gwen Goossen and Pam Collier.....skipping out to lunch my entire senior year in my 1959 Plymouth, the Batmobile (is there an uglier car?).....playing tennis team doubles with Sharon Nelson-Palmer.....French class with Madame Curtis (she of the infamous mustache).....going to an FBLA event with Dee Dee Cooper and getting busted for skipping out to go shopping (I sense a pattern here).....working at Noller Ford after school & weekends; my boss was Mike Davies' dad, a VERY patient man.....
Isn't it kinda weird to have these 1968 "retrospectives" all over the news, re-living the assassinations, VietNam, the riots.....and we lived it! Although I have to be truthful; these events only touched me peripherally -- I was way more concerned with my clothes/matching shoes/hair/Mike/prom/etc/etc/etc!!
Jim Cook's Dad owned the gas station @ 8th & Topeka Blvd. I ran around with a guy from Topeka High who worked there after school. Jim C. hit the enter bar when you want to start a new paragraph or create space between lines. I want to thank all of you who are using this site. It really helps the committee in plugging along & trying to locate everyone. The girls and Terry B. have really worked hard on this,I only try to keep things moving forward we're down to less than 90 on the still missing list. Not bad when you start with a class of 435. And we've had alot of help from many of you. Please keep the stories & memories coming, see ya in June.
Hey Anonymous - I really appreciate the detailed directions to this secret place that's better than Huntoon - but you know, in this day and age we could just Google a map to locate it, or better yet, use the GPS - (Geez, are we old or what) Maybe before we've had too many beers on Friday, we could all caravan out to this place - or move the party out there. If this is as great a thrill as you say, they better have an ambulance waiting as the cardio rush might be too much.
A friend sent me this for you car guys and girls...
Cars We Drove
Turn on your speakers & enjoy
www.objflicks.com/CarsWeDrove.htm
he added this line...
Ahhhh, yes. What a time...and the chicks....
Debbie C., That hill on E. 21st Street only has one drop, but if you are going fast enough westbound when you get to it, the road seems to drop out from under the car, then it is fairly long to the bottom where it levels off.
Terry D., Just looked at both of those websites you mentioned. A journey back in time for sure. Good stuff.
Charlie T. - I just checked out the website Terry D. rcommended-"Cars We Drove" and discovered some other feature "movies" you can view on that same website. One in particular made me think of you and your comments at the end of your "Remember When" - check out the one titled "Growing Up in the 50's and 60's". They "remembered" alot of the same things you were nostalgic about. It really hit home for me as well. Hey - how's that CDL working for you. Been any place interesting lately?? Oh, and tell the ghost writer I haven't forgotten about him.
Charlie T., Thanks for clearing up the space between the paragraphs issue for me. I was getting ready to try Fern B.'s and Terry D.'s method and just use a bunch of dots.........
Debbie C., Was beginning to think you got "busted" at work by your supervisor for being on the computer at the "wrong" time. Glad that you apparently did not!!
Debi S., and Gary K., It seems that you two must have decided to take a late spring break, separately of course, since you have not made any comments in a while. Touche...
The new AARP magazine is out and one of the cover stories is about 1968. Go to www.aarpmagazine.org/1968 to recall many memories from 40 years ago.
Jim C. – Thank you for keeping the flame of dialogue burning. You are so vigilant and admirably so. As someone said before, “How do you remember all this crap?” You are a bottomless pit of memories. Did you actually study or do anything in school or did you just sit and absorb the passing scene? You seem to have this photographic memory for details (you must be taking a lot of selenium or ginko or something to boost all that memory power) – but its wonderful reliving those days through your eyes. As for the blazer and jacket, it’s a deal.
Well, as you all know, I am computer-challenged (accessibility, not technically) and as luck would have it – the boss is away for a day or two, so I’m taking an extended lunch and getting back in the game.
Fern – Wow, I didn’t know you were in the flower business for awhile. I’ve been in and out of the industry for 40yrs. I’ve done a lot of other stuff along the way, but the flower business was my fall-back – when I needed extra cash or was between jobs, even had my own business for a few years. We’ll have to talk shop and compare stories.
Sharon N-P – Hey girl, glad you could join us. I can’t believe that under that tomboyish exterior was a latent fashion diva dying to express her self. Tell me, during all the years at West I often wondered why you had 2 last names, or it seemed like 2 last names (Nelson Palmer). Could you clear that up for me??
I noticed in the yearbook we worked on the Prom and Snowball crews together. Do you remember any of those events?? Seemed like I always worked on the crews but never had a date – “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”.
Speaking of Proms – the season is upon us. Anybody have a good Prom story to tell – mishap, heartbreak, embarrassing moment??? I had a date to the Jr-Sr Prom with an upper classman my Jr year. He was in the cast of “How to Succeed in Business” and I applied his make-up every night before the performance. (I don’t remember his name-Craig “something”). At the cast party he asked me to go to Prom. The night of the Prom was an awkward evening all around (my very first date with a guy, ever). In my stocking feet I was 4”taller than him. I had to stoop over to dance close. When we danced cheek to cheek, he sweated from nervousness such that the hairspray on my coiffure kept sticking to his face. On the way home he wanted me to sit next to him in the car (remember bench seats) and, unlike other girls, I was terrified he was going to try and kiss me. As soon as he pulled into the driveway, he made the move and I did a quick Houdini out of the car and thanked him for a lovely evening. (Think SNL’s “The Continental” with Christopher Walken). When I got in the house, my Mom asked me if I’d seen a ghost. I was so glad to get out of my dress and brush out the hairspray. The afternoon before the Prom, my Mom had taken me to the beauty academy in downtown Topeka. Back then it only cost $1.25 to have your hair washed and styled. I also remember the cost for the entire evening was less than $20 – that is, dinner, corsage and gas to fill up the parent’s car after you drove around all night.
What does “Prom” mean anyway???
I am giving all you people As for remembering all those cars! I just remember Claudia's SUVs before SUVs were mass produced. I also remember sitting in those cars waiting in the TWHS parking lot for the Varsity teams to come home. In response to the remark " speaking of the cheerleaders"...yes our comments can be published here but I think it is best to hold everyone in suspense until the big night...I am just having "a Blast" reading all of yours and I will comment when I see everyone...you've been seeing one of us if you watch TV but I will not divulge which one...and you have to look closely in the background...see you at the bar as I will not go over the Huntoon Hill...once a chicken, always a chicken.
I think "prom" is a derivitive of Promenade-as Google defines and the Promenade Dances were always held in France after the feasts. So there you go-I hope that I helped and Go Jayhawks!
Oh, in response to the cheerleader comment-one is a research librarian at KU, two own their own businesses and one is a retired college prof. Three are Jayhawks, one is a turn coat Wildcat! Only one is still married to her first and only husband and between the other 3 there have been 7 marriages. (none married to each other)Hope I got some laughs.
I have my yearbook beside me and I still can't figure out who some of these people are as well as the anon. Of course I know who the ones are who have signed on their names or nicknames but the others...it is hard getting old!
What? No mention of the parties at the Chief Drive in Theatre’s 13th row. Nothing about the tremendous and sometimes death defying jumps off the ledge at the rock quarry or the East Topeka sand quarry parties. Oh and by the way Fern….Davies was an idiot, at times a brilliant idiot (the only times I can recall are his impressions of Irksy Dirksy and the playwriting for the Bonnie and Clyde skit lampooning the National Honor Society). And no mention of the much loose, quiet caboose Dutch Goose which, along with Seabrook Tavern and Walt’s Fault, the most reliable place to buy underage alcoholic beverages. Evidently either the contributors thus far have either incurred severe or selective memory lapses or have no memories to lapse. Seriously, I have enjoyed, rather immensely, the comments posted to date and I truly look forward to what is likely to be an entirely boring couple of evenings hanging around a bunch of old ( i. e. my age) ex-acquaintances. And, by the way, Debbie S., you were the hottest girl in our class. If I had only known you had a cabin at Lake Wabaunsee all these years I would have likely forgone my various careers to camp out in a raggedly tent with the slimmest hope that you would take pity on me and invite me into your humble abode.
Careful on the wittenburg rd trip, it is a killer! First time I came upon it, I was going alittle too fast, and holy crap. I had a 1968 Firebird 400, blue with a white vinyl top. Margo and I drove to Omaha for a wedding and I let her drive while I slept. Mini skirts were in then and I woke up to a trucker traveling along side because my dress had come up to my waist and Margo didn't tell me. Wonder if it would work today?Totaled that car at the intersection of Huntoon and Topeka BLVD on my way to work when someone ran a red light. Lucky for me I did NOT have on my seatbelt (that was a rare thing, even today), because it threw me to the passenger side and I escaped with only a few broken ribs. Just had 3 payments left to make. Ended up with a volkswagon, go figure. I have a 2001 Z3 now that I have only had up to 130 on the turnpike for a brief moment, but it was FUN. I remember the hill on huntoon, my dad taught me how to drive a stick there, and I've loved sticks ever since. Have fun with that one :)
Hey Neffy, I'm breaking radio silence here (CB talk). If you want to put on a mini skirt and hop in your Z3 I can give you my run times in the semi, so I can check out your legs!!! After doing my own informal survey for about ten years on the interstate highways, rubber necking at passing vehicles, I can tell you the "hottest" chicks are always in Pontiacs, without a doubt. BMWs and Mercedes-Benz are a distant second in this unscientific poll. My wife has always said... I could look as long as I don't touch... so do lots of looking. It breaks up the monotony of the pavement. 10-4 and out.
Wow! Things are picking up. I was off line for days while I waited for a new motem to arrive in the mail. I'm back. Hey Alcoholicsanon - thanks for the compliment - you made my day (decade)! Got to tell you I haven't heard that for a while! And I still live at Lake W. too. Fishing is always good, if you have enough beer. I totally forgot about the Chief Drive-in. That was soooo much fun. I remember about 4 girls in the trunk of my car while I went to the drive-in by myself! Ha! Remember the Cloverleaf? And while I ruined my Mom's car on Huntoon hills, I too discovered the East 21st street hill. What a thrill. Does anyone remember an assembly where some upperclassman was on stage singing, all the while his pants zipper was down? I think we were sophmores. I about wet my pants I laughed so hard. (I'm sure I "would" wet my pants today!) It's hell getting old guys!
people--people--people, What's up with so many post being signed "anonymous"? Getting too many to figure out whose's writing what. Cherrleader post--Let's see Marilyn would be the one appearing on TV, Bayless would be the Librarian, Claudia would be the one married only once,someones been married at least 3 times, wonder who, need help on the other info. PLEASE don't use LAST NAMES( been requested by some for security reasons).
The "singer we'll never forget" was our own Scott Foster during the first assmbly (remember we always had two) introducing the Snowball candidates-believe it not I was one and I never looked at his pants (I would now, of course, but probably couldn't see anyway)-I did however look at the others on stage and every one was holding back laughter and I didn't know what was so damn funny-when the curtains closed-so did the fly! I am sure this wasn't his 15 minutes of fame-but it was a moment I am sure he or we will hold in our memory file! So Scott-you did or do have a great voice and I hope a sense of humor to match-keep those car stories coming and others-I feel like I missed the fun.
Charlie-You are correct about the cheerleader Bio and I don't sign as I am the one with the "Topeka family matter" so to my fellow classmates I will divulge fun facts at the reunion as to where I am and all the other boring details, unless of course I brag about my child-which all of us are entitled to do now-and your grandchildren-I can hardly type that! Keep the fun stuff coming. Oh, and I still remember you Charlie were my first date at Capper.
Gary K., Are you on vacation or did your modem crash like Debi S.'s did? Was hoping you had some more car stories to share. Speaking of drive-in movies don't forget the Community Drive-in and there was a second drive-in right by the Chief off Topeka Blvd. Anyone want to play some music trivia? From 1965 to 1985 there were four tv show theme songs that went to number one on the record charts. Hawaii Five-0, M.A.S.H., Bonanza, Gilligan's Island are all incorrect answers. Hey, Mike Davies you might know some of these, music buff that you are!! Debbie C., hope your computer at work is still running. Charlie, I'm coming out of hiding and signing my name to this one.
Theme from Fame
9 to 5
Theme from Miami Vice
Theme from SWAT
Maybe Harper Valley PTA
THeme from Shaft
Anonymous, You have two correct answers so far. Miami Vice and SWAT are winners. Your other four guesses are incorrect. Try again.
Ok, so I never claimed to be interested in TV music, just a fan of Topeka's music in high school years. So, I pass on all trivia related to that subject. (Putnam scholarship is still in play). However:
I invite comments with respect to the Topeka tornado (not quite a senior moment as in 1968) that effected me significantly and left lasting memories as to where I was (29th and Adams) and who I was with (two WU university freshman women at the BR ice cream store). Another great and rather obscure (personal) memory was a utterly fantastic trip to the Nelson Art Gallery when we were seniors.
I recall Stan Rettig having a prety hot car, too. Of course my time line memory is lousy. I can't remember if he and Marty were tooling around in it in high school or in the Davies Liquor Store years (a fine purveyer of alcoholic beverages located at 21st and McVicar from 1973 to 1984). I was sorry to hear about Sharon and you, Gary, you two were always good people that seemed to belong together.
And annon alco, or whoever, thanks for remembering that 1) I was an idiot and 2) the Bonnie and Clyde skit (how obscure your memory must be). The Irksy Dirky impression almost had me kicked out of school, good thing Roger Dirks had a sense of humor, he never reported it.
JIm C: Better check your sources or rephrase the question!
Harper Valley PTA Show 1981-1982
#1 Billboard 1968
Jeannie C Riley
9 to 5 Show 1982
#1 Billboard 1981
Dolly Parton
Fame Show 1982-1987
#1 Billboard Hot Dance Club Plays 1980 Irene Cara (PS: My cousin wrote several episodes of this show)
Shaft Show 1973
#1 Billboard 1971
Isaac Hayes
So you see...I will never consider you a trivia expert!
Try again
Best regards, Lenny DeLosier
(it's French)
Ok, now I am armed with my high school yearbooks (salvaged from my parents’ house in the middle of the dreaded income tax season-which for a tax attorney is a morbidly busy time of year). Further, I might be posting my second blog (or whatever you call these things) of the night….a sure derivative of the end of another tax season.
So, in all due respects to those (even the anon’s) who have braved the passing of 40 years to bear their souls to post their memories herein, I would challenge the following individuals to share their remembrances of our shared hollowed (or horrified) times at TWHS:
Marshall Barber (if you weren’t already alcoholic anon)
Jack McKinney (I know you’re out there)
Charlie Ragsdale (the next Einstein – how I admired your intellect)
Pat Carver (thespian with intelligence)
Stan Emerson (you were, after all, Stan Emerson)
The Z boys
Claudia Brown (just because)
Babs Fenton (my sophomore year crush)
Any Bev Brown
Scott Kennedy (I have this gum problem)
Richard Blatner (they say you’re lost, but I know you read this stuff)
Freda Beem (not in our class but friends)
Ann McElhenny (just because0
Ric Averill (you are around and usually heard from)
Duane Bettis (we coach against each other)
Carkhuff (just for the sarcasm)
Rich Williams (need a pin ball lesson)
Phil Ehart (I’m missing the beat)
Billie Gibson (friends since 5th grade)
And about a hundred others.
My email address:
mdavies@douglascountybank.com
if anybody wants to contact me directly.
Lenny DeLosier, About your 4 music picks, the 4 actual winners were songs that debuted the SAME year on the tv show as the actual song hit the top spot on the radio charts. My source for this info is radio station KOMA 92.5 FM Oklahoma City, OK., USA. The four songs according to KOMA are/were Route 66, Welcome back, Kotter, SWAT, and Miami Vice. I'm not claiming to be a trivia expert, just passing on what I heard on the radio while driving through Oklahoma. By the way, your four songs are all good ones!!!
Jimmy C.
You don't want to go trusting those Okies. The only reason Texas doesn't fall into the Gulf is because Oklahoma sucks so much. BTW WLS WAS a better choice in the mid 60's. Peter Fugitive...WapoWapo!
Lenny
Charlie T. - Thanks for kicking some butt. It's alot more fun and funnier when you know who's writing this stuff. Besides, it all happened 40yrs ago and I think we're outside the statue of limitations by now.
Mike D. -I had a feeling the tax season had a grip on everyone's ability to contribute, but now I expect things should really heat up. Thanks for shaking these people out of their trees. I look forward to many nights of hilarious laughter.
Terry D. - gawd, I hate these "word verification" things. If you can't figure them out does that mean you're a terrorist?
Deb C...yes it means you are a terrorist..but then we knew that about you when we drug your butt out of bed over 40 years ago at 6:00am...did we not do a "fire drill" in our pjs in the middle of the intersection too??( Golly Gee..were we WILD or what??)
You know..looking at all the memories some have posted, I sure missed a lot...I was so out of the "loop" that not only did I not get invited..Hell...I didn't even know it was going on..any chance of a party on the sand bar?? Is it too late?? I'm a lot more fun now than I was in high school!!!
Just a friendly reminder. We need your $$ soon. At my last count there are 10 classmates posting on this site regularly that havn't sent $$ in yet. You've all indicated that you were attending. We must commit for food, drinks, cater, etc. before much longer. thanks.
Now a little more on the trivia front. How many hamburger drive-ins can you name that were in business while we were in school? There was one @ 10th&Fairlawn I believe that I can't come up with!Glad to see that the Blog picked back up...GOOD JOB
Hey Charlie - I can't seem to find my way back to the invitation and such on this website, but I never indicated I would be at the reunion, did I? I am not going to be in town (vacation with the grandkids!)during the reunion. Please list me as "not coming" to the big 40! Sorry ...
Hamburger joints revisited.....
Allen's, Bobo's #1 & #2, Don's, Griff's, King's Food Host, Jimmy Knight's, McFarland's Quik Chek, The Pad, Smak's, Topper's, and the old stand by.... Mickey D's (the golden arches). Probably some others that I've missed. Waiting for an update.
Debbie C., Did you or your mom save a phone book from 1968? That would have the COMPLETE list!!
Hey Anonymous- if you'll identify yourself I'd be happy to forward a copy of the student directory from 1968. I just sent copies to each of the committee members whose names were cc'd in an email I received today.
The Drive in at 10th and Fairlawn was the Delta Drive In.
Charlie T. – I sent my $$ 2 weeks ago to Linda M. She didn’t leave town unexpectedly did she??
Terry D. – yes there was a fire drill – good memory, I’d forgotten. I’m sure we looked like a car full of escaped loonies. Thank God the fashion police weren’t out at that hour.
I’m so glad you said something about missing out on so much in HS. I feel exactly the same way….What sandbar ?.....There was a quarry with water and cliffs??… where was this?? Boy did I live a sheltered life. I think the underground communication system of passing notes during class was the only way you found out where the action was.
Ehhh screw them, we were having our own kind of fun.....we worked on the stage crews and prom crews and went to cast parties, rode pepclub buses to out of town games and screamed ourselves silly with team spirit. We drank rootbeer floats and ate Dilly Bars at the Dairy Queen and gossiped for hours. We had slumber parties, and drove by boys’ houses we had crushes on. (before stalking was fashionable). Then we’d stay up all night watching Twilight Zone and scary movies. After school, we’d loiter in Crosby’s and Pelliter’s or blow our allowances at White Lakes. I think the most daring thing I ever did was wade in the lily pond at Gage Park, no....actually I remember an evening of swimming in the Rose Garden pond. See, there, I wasn’t such a dork and neither were you. I always admired you from afar. Thought you had it pretty together. Find out where the sandbar is and I’ll bring the margaritas. We got a lot of catching up to do.
Charlie:
The check is in the mail; or at least it will be in the next day or two. On the golf tournament I was wondering if it had the same deadline. I still have to contemplate about kids schedules for summer sports and I’m likely not to know until the middle of May if I’m obligated to coach basketball that weekend or not. Also, the drive in hamburger joint closest to West was, I believe, Sandy’s at 17th and Fairlawn (site of a few macho fights if my recollection is correct).
And, Debbie C. the sandabar "parties" were at 6th and Urish in the filthy Kaw. The rock quarry was somewhere on Indian Hills Rd between 10th and 21st out in some field. Nothing too spectacular, just high school kids having fun. But those parties at the Dover Clifts...they were something else.
DebbieC..I'm not sure where the sandbar is...but I sure as hell know where Echo Cliff is...right down the road from where I live.. now...lets see..I'll bring the jello shots..you bring the margaritas...whose bringing the high school boys??..oh wait..I didn't say that!! DebiS..to get to the invitation you click on Older Posts at the bottom of the page...the blog is getting too full for one page and I'm not techy enough to change it ..even if it could be done...on the second page is the "lost" list, some pics and the invite. What do you mean you are not coming?? Someone said you were the best looking girl in the class and they and all of us will miss you!!Also, on the burger joint list..I worked at Smaks...one summer..we used to fry grasshoppers in with your french fries when we got bored...yummy....
Hey Mike D., you really sparked a memory of mine when you mentioned the Sandy's Drive-In at 17th and Fairlawn. Yes indeed it seemed to be the place to "rumble." (Especially with my ex - Jim C.) Someone mentioned "the tornado" and I wanted to share what I was doing. I was driving around looking for friends in my mom's 64 Grand Prix with it's new 8-track blaring as loud as I could get the volumn to go. Unfortunately, the only 8-track my mom had was the Tiawanna Brass, but I could rock it out! While having the music up so high, I never heard a siren blowing. I drove through Sandys Drive-In looking for the gang, and the drive-in was closed and shut down. I was really confused, so I drove home, near Washburn University, and our roof was gone from our house. Long story short - I was rock-in to the Tiawanna Brass all the while driving around Topeka.
Does anyone remember the rumor of why they shut down the quarry? It had to do with a couple of upperclassmen/women. (Too funny!)
Debbie C. - Yes I got a great compliment and for that reason alone, Im not showing up for the reunion! Kidding! But I'll take that compliment to my grave! You also mentioned I was in a "tougher crowd" than you. I find that weird as NONE of my friends (Sandy B., Bev Brown, Debbie Tippit, Vicki S. to name a few) were ever involved in fights or getting kicked out of school, etc. etc. We all got good grades and NONE of us sleeped around as we each had a boyfriend which we ALL married after graduation! I might not have worked on stage or prom crews, but I can guarantee you the "extracurricular activity" outside of school (field parties, sandbar, quarry, Echo Cliffs, etc.) were the BEST time of my life. Call me "tough" but I wouldn't have changed one darn thing! High school was a blast!
To Debbie S:
U might want to try Tijuana!...or did you really want it to be with a twang? Also, where do you live @ the lake....I may just become a squatter and build a couple of docks in front of UR place....unless someone else already has built them.
Best Regards,
Lenny DeLosier
(It's French)
Hey Lenny - You're right, I knew that word just didn't look right but it went through spell check! I'm at cabin 67 and yes, I've got two docks on my lakefront property that doesn't even belong to me. Seems like the City of Eskridge is trying to cram as many of us as they can around the lake. But I do have a dock (kind-of old) but works for swimming, fishing and boating. My husband sets lines at night and we almost always have a catfish in the morning. Is that the lazy way to fish? Is it illegal? Do you have kids/grandkids Lenny? Pack them up, shoot me an email, and we'll all party (like a couple of old people!). The kids just love it up here - and the high schools still come up here for their senior skips!
Debi S. – Forgive me. . . After checking the Thesaurus, I should rephrase the use of the word “tough”. What I really meant was “chutzpa”. From my perspective, as a 17 yr old at the time, I always thought you and your friends had it all figured out and it seemed to be “working for you” because you did have the boyfriends, the cars, the party thing going and the teachers respected you in spite of your antics. I was going through my late bloomer phase, and as such, was never apart of any group that was even remotely considered tough – though I did occasionally “rumble” with TerryD and her Girls. Compared to who I was back then, not only were you “tougher” than me, girl, you had “gonads”. You’re even cooler now than back then, but in a different way. I’m really disappointed you won’t be at the reunion!!
How about some more school daze trivia? Does anyone remember a couple of the pranks that happened quite often in the cafeteria as the "bad" boys were getting ready to leave?
Does anyone know why the track team was always glad when it rained during the spring months?
Besides the Scott Foster "incident", one other performance in the auditorium is permanently etched in my mind. It involved Cathleen Chandler and a large musical instrument. Anybody remember this "classic"?
Hey, Mike Davies, was the Putnam scholarship some kind of memorial fund established by the parents of a deceased West student, to be used to attend Washburn U.?
Speaking of the tornado, that thing only missed our house by a few blocks. We had some debris blown into our back yard. I can still hear that unique roaring sound, something you never forget if you are close enough to hear it!!
ok, the Putnam scholarship trivia is pretty obscure, so much so that I'm truly amazed that of all the things that went on, its something I remember. D. Putnam was a senior when we were juniors. One fine sunny morning in May of our jr year Mr. Putnam got quite lucky in the West (east) parking lot with a pretty young thing who was also a senior.
Unfortunately, for D. Putman, Mr. Scarlett had parking lot duty that day and the eagle eyed teacher that he was, observed in detail the going ons in Mr. Putnam's car. The result was Mr. Putnam was kicked out of school and, while he did graduate, he was not allowed to walk down the hallowed isle with his fellow classmates. For years (1) to follow, having sex in the school parking lot was known to have achieved a "Putnam scholarship".
Trivial trivia.
Mike D., Kudos to you for having the 100th entry in this section.
Man, was I ever off on that Putnam scholarship scheme!! Thanks for clearing that up.
Vancouver Jan and Under The Sheets Man have been strangely silent here lately. Maybe they rendezvoused, (Lenny that is French, isn't it?) at the east parking lot at West to do some Putnam research. Watch out for the "lot patrol", you two.
Charlie T. and Linda M., Sent my check in the mail this morning.
Terry D-or Charlie-what reunion pic # is the one with Terry and GG in the front row center? I just want Terry to know that her shoes are identical to Manolos this year and she should dig them out and strut in them! Let those Sex and the City girls be envious! MB
Excuse me for butting in here, but I just happen to have my 20th reunion photo in front of me and I see Terry D and GG standing front center in this one.(Expo Center...right?)Nice tans I might add. Yeah, I love that show.
Hey Debbie C-I was an extra in the Sex and the City movie coming out in May-a couple of good scenes and crosses so I will have to see you at the reunion-I only have seen the show when I watch my daughter's DVDs. But, I do own the shoes! Of course, Vancouver Jan has it all over me honey...unless I decide to wear my leather. CU there,mb
MB - you know, if you do decide to wear your leather, I'm sure there will be alot of "cheering" going on!!!
Manolos, huh? Never had a pair... Yes DebbieC. you're right about the year..that was the 20th. I was cheap...no I mean the shoes were cheap...the tan was real..hence the wrinkles now, but oh well...If I only eat cardboard for the next two months I may still fit into that dress...I never throw anything away.......MB please let us know what parts of the movie we should watch for you...I don't know anyone else famous!!! Now,I have to go practice hula hooping...I have no intentions of being beat by you without a fight...and MB you may want to rethink the leather...Vancouver Jan was wearing leather in the winter....she wears hot pants and a tube top in the summer...
Mike D. We'll pay at the golf course, so no deadline, only need an ides as to how many will play, so I can get enough tee-times.
Debbi S. Sorry to hear that you can't make it, but understand, family is extremely important especially the little ones. We'll be posting pictures after the reunion on this site, you you can catch those. Hope you keep posting you have alot of interesting stories.
Another hamburger joint Valentine Burger Bar on Gage just south of Gage Tavern.
we'll be posting a list of those attending in the near future, we're finally receiving invites back now on a daily basis.
TerryD and DebbieC-First, I am NOT famous and only am in background and will NOT try and take away your hula hoop trophy! But, I will wear my sexy shoes even to the lake! Anything to add a little height! If you want to know the SJP gossip put your e mail on the site-if that is ok and I will e mail you back as I can't publish mine or e mail Charlie and I'll get it from him-also did, Law and Order and Six Degrees when it was on-sort of fun-boring after the first few moments and absolutely NO money,fame or anything else-but you meet a lot of interesting people from multi-lingual to practically homeless.If you want fame and fortune you'll have to get Phil Ehart to sign your book along with Dave Hope. I did sit beside Dave's brother on a plane one time and it was hilarious as there we were and had no idea that we were 2 Topekans! I do look forward to the reunion and I hope a lot of people show-and dig those shoes out and we can be twins! Everyone will be eating cardboard for a few months-I tried looking up #113 on the "sisters" site and couldn't get #113 to come "up" so give me some hints as how to accomplish this. Also I couldn't see the second pic of the grade school-even I couldn't make out Claudia and I have to e mail her about it! Nice talking to y'all and I'll keep in touch,MB
MB - just for clarification - Claudia is not in the photos of Crestiview grade school. She and I went to Quinton Heights and she's in the photo I have of us in kindergarten. (Since I don't know how to scan photos like Ron V. I'll bring it to the reunion.) Hey, you’re famous in my book – at least you’ve been on a movie set and made a few TV cameos.
The only time I was ever on TV was when WIBW had Wib’s FunTime. Our Brownie troop went to the station and sat on the little bleachers and watched Wib the Clown do his show – I guess you all know that was Gordon Jump who made it big on that sitcom back in the’70’s or‘80's - “WKRP Cinncinnati” and later was the Maytag repairman. God rest his soul. My washing machine has never been the same since.
Terry D. – for a minute there, when you said ‘cheap’, I thought maybe you were going to say that tan came out of a bottle. . . .lucky, you have the genetics. With the way the weather has been in Colorado, I might have to spray mine on.
Speaking of Phil Ehart, et all – He and Rich W. were at the 10 yr reunion and I was very tacky and asked them to sign a napkin. My instincts told me they’d be famous someday and this napkin would be worth $$$$$$. But for all the cxxx I’ve saved, I cannot for the life of me find that napkin. There goes my retirement.
Jim C. – share some cafeteria stories with us. Was there ever a food fight??
I only have a couple of memories - I use to sit at the same table as Caralee N. - attractive young lady with a great figure. Girl, if you are reading this, I want you to know I was fascinated by your methodical routine of cutting up the Jello squares into little ½” cubes. You ate like a bird while the rest of us chowed down on big greasy rolls, mashed potatoes and other Gov’t approved lunch program items. Wasn’t it Reagan that said Ketchup qualified as a vegetable? So, by eating ketchup on your fries followed by a slice of pizza, you satisfied several food group requirements. Nutritional value ???– that’s still up for debate. Girls who were always “dieting” ate celery and carrot sticks with a side of fries or just a roll. What was that called – The Westside Starvation Diet?? I always loved the chili and cinnamon rolls. The fish with tartar sauce wasn’t half bad either.
Debbie C., Here goes.... Cafeteria memories from way back when.
First off, I carried a lunch to school ever since first grade growing up in St. Louis. Wish I still had my Roy Rogers and Lassie metal lunch boxes from the 50s, probably worth some bucks on eBay or iOffer web sites.
Anyway, after brown bagging through sophomore and junior years, I put my foot down and told my parents I WAS NOT going to carry a lunch bag my senior year. Leading up to senior year, all I ever heard the guys in the cafeteria say was this stuff tastes like s...!!!
So, while many classmates were complaining still, as seniors, about the crummy food and many other classmates were "skipping out" for lunch, I finally got to experience cafeteria food. Personally, I thought all the food was pretty good. Of course, I was comparing it to bologna or PBJ sandwiches with that lunch bag size of Fritos or Lays chips, and an apple.
As for the pranks, here are the two I remember. The first involved taking a glass full of water and sliding some notebook paper across the top of the glass. Then the prankster would turn the glass upside down on the lunch table and slide the notebook paper away from the glass of water. When the cafeteria ladies came to clean up the table, they could not remove the glass without water going all over the place. Those gals finally got smart, and brought a big cloth towel along to "catch" the water.
The second prank was not totally in view. Some of the "food complainers" would take their mashed potatoes and gravy and smear both items across the seat of the chair and then push the chair in under the table. Not exactly a food fight, but a "mess" none the less.
My only other memory from the cafeteria was signing that long, long poster paper supporting the Vietnam War as I was leaving, after lunch one day.
About the big bronco: How's about seeing of Denver will trade it for the giant sized WREN that occupies a spot in a little park at 12th Street and Topeka Avenue??? It was the trade mark of a radio station that operated in Topeka in the '60's (definitely NOT rock 'n Roll). When the radio station went out of business, the statue apparently got donated to the city. Does anyone know how? or why? While kidnapping is atractive, a good barter might be less likely to produce a hernia. Do we have any classmates who did well in business???
Gary K. I bet that list of cars is from memory (40 years ago), right??? In those days I couldn't tell a VW from a Cadillac. What a waste! Does anybody have any pictures of those cars??? (and the owners, of course, too). If they're still around, I bet those cars still have hair. I guess we'll get to see the owners pretty soon, huh?
Speaking of Marshall Barber (someone was), in our senior year the last play of the Spring season was an "experimental theater" piece where Marshal played Aggamemnon in one of the famous Greek plays -----> either Oedipus or Electra, I think it was Oedipus. Marshal was absolutely stunningly superbly brilliant!!! I always had thought that he was kind of a screw-up and goof-off (as a class clown). It never had occurred to me that he might have been a cut-up in school because it was too boring for him. Not only was I very impressed with Marshall's performance in that play, it taught me a lesson ----> that you ought not to jump to conclusions about people when you don't have all of the information. Thank you, Marshall. I needed that. Also, at the last reunion that I attended, I heard on the radio that Marshall (a radio personality for a local station) was going to be doing a live gig for another school's high school reunion the night of our get together. I felt really bad about that because I thought that he should have been at our party. I think that we should try harder to get him to this next one, even if we have to pay his station to send him there.
Alright, yes I have been up all night reading this blog. As long as I'm at it, let me ask this: Why could the Class of '68 not promote and produce a concert of Kansas, say at the Expo Center, maybe for our 45th reunion??? I think that we could figure out how to book and promote a major rock band if we had five years to do it. I have some very specific ideas about what could be done. We probably have at least one or two class members that are close enough to the band that we could find out what their booking schedule is and work around it. We might have a few class members who are financially successful enough that they would be willing to be promotional sponsoers in exchange for the advertising publicity (to get the ball rolling). And there should be other businesses in Topeka that would like to be considered sponsors of such an event (from other TWHS classes and otherwise). We could offer to include other TWHS classes at the concert for their reunions and (if we did it right) provide front row tables for our class members as sponsors of the event. So why not??? We have lots of people with a variety of resources -- a class of 400+ to draw on is pretty good sized. The people who attend this summer could be the initial committe to put something like that together. You'all say you liked to party, or would like to now if you didn't before. Let's get it on!!!
This came to some of the reunion committee members as a slide show to music. If anyone wants it, email me at neffy@cox.net. Of course, I couldn't help but add a couple of things they forgot, as I'm sure you will have some of your own memories that may not be included. Feel free to add your own. I play mine to the song, Stand By Me, I could send you that, too.
Close your eyes....And go back.
Go back.
...Before the Internet or PC or the MAC...
...Before semi-automatics and crack...
...Before Playstation, SEGA, Super Nintendo, even before Atari...
...Before cell phones, CD's, DVD's, voicemail and e-mail...
...Go way back...way...way...way back...
I'm talkin' bout hide and seek at dusk
Red light, Green light
Red Rover...Red Rover....
Playing kickball & dodgeball until the first...no...second...no...third street light came on.
Ring around the Rosie, London Bridge, Hot Potato, Jump Rope, Tag, YOU'RE IT!!
Parents stood on the front porch and yelled (or whistled) for you to come home - no pagers or cell phones
Take One Giant Step...Mother May I?
Laying in the grass and seeing shapes in the clouds. Endless summer days and hot summer nights (no A/C) with the windows open.
The sound of crickets, locusts, and bullfrogs.
Running through the sprinkler.
Cereal boxes with that GREAT prize in the bottom.
Cracker jacks with the same thing.
Ice pops with 2 sticks you could break and share with a friend.
...but wait......there is more...
Watchin Saturday morning cartoons Tom and Jerry, serial adventures.
Captain Midnight, Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, Boston Blackie, Lassie, I Love Lucy, the Three Stooges, Spanky and Our Gang.
Catchin' lightning bugs in a jar.
Christmas morning.
Your first day of school.
Bedtime Prayers and Goodnight Kisses. Jumpin on the bed, and pillow fights. Uh oh, feathers everywhere.
Climbing trees, building tree houses.
Swinging as high as you could in those long swings to try and reach the sky. Running under swings. Jumping from the swing when it was 8 ft in the air.
A million mosquito bites and sticky fingers.
Jumpin down the steps.
Hula hoopin, maypoles, hopscotch, ouija boards, card games, and ollie ollie outs in free.
Runnin' home from the western movie you just saw 'til you were out of breath.
Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt.
Being tired from PLAYING.
WORK meant taking out the garbage, cutting the grass, washing the car, or doing the dishes.
Your first crush, coulda been the teacher, a girl you were afraid to flirt with, a guy you were dying for him to ask you out. That kind of crush that you never forget. HEY, I remember you -- you were mighty fine then-- still are..even after 40 years...woulda coulda shoulda (stole that from Terry D)
Your first kiss (I mean the one that you kept your mouth CLOSED and your eyes OPEN)
Rainy days at school and the smell of damp concrete and chalk erasers.
Oh, I'm not finished yet...
Kool-Aid was the drink of the summer.
So was a swig from the hose.
Giving your friends a ride on the handlebars of your bike.
Attaching pieces of cardboard to your bike frame or playing cards to rub against your spokes.
Wearing your new shoes on the first day of school.
Class Field Trips with soggy sandwiches.
When nearly everyone's mom was home when the kids got there from school.
When a quarter seemed like a fair allowance, and another quarter was a MIRACLE.
When ANY parent could discipline ANY kid, or feed him, or use him to carry Groceries...And nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When kids didn't need to know what CASA or SRS stood for, and never needed to know what an attorney was.
When your parents took you to the cafeteria and it was a real treat.
When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited you at home. Branches made into a switch, wooden spoons, and rulers.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. We simply did not want our parents to get mad at us.
Didn't that feel good? Just to go back and say, "Yeah, I remember that!" Well, let's keep going!!
Let's go back to the time when...Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo"
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
"Race issues" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
Nobody was prettier than MOM.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed by mom and made better.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare"
Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassments were being picked last for a team, or never getting chosen for a school dance.
Water balloons were the ultimate, ultimate weapon.
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have lived during a more pleasant simpler time! I know may of you remember ALL these things.
Those of you who remember will have lived in an era that no one else will ever experience. This era has passed and slowly those of us who lived it are passing also. If you do not remember (and it's not due to Alzheimers or dementia), then ask your parents, grandparents, or great grand parents. We went from AM radio to the stars. Your era is here, be part of it. Make it worthwhile for future generations to build on. Keep God in your lives. We did.
Neffy. I read your blog from this morning and cried like a baby. Now I'm probably going to have to learn to believe in and enroll in therapy --- or maybe your blog was it. It's amazing how important that connection to people that you know (even if not very well) and the larger community that forms your personal history really is. TerryD was right in her introductory comments about how we all share/shared a place in time. That does connect us even if we all thought we were "on our own" and fighting for our own place while we were in school (Isn't that what growing up is?). Keep it up, you guys. Highschool reunions are an important part of life. I have friends that never go to them and that's too bad.
P.S. I spent the rest of the night reading the website and Wikipedia bios on "Kansas". Very interesting.
By the way, I think that we did the Chinese Fire Drill in the middle of the intersection in our pajamas so we'd have something to talk about at our 40th HS reunion. Looks like it worked!!! Some of the girls didn't want to get out of the car and that's what I told them (well, maybe not specifically the 40th). I think that they thought that I was going to drive off and leave them in the middle of the street in their nightclothes and curlers ----> it WAS tempting. Didn't we do dangerous things then?
The first time I went over Huntoon Hill, my boyfriend (an 18 year old "older man" from the Air Force Base) didn't tell me where we were going or what we were doing. He just said, "I think you're going to like this." He had a '64 Ford Fairlane, a fairly heavy car compared to today's rides. He gunned it and at the crest just before we went airborne he accidentally turned the wheel just a little or slid on the gravel and when we came down we were about 25 degrees to the road. He was fish-tailing all over the place trying to get control and he couldn't turn the wheel because I was sitting too close to him and he couldn't move his arms. OH, man!!! It WAS a surprise (and a thrill) but I wanted to kill him for not telling me what he was going to do (and almost killing us in the process). We didn't do that again for a while and when we did, we made PLANS, like I was sitting on my side of the car with a firm grasp on the dash and door (No seat belts in those days). By the way Neffy, add to your list of rememberances: little kids standing up in the front seat of your parent's car when you went somewhere and fighting with your sibblings over who got to be in the front.
G. Kniss,
Dam, G. you haven't changed much. Still into cars. Why doesn't that surprise me. It fits ya.
Did you use to work for Noller Ford? I owed a 69 mustang and was there for parts when I though I recognized you behind the counter.
Boy the cars back in the 50s had style. Not much now a days.
You mentioned that two boys had been killed in car wrecks just after high school. Steve Smith was a close neighbor and friend. I was not aware of this. We use to run around together as kids. The other boy who you named as Ron Harrison? I knew of a Ricky Harrison. Who again was a close neighbor and friend, who I ran around with as kids. Was it by chance Ricky? Ricky is in Year book 68, page 177. Please I would appreciate if I could find out. Thanks, SG
Anyone want to try some music trivia again? This first trivia question involves our own guys, the band "Kansas". What was their last song to make the top 20 on the music charts. It was circa 1986... after Kerry Livgren had left the band. Dave, Phil, and Rich would all know the answer!!!
And Lenny D, here is one for you. During our senior year, winter months of 1968, starting sometime in January, there was a French man that had the number one song on the rock & roll stations for many weeks. It was number one on KEWI AM 1440 for almost 3 months non-stop. I'm sure you know the answer, Lenny, but be a sport and let's see if anyone else remembers this great song!!
Neffy - thanks for sharing such a poignant slice of life. I read this at work and had to weep silently as tears rolled down my face. It’s a shame that children today no longer have the quality down time we had as kids. Ironically, they are our children.
to 4/13 at 6:43, may take you up on it closer to the reunion. Still trying to shape those legs. Up to 210 on the leg press, now, maybe I can't arm wrestle, but.....
Of course, I'll have to ask my husband.
To Janet Z and Deb C, thanks for the comments, but just wanted you to know though I lived all of it, I didn't write it, it was sent to me. I did embellish a few places and I think yours is a good one, too Janet. My daughter after giving birth to her first, wouldn't let me watch my new grandson unless I took CPR and a first aid class. It took me awhile to stop laughing. She has two now, 8 & 9, and her attitude has slightly changed. She reminds me of me, pretty much unconscious.
Jim C.... I hope you didn't mean French as being from France? He be a coonass just like me!...no?
Geaux Tigers.
Lenny
Another subject: date restaurants. I can recall a few. There was a Waid’s at 29th and Kansas (now a Thai place, I believe), the Harvey House at 10th and Gage (now the VFW state headquarters or something like that) the Pizza Hut at 29th and Gage behind what used to be the Falley’s grocery store (for some reason whenever I go in there, which is not very often, I’m always reminded of the song “How Can I Be Sure” by the Young Rascals – I’m sure it was some kinda Fern connection) and a Pizza Place (can’t recall the name) a block west of 10th and Topeka where they seemed pretty liberal with serving pitchers of beer.
I can’t remember any French guy having a number 1 hit our senior year but I can remember being “blown away” by McArthur’s Park (someone left the cake out in the rain). Ron Vaught, thanks for your contributions of school newspapers, they were a literal fountain of memories. I also liked your current playlist of songs, perhaps the Grateful Dead’s Touch of Grey ought to be our Reunion’s theme song. This leads to another bit of (almost) completely useless trivia:
The Grateful Dead’s hit “Truckin” speaks of being busted in New Orleans. Our famous musician classmates (Dave Hope, Rich Williams and Phil Ehart) then in a band known as White Clover opened for the Greatful Dead in New Orleans the night before Jerry Garcia was busted in New Orleans for Marijuana possession.
Janet Z - Are you getting any sleep?? Those are some awesome "all-nighters" you're pullin'there woman.
S-n-o-o-o-o-o-R-e! Yawn.
Mike D/Jim C what about Sandy's drive-in, 19 cent hamburgers and the after school fights, there were a couple of good ones and some not so good.....did we have any "cat fights", no video back then......Stan Retig's red convertable and when he busted the transmission cover on the man hole cover in back of Gage Bowl, it put up a hell of a racket, and he had to drive it for a week till the Chevy place got his replacement part in. Then we drove like mad men after school to the Chevy place to get it fixed and back home before his dad got home after work. He kept that a secret till now I think
Duker
Mike D./ Lenny D.,
That song by the French man was an instrumental and had the word "blue" in it. And no, it was not Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton, that was from 1963.
Here is another bit of music trivia compliments of those "Okies" that are sucking so hard to keep Texas from sliding into the Gulf of Mexico. KOMA 92.5 FM trivia. In April 1968, Elvis Presley had his lowest ranking song ever on the top 100 list. It was a remake song and debuted at #93 and then dropped off the charts after 2 weeks. Lenny, dig out your Billboard top 100 book and you'll know the song. The song has a connection to both Shirley Jones and Jerry Lewis.
Mike D., There was a submarine sandwich shop (WAY before Subway) a block west of 10th and Topeka on the northwest side of 10th street. It was a real greasy spoon, hole in the wall place, but the sub sandwiches were pretty good, although probably not approved by the "healthy food" patrol. Do not remember if they also served pizzas.
Jim C. - I get to Topeka about once a year but don't always drive around the city to see what's new. What's located at the intersection of 10th & Topeka now? Is that where the old Sunbeam Bakery and their sign with the loaf of rotating slices of bread use to be??
The only "date” restaurants I was familiar with (for as little as I dated then) was McDonald's. Back then you could order just about any combination of things . . . fries, coke or shake, and a burger...for a $1.00 and still get change back. So when my date placed our order, he would say to me - "Have anything on the menu you want, baby, anything" - Wow, I felt like such a queen back then hanging out with these big spenders.
As I mentioned earlier, my date on Prom night took me to the Howard Johnson's (now the Ramada?) on south Topeka Blvd near the Turnpike. As we sat in a booth of upholstered mint green vinyl waiting for our "steak dinner special" I remember looking around (cuz I was too nervous to look at him) and wondering why they thought mint green was such a good color to paint the walls and everything else in this place. My mind is jammed with trivial memories like this - yet I’m clueless to song names and car models. I guess this is the curse of a photographic memory. Oddly, this talent did not serve me well when it came to memorizing stuff for tests.
My other memory is of Poor Richards downtown. I had one date with a college boy and I think he wanted to impress me he was old enough to go into a “drinking” establishment. Looking back, the concept of bringing your own bottle and having the bartender keep it behind the bar and serve it to you seems so archaic now – something about Kansas being a “dry state”. Man, what a dark and sleeeezy place that was. I think they kept the lights low, not for atmosphere, but to hide the fact they probably never cleaned or didn’t want you to see what was actually on your plate.
The French song you refer to, were the words....“Blue, blue, my life is blue. Blue without you, my life is blue”...only in French?? (bleu, bleu, ma vie est bleu, etc., etc) Lenny – surely you must remember the words to this song – especially when you’re pining over VJ...or was that Lester??
Debbie C.
Yes, the Sunbeam bread billboard was at 10th and Topeka on top of what used to be Super D drugstore. It is a Pizza Hut now. Across the street to the south is a Walgreens drugstore.
The Buttercrust bread bakery was near 10th and Kansas. They tore that whole block down and the Curtis State Office building is there now, actually 10th and Jackson.
The Howard Johnson's and Ramada Inn are nothing but a vacant lot now. "Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you got, till its gone. They paved paradise to put up a parking lot". Joan Baez or Judy Collins, wasn't it??
Way to go, you got the song trivia. It was "Love Is Blue" by Paul Mauriat, a French man. Seems like Claudine Longet, a French woman, sang that song after the instrumental version did so well on the charts.
Jim C,
Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you got, till its gone. They paved paradise to put up a parking lot" Isn't that Joni Mitchell and then I think Counting rows did it also.
Here is the link to the power point slide show with the music that neffy posted on April 27th. Ron Vaught fixed it so you can all hear it...enjoy
http://www.gonzoturtle.com//memory/memory.html
Again...thanks Ron
Dang, Fern, Jack and I were only gone on our trip to California for 2 weeks. But I know (remember) how you felt. It sure seemed longer at the time. Jim C.-I’ve resisted the temptation to go on the internet and determine the answer to your trivia question about Kansas (the band) last top 40 hit and so I’ll hazard a guess….”All I wanted” off some album when Phil and Rich were back together with Steve Walsh (a St Joseph, Mo guy who broke his ankle when we were playing a touch football game in the early White Clover days). While skimming through the yearbook, once again, I’m amazed at the memories provoked. Brenda Born, who is featured prominently in Ron Vaught’s old school newspapers, was, if I recall correctly, ahead of her time in thinking through the social issues that became prominent in the years immediately after high school. Unmentionable others developed political views that were quite contrary to their rather mainstream high school personas. The common theme, some 40 years later, is that we all grew up (some faster than others and I was a slow one) did something with our lives and apparently many of us have held on to those formative years and the cherished friendships we developed then as evidenced by the interest expressed in getting back together again to catch up on old times. It is enlightening (to state the obvious) to read the biographical updates. To see what has become of a bunch of 18 year old friends and acquaintances who tossed their graduation caps into the air and then went out and lived their lives is truly amazing.
Terry B., You are right.... it was Joni Mitchell.
Mike D., You are right, also.... the song was All I Wanted from the Power album/CD by Kansas. Speaking of tossing our graduation caps in the air, I still remember trying to watch mine the whole time in flight, to catch my "own" cap. Do not think that happened, so just grabbed the first one I could get my hands on!
How about starting a list of songs that were part of our growing up years? Here are some I recall in no particular order....
Things I'd Like To Say by The New Colony Six
To Sir, With Love by Lulu
Happy Together by The Turtles
How Can I Be Sure by the Young Rascals
Angel Of The Morning by Merilee Rush
White On White by Danny Williams
Black Is Black by Los Bravos
Mr. Lonely by Bobby Vinton
96 Tears by Question Mark and the Mysterians
One Tin Soldier by Coven/ post 1968
If You're Goin' To San Francisco by Scott McKenzie...... (1967, the Summer of Love, remember)
Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream
Pictures Of Matchstick Men by Status Quo
Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix
White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane
Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay by Otis Redding
Nights In White Satin by The Moody Blues
Georgy Girl by The Seekers
These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra
Traces by The Classics IV
20 songs so far.... someone else please add to the list.
Hey, VJ, have the perfect song for you after you do your pole dance. UTSM/UTCM, sheets or covers, can not keep track. The song is Lay, Lady Lay by Bob Dylan. Still waiting for those bleeped words from Louie, Louie.......
Graduation ....I can't remember - was commencement indoors or outdoors? I have a vague memory of our class practicing at the auditorium and Ann McElhenny holding up a sign from "Peanuts" -saying "It Always Rains on Our Generation". As I recall, the weather was suppose to be bad that night and that maybe we wouldn't get to graduate outdoors. After my years of servitude in the White Rose I was looking forward to walking around the WU track with the sun setting in the background and, as Jim C. said– throwing our hats in the air…..someone refresh my memory, please.
Mike D. – your profound comment brought a tear to my eye. Well said, classmate, well said.
Debbie C., You found the blog again after an absence. Still wondering about Debi S., Gary K., Lenny D., Lester, and a few others...
Our graduation was held at Municipal Auditorium, TPAC now, because we were under a severe thunderstorm watch that night. Too bad, cause I always thought it would be neat to graduate and celebrate in and around Moore Bowl, the WU football stadium.
Mike D -- it sure seemed longer! I think I was probably worried that I'd be replaced by a cool Calif girl. And speaking of Brenda Born -- did the reunion committee find her? I remember talking with her at our 20th, she was living in a small Kansas town, editing a regional magazine -- maybe the Kansas! magazine? She had a daughter who was going to KU that fall. Brenda was way more adventurous than moi -- she headed out to Berkeley right after high school.
additions to JimCs list
Animals-house of the rising sun
Jerry lee lewis-great balls of fire
righteous brothers-you’ve lost that lovin feelin
supremes-you can’t hurry love
Roy Orbison-Oh, pretty woman
beach boys-help me Rhonda
buddy holly-rave on
Ron V., Thanks for your additions to the song list.
Come on, Terry B. and Mike D., and anyone else. What songs do you want to add to the reunion jukebox?
This could bring back memories for everyone. Cruisin' songs, dance songs, etc., etc...
Jim C.: Other songs:
My personal high school boy fantasy song…Let’s Spend the Night Together…Rolling Stones (of course). I kinda liked our (Topeka’s own) Rising Sons version of “House of the Rising Sun” the flip side of their “Concentration” single. “Woman” (Chad and Jeremy?), Eight Miles High – Byrds, Suspicions (no idea which group maybe Elvis). And, in a more of a rebellious mode “Society’s Girl” there’s no way I can recall the artist although I believe Cher covered it on the flip side of one of her singles. Now I really ought to cheat and go on the internet and search for “songs of the sixties”. But instead I’ll thank Debbie C. (Cole? Crawford? Coleman?) for her complimenting my rather uncharacteristic display of sentimentality in commenting on the reading of the updates. And, Fern, I assure you no California girl could have been cool enough to have taken your place as my “girl”. (Dang wasn’t there a song “My Girl” 4 Tops maybe. Lyrics something like “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, When its cold outside, I’ve got the month of May, I here you say…what can make me feel this way..My girl talking bout my girl”.
Since " does it have a beat? can you dance to it?...fast or slow" is the most important thing to me..and not necessarily "60s" but OUR music...I love the following songs in a long list of favorites... Devil With a Blue Dress On, The Twist, The Wonder of You, Bop (Dan Seals), Mustang Sally, Stand By Me, Soul Man, Midnight Hour, Try A Little Tenderness,I Feel Good-(J.Brown) I Can't Help Falling In Love With You(Elvis), and Unchained Melody(R.Brothers)..(in my opinion..THE best slow dance ever). It is really interesting how this music brings back such strong memories...where you were, who you were with-or wished you were with, how you felt...and we know ALL the words....and Mike...girls had some fantasy songs too..one of them I remember is... I Think We're Alone Now...
OK Jim C, songs, I don't remember many from 1968 that I like, there was Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel, the movie was the Graduate, who can forget the hotel scene, the long black stockings worn/being removed by Mrs. Robinson, Jake bring that back as a horror film with Matt Dammon and Anne Bancroft, oh she is no longer with us. OK cast Terry D as the female lead, would be about the same idea, OK I will catch crap for that one I bet. Terry D, I still can't hula hoop, but I can do a cartwheel.
#1 song when we graduated was "Tighten Up" by Archie and the Dells, don't remember liking that one too much and that is what most of us would like to do with our mid-section.
Right before that was "Honey' by Bobby Goldsboro, what was it my kids use to say, "Gag a maggot" or was that us, BHIMBGO,
A #1 for VJ would be Harper Valley PTA, I can see her singing it if she had kids, I wonder what VJ did today on Mothers Day, go down to the Piggly Wiggly looking for Beanie Weenies or is it Vienna Sausages she likes?
One for 67 that she may like would be "Light My Fire" by the Doors or she could swoon some old divorced guy with "To Sir with Love" Lulu I think.
Hey Debbie S. do you remember your picture in the 67 year book page 168 when you were wearing the "Mod" clothes? I forgot about the Beatle boots and "flood" checkered pants the guys wore. You were looking hot.
Mike D, you continue to be a factious purveyor of the English language and I feel so sorry for Fern, the entire time you and Jack M were gone she was at the Chief Drive-In with a different guy looking (longing, distressing, worrying about) Mike......., just kidding, the Chief Drive is where Phil Tunnel did some of his best work.
Also, someone asked about Brenda Borne, we had leads on Brenda, I called several names that matched her husband's name in Kansas and Georgia, never heard anything back, I could find Jake Schmidt but she is still "at large".
If you have an idea where someone may be let me know, brumm8@charter.net, we still have time.
TB,I'm not at all offended by your suggestion of me opposite that cute Matt Damon...as long as it's supposed to be a joke.. I'll bring the stockings. Jake, when do we start shooting???
Lets see...we've talked about a hula hoop contest, music/sports/history trivia,Twist contest, Limbo, I don't recall anyone talking about a cartwheel contest but TB, if you want to give a demo I'm sure we'll all pretend to be impressed....but it better be a LOT better than your hula hooping. The latest activity that has been suggested ( after a few glasses of wine) had something to do with mud/jello or bubbles(bio friendly of course) in the fountains at Lake Shawnee and the attire was prom dresses.
We're still working out the
details. It seems that this will be an interesting reunion.
TerryD, it is a joke, did not mean to offend you oh great Princess of Baby Trailers.....working on the hula hoop but not getting much better, still suck at it. I'm hoping Jake brings one of his high tech, low drag putters to the golf tournament on Saturday, so Jake what is the possibility we will see a Plop putter there?
After reading Susie St. John's bio, about her interest in bluegrass music, got me to thinking about other music choices we had while growing up. By the way, Susie, I like bluegrass, and volunteer at the Milford Lake Bluegrass event in July each year.
Some of the best musicals EVER were made during the 50s and 60s. All the Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Sondheim and Bernstein, Meredith Willson, and others were created during this time. Many, many great songs.
Before anyone says musicals are for sissies, macho men Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin both starred in Paint Your Wagon from 1969. And, they BOTH sang a song in that movie, a first and last for both of them. Eastwood sang.. I Talk To The Trees and Marvin sang.. Under A Wanderin' Star.
How about Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, etc. I will never forget going to church one Sunday at Trinity Church and the minister played the album Jesus Christ Superstar for the sermon that day. Linda Anderson (Charay) and Knute Kresie went to that church also, so they probably remember it.
TerryB - Those little trailers are sometimes called "canned hams".
Terry D. - Of course I remember the 1967 yearbook picture of me in my "mod" look. I got sent home from school wearing that outfit! Besides that, it's the only picture of me with 3-years at TW outside of the class pictures. Can we say I wasn't exactly into school activities!!! He-he! I've been enjoying the music blogs. When Louie-Louie was mentioned, I immedicatly remember doing the "Levi Twist" at Crestview Rec. in junior high. Problem is - I don't remember who my partner was!!! That also seems to be true with some of my "relationships" over the years too! I am suffering from "sometimer's." Sometimes I remember, and sometimes I don't! Keep up the blogs guys - I won't be able to attend the reunion so this is the next best thing for me. Have fun friends! Debi
Debi S,.
I have a similar condition, CRS, as in "Can't Remember Sh*t" I mean Stuff
Debi S,
Good to see your name on the blog again. Thought maybe you had been on vacation, or your computer or modem went down.
Have to agree with T.B., you looked pretty fine in the "mod" mini skirt and sweater outfit.
The way Mark Biddle is checking you out tells the whole story.....
You guys have made my day! I'll take any compliments - even if they are 40-years late! I can tell you this though, my hair looks the same (maybe a little longer) but it is salt-n-pepper and I wear it in a ponytail! Some of us never grew up I guess. I wish I had that figure back - heck I'd take that figure with 30 more lbs. and would be happy. Terry - do you have a count on how many people are coming to the reunion yet? Later - Deb
The list of "who's attending" is under Gossip. Debi...I live in Downtown Keene...north side..rock and cedar. If you're going by and a cheap white car is in the driveway, please stop I'd love to see you and if I'm not busy I'll go along to Echo Cliff with you and the grandkids sometime!!!
Are you kidding me Terry? I loved Keene's "exit signs" during the Symphony in the Flint Hills concert. Too funny! Yes I will check to see if your car is there and will stop next time we head for Echo Cliffs. The grandkids and I were out exploring north of the lake on Mother's Day, and got busted by the farmer for trespassing. What's weird is that I've been doing that for over 50 years, and this was the first time I ever got chewed out like a second grader! Jerk! Soooo, something open to the public is right down our alley now. Hope to see you soon - Deb
I did those signs...husband thought I was nuts..also had to fight with KDOT for months to get the "town" signs put back up..it's a big job being the princess of the Kingdom of Keene. I'm also on sanitation and have to remove roadkill and trash. E-mail me sometime...we can "talk".
Terry D. - Soooooo should I just post my email address on this blog for you or what? Are you at the house with the painted camper? (Maybe I'm thinking of a house way before Keene.) So do you know Cindy Menz (Manz?). I believe she told me she was from Keene. She is a near neighbor of mine at the Lake. Small world. If you want to give me your email address, I'll shoot you a note so you can have mine! Later -
Mines all over the blog...on the first page...princessofkeene@hotmail.com
You may not want to post yours...you never know what wierd people may contact you...they already contact me...but I like them!!!
Yes, I know Cindy and Roger well...we've had lots of evening boat rides with them..next time you see Cindy ask her how she is at canoeing at Camp Daisy!!??Yes, that's my camper...look at the website in my bio. terryd
Debi S.,
About that salt-n-pepper thing... I'm a member in good standing in THAT class.
Terry D.,
You like songs to dance to (most girls do). Since I'm a non-dancer I like songs that tell a story or have a message....
Here's some more tunes from the 50s and 60s--
Moments To Remember by The Four Lads
It's All In The Game by Tommy Edwards
The Way You Look Tonight by The Letterman
Venus by Frankie Avalon
Johnny Angel by Shelley Fabares
If I Were A Carpenter by Bobby Darin
It's My Party by Leslie Gore
Rhythm Of The Rain by The Cascades
Go Where You Wanna Go by The 5th Dimension
Never My Love by The Association
Candy Girl by The Four Seasons
Little Girl by Syndicate Of Sound
Sunday Will Never Be The Same by Spanky & Our Gang
Five O'Clock World by The Vogues
Silence Is Golden by The Tremeloes
Go Away Little Girl by Steve Lawrence
Blame It On The Bossa Nova by Edie Gorme
Little Children by Billy Joe Royal
Surf City by Jan and Dean
In My Room by The Beach Boys
20 more songs for the jukebox.
Thanks Jim C. Now all these songs are running through my head and I can't get a damn thing done. Between attempting to solve the VJ mystery and humming these tunes and trying to lose 50 pounds and work on my "six pack" and grow hair some places and get rid of it other places and learn some of the skills that Under the Cover Man has, the next month is shot to hell.
Ah – it appears this blog has slowed to a crawl lately. Not sure if it can be livened up or not. Brumm, you animal, picking on Davies 40 years after the fact. But you're right, Tunnell did do some fine work with the Jackson twins on the 13th row of the Chief Drive-In. Unfortunately, a certain sophomore (Jan?) didn’t encounter fine work on your behalf at the same location. Anymore updates on the list of attendees? I’m somewhat curious how Byler and McKinney will find their way to Shawnee Lake and the Ramada, seeing how they had a hard enough time finding their way to the high school parking lot 40 years ago this week. I’ve heard on somewhat reliable authority that Gene Smith will be at the reunion to assess our physical fitness, Ed Scarlett will be checking the cars in the parking lot for illicit going ons, Mrs. Bakalar will be requesting term papers prior to Saturday night and Felicia McGinley will be paying particular attention to Bab’s and Fern’s skirt lengths. Time for another cold one.
Janine Moody Silsby here.
Ok, ya pulled me in with Scott Foster's "grand openning" and the Marshall Barber review of what I also remember as a powerhouse performance. (The play was “Antigone” and his role was King Creon, btw.) And suddenly I realized the answer to the question “Where WAS I when all of this other fun stuff was going on?” Any other music or theatre geeks out there?
Alcoholanon....Hey Dude, maybe you're one of the lucky ones - still buff after all these years (UTSM???), but for some of us, we're in panic mode and have no time to blog. With less than 4 weeks to go vanitiy and creating miracles has been elevated to top priority...and in my case, gone into overdrive. I've been to the club so many times this past month I practically have my own parking spot. And those 40 lbs I was trying to lose...hopeless. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Rabbit food and water from here on out. Seems I remember eating that way in high school and I thought I was "fat" then. Like Debi S said "heck,I'd take that figure(now)with 30 more lbs. and would be happy".
By the way, I've really enjoyed your contributions to the blog. Looking forward to seeing who the writer is behind the wit.
Debbie...glad you're back...rabbit food huh?? Cardboard and water is getting old too..bikini weather is upon us and bellydance classes start soon for some of us...oh crap...A couple of us are calling and harassing more classmates tonight..wine will help us be more charming without a doubt......we'll update the list as they come in.
i've been reading this stuff all day. very entertaining.
greenback dollar--kingston trio
L.L.--(lyrics never confirmed)
in the interst of not offending anyone can be looked up on the website that will be posted.
I think if i could hear it right now, i could come up with a few more lines & i was never one to actually know the lyrics to songs but that song and the lawsuit that ensued always interested me.
the topeka tornado-june 8th 1966
mike d. is that the one or was there another one in 68?
i was with my family having dinner with friends that lived just north of wu. we were in their basement when i looked out a south facing window and saw a flock of birds coming toward us. as the pressure dropped & the freight train started coming through, i saw that it wasn't birds at all. instead, it was hugh planks of wood from the homes just north of burnetts
mound. i was still 15 and i believe that i blacked out. i thought we were dead!
when we went outside, there was a big tree on our ford fairlane.
did you know they found books from wu outside of des moines?
also, i remember the large weather forecaster that tried to get off b-mound and was actually lifted off the ground. he spoke at twhs & had slides. he was covered with an inch or so of crud, if i remember correctly.
wasn't there a "taco tico" up by "sandy's" drive-in?
does anyone remember the fight between the jock & the badass?
as i recall, the badass got his jaw wired (from one punch) & the jock went to the hosp with convulsions (from steel toed boots)
then there was the fight between
"i'm a lover not a fighter" (class of 69) & someone i remember only as one of those that got treated rather poorly
on a lighter note, jr. prom with mary m.
she invited me to my first party in 7th grade & my fist kiss. we were both at crapper jh
we went undefeated in 7th,8th & 9th
grades in football thanks in part to del a. & the other tackle i can't recall
sr. prom with jayne p. (the blonde from shawnee mission) i still say she was out of my league
i think steve w. might remember her?
hey mike d. if it was 66 & not 68,
what were you doing with a couple of washburn freshman?
(mike d. said april 15)
The lyrics for Louie Louie and some backround info that is rather intersting can be looked up at:
www.snopes.com/music/songs/louie.asp
You may have to type it in your address bar not just click on it.
Recommendation for reunion theme song: "Come Back When You Grow Up" by Bobby Vee
OH I LOVE THAT SONG! I hope I never grow up. I hope I still have "wonder" and excitement about everything until I'm 100. I like the saying "Sad that play often ends in childhood". I think the "purpose of life is absolute joy".
And one more quote- 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain.'
So get out the bubblegum and jacks and sidewalk chalk, and hula hoops and rollerskates and bubbles. If I have to wait to "come back when I grow up" I'll never be back! And I hope there are lots of "kids" from the neighborhood to play with in June!! We are old enough to stay out past dark !!
This is the guy who writes about the songs, no not Barry Manilow. Have been offline for about a week while going to Florida for a wedding, no not mine. While sitting at Epcot Center one night waiting for the big fireworks finale, some cool oldies songs were playing over the PA system. The one that really jumped out was a one-hit wonder by a female singer named Robin Ward from 1963 when we all were still in junior high, where ever that may have been for each of us. The song..... Wonderful Summer. The (partial) lyrics..... I want to thank you for giving me the most wonderful summer of my life....
Singing along is allowed.
For all the junior high and high school sweethearts out there...
There is your slow dance song.
Just the sentimental fool that I am, these are tunes that may bring back memories or have some special meaning....One of my favorites is Kenny Rogers, "Through the Years", but there are several great slow dance songs here. Feel free to fill in the blanks or correct the titles, I'm no trivia expert of any type. I may be in la la land dancing by myself at the reunion, please ignore me until the song is over...Smile though your heart is breaking.
Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt – don’t know much (but I know I love you)
All Green - Show and Tell
Arms of the angel
Barry White – My First My Last
Ben E King -- Stand by me
Bette Midler - Wind Beneath My Wings
Billy Joel – She’s Got a Way
Billy Joel – The Longest Time
Billy Paul - Me and Misses Jones
Bobby Vinton – I love How You Love Me
Bobby Vinton – Please Love Me Forever
Bobby Vinton – Take Good Care of My Baby
Bobby Vinton - You Are My Special Angel
Bread – Make It With You
Carpenters - We’ve only just begun
Celine Dion - Because you loved me
Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
Chicago - Can’t fight this feeling anymore
Chicago – You’re the Inspiration
Collin Raye – In this Life I was Loved by You
Collin Raye – Love Me (If you get there before I do)
Della Reese (sp?) if anyone should ever write my life story
Elton John - Friends never say goodbye
Elvis - I want you, I need you, I love you
Elvis - The wonder of you
Elvis – Are you Lonesome Tonight
Elvis – Fools Rush In
Elvis – Suspicion
Feelings
Good Vibrations
Goodnight sweetheart, it’s time to go
Heartland – I Loved Her First
Heaven must have sent you from above
How sweet it is to be loved by you
If I had it to do all over
It’s so easy, like taking candy from a baby 1, 2, 3
Jim Croche – Love You In A Song
John Denver – Annie’s song
John Denver – Memories of Love Will Be Of You
Josh Groban – To Where You Are
Keith Urban - Making Memories of Us
Kenny Rogers - Through the Years
Let’s hang on to what we got, don’t let go girl we got a lot
Let’s Stay Together
Life is but a dream
Love you the way you are
Madonna - Crazy for You
Mariah Carey – I’ll be there
Mariah Carey & Luther Vandross - Endless love
Michael Buble - ANY SONG
Michael Buble – You and I, we can conquer the world
Michael Buble – You don’t know me
Michael W Smith - Friends are Friends Forever
Nat King & Natalie Cole – Unforgettable
Nat King Cole – Smile
Nat King Cole – The Very Thought of You
Natalie Cole – When I Fall in Love
Neil Sedaka – laughter in the rain
Only the lonely
Only you
Out of my mind over you, just no getting over you
Perry Como – Moon River
Rascal Flats --Like I Am (am lying hear with you I watch you sleep) (when you say I’m one of a kind
Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
Righteous Brothers -- You’re my soul and my highest inspiration
Rod Stewart – Have I Told You Lately
Sonny and Cher -- I Got You Babe
Stevie Wonder – You Are The Sunshine of My Life
Stuck on You
The Moments - Love on a Two Way Street
The most beautiful girl in the world
The Penguins - Earth Angel (Will you be mine)
The Platters - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The Temptations - My Girl
Velocity of love
When a Man Loves a Woman
You Had Me From Hello - (Alabama?)
You’re just too good to be true
Young Rascals - How can I be sure
Lady, these do bring back some memories. Wish I'd have gone to more of the school dances and asked some cute girl to dance. Shyness was a curse back then.
This is just weighing in on some of the things I remember about those last few months and weeks of our senior year. One other party place that I had completely forgotten about was Dembecki’s (and this spelling could be way off). He was a senior at Topeka High whose parents were building a house out west of town that was partially completed and that served as a great party place. I had dreams about it for years afterwards because of the framed in rooms that weren’t sheet rocked and the feeling (after a few beers) of disorientation attributable to being in a partially built house.
It seems in retrospect that the administration attempted to crack down on the senior class in May of 68. I remember threats of expulsion if there was a senior men’s breakfast. Marshall and I were confronted by Mrs. McGinley about our Dibble’s donut runs during study hall and were told we wouldn’t be allowed to graduate with our class if we did it again (we promptly walked out of her office to the parking lot and made a Dibbles donut run).
Two, (and perhaps more) of our classmates, Darrel Katz (a junior in our senior year?) and Whiz, had opened up a “head” shop at 29th and California that sold, among other things, buttons. I bought and wore one to school that said “sex before finals” and was told to remove it between first and second hour by Mr. Jennings. Mr. Jennings also chastised Fern and I for me having my arm around her while walking down a hall between classes that May. Perhaps some sort of crackdown was standard procedure to keep everyone under semi-control with the end (and new beginnings) approaching.
Neffy, You have been holding back with all the good songs on your list.
Mike D., I nominate you to be class of '68 historian. When you put an entry in the blog it is always really interesting to read.
To anyone that wants to see what MTV was like before MTV, try this. Go to Google and type in....
Wonderful Summer by Robin Ward or
Johnny Angel by Shelley Fabares or
try a song and artist of your choosing.....
After you hit go and the window opens, then click on the YouTube site and the song and video will play. To the right are other related songs that you can scroll down through to get to many different tunes/singers. Enjoy the memories!!!!
The hippie emporium that Darrell Katz and Merlin “Whiz” Wambsgans opened in the spring of 68 was called the “Psychedelic Dandelion” and was, as Davies related, located between the old Falley’s store and a gas station on the southwest corner of 29th and California. Other infamous Whiz and Katz collaborations included the “Starving Kangaroos” a pseudo rock band that never practiced, played a gig and for the most part existed only in their minds, and the “pop-top” a cruise mobile that barely ran and was noteworthy for having no top ( it had been cut off by a welding torch) and was utterly useless for picking up girls. The only reason to post this note is to emphasize that there were rebels in our midst in those formative years that weren’t quite in the mainstream. I’m sure there are other examples; these are ones I’m able to expound on.
Jim C.
Thanks for the you tube information. Now, for an old rock and roller that I would claim to be I'll confess: the first song I Googled was "The Rain the Park and Other Things" by the Cowsills, an ultimate bubble gum hit. I loved it. Now, do you have any hints on how to get the volume up? I found out different you tube postings had more volume, but, ya know, I'm a little deaf or perhaps just like the music loud.
Mike D.,
Noticed the same thing about the different YouTube songs, the volumn varies from song to song.
Here is a real trip.... Want to see the Beach Boys in suits and ties? Plug in-- In My Room by The Beach Boys.
Vancouver Jan.... You need to plug in-- These Boots Are Made For Walking by Nancy Sinatra. Will get you in the dancing mood, girl.
The song from the movie Billy Jack, One Tin Soldier by Coven, has a new look with images of the Iraq war.
Going back to see if All I Wanted by our "guys" (Kansas)is on the YouTube site.
Jan P...here's the tunes you wanted added to the list...your memories was it 8th grade and your love just found you again? That is so cool (sixties...I know) & how sweet!
Blue Velvet by Bobbie Vinton
Amarillo by Morning (was that it?)by Terry Stafford
Holy Cow...do you want the whole blog to crash...are you trying to get struck by lightning...do you want the reunion and all the planning to go to h#ll in a handbasket????
Take it from a girl that knows country music..horses..Texas and cowboys.....this is a classic...don't ever mess with George....the most # 1's EVER
George Strait - Amarillo By Morning
songs: Lovin Spoonfull
Summer in the City
You didn't Have to be so Nice
Did you ever have to make up your mind
Definitely party at the river tunes
according to current rolling stone, best guitar songs thru 1968
chuck berry-johnny b goode
jimmy hendrix-purple haze
cream-crossroads
kinks-you really got me
beatles-while my guitar gently weeps
jimi hendrix-voodo child
who-my generation
impressions-people get ready
beatles-hard days night
yardbirds-over under sideways down
b b king-how blue can you get
paul butterfield-look over yonder wall
bill haley-rock around the clock
pink floyd-interstellar overdrive
elvis presley-that's alright
who-i can see for miles
john mayall-hideaway
beatle-i saw her standing there
dick dale-miserlou
cream-white room
byrds-8 miles high
link ray-rumble
sam and dave-soul man
albert king-born under a bad sign
blue cheer-summertime blues
ventures-walk, don't run
jeff beck-i ain't superstitious
moby grape-omahajr
I'm with Jim C -- your memory is incredible, Mike D! Here's a thought -- we put Mike D up on stage with a microphone, and have him start with our sophomore years. I'll bet by the time he finishes with our senior years, he'll have covered about 90% of our collective memories. My mother is right -- I must not have been paying attention! I do remember getting caught sneaking out for lunch about 2 weeks before graduation -- I'd only been doing that all year, for crying out loud. Big meeting in Henson's office, got a warning. How tame is that!? No wonder I was aghast at some of our son's shenanigans during his high school years 2000-2004. Here's how low the bar is at our house: we're thrilled that we haven't been called even one time by the Columbia PD the last 4 years -- high fives all around.
Hey Sharon N-P, I just looked up Henson's pic in our yearbook, and you're featured just behind his left shoulder -- who knew that our 1968 glasses would come back in style?
Fern, You what what they say, regarding those glasses from 1968, what goes around comes around.
Kind of like hemlines through the years, up, then down, then up again.
Hope, high inseams on jeans and slacks (someone called them high water pants) for guys just stay in the 60s. Being from St. Louis, whenever I went back to visit relatives and friends during the late 60s, they would take one look at my high water Levis and shake their heads. Called me Jethro and wanted to know where I lived in Arkansas.
Also, those god awful leisure suits and polyester clothes from the 70s can stay in that decade for museum mannequins only!!
Bet you can sweet talk Mike D. into sharing more of his memories both on the blog and at the reunion.
I was strolling through this blog and saw the "Amy Birthday" picture with Amy, Bayliss, and Claudia, and a very pleasant memory surface.
Amy Green was Mr. Shuffleberger’s proctor during the yearbook class, which I think was 6th hour. I was assigned as the newspaper photographer and I also proctored for Mr. Shuffleberger’s during the yearbook class.
I don’t remember exactly how this happened, she either took the responsibility or Barb Blaylock nicely dropped into her lap, but Amy made sure the cheerleaders were properly represented in the yearbook.
I showed Amy where the picture proof sheets of the cheerleaders were, she would select some picture, and I’d trot off to the darkroom to print them. Some how it worked out that she started going with me. Being basically a lazy sort, I decided that if she wants these pictures, I’ll let her print them. I showed her how to use the enlarger, the chemicals, where we kept the photo print paper and turned her loose. Of course I stayed around to provide technical support.
One day the thought rolled through my head that here I am, alone, with what I figured to be the finest female humans I’d ever been around; WOW! Being ever the gentleman, then and now, I didn’t take improper advantage of the situation. At least I don’t think I did.
Next time you look through the 1968yearbook (I’ve been doing a lot of that recently) and look at the cheerleader pictures, Amy did the hard work there, Ted Martin and I just did the easy part: camera operator.
Roger Wood
Attention all male members of the class of '68.
Go to the older posts, the second window where the pictures are shown, and see for yourself how our cheerleaders turned out.
Very nice. VJ, Vancouver Jan, looks like an escort service model. Our pom-pom gals look like real women.
Jim C. and Fern:
I protest. No memory (I forgot to roll out the trash barrel this morning) just a bunch of reflections stimulated by what I’ve read here and turning the pages of our senior yearbook. Nostalgia can be such a sweet pill.
Barb Owens would have been our poetess laureate, I can’t recall the class we were in but her skills of expression in verse were impressive. She expressed a sense of calm romanticism and adventure. Evidently she went on to live the same sort of life she wrote about in high school.
A, B, C and D schools (are these correct?) were kind of a drag (another song title-the Buckinghams) when we were in school and now. It was (to me) fairly divisive. Being grouped into schools deprived us a total class interactive experience (translation: I had very few classes with ¾ of the “hot chicks”). Of course, this could have been overcome on my part my more “participation” but, ya know, I was kinda shy. The downfall now is that, while I know of almost everyone who has posted here, many I knew only in passing.
Clements, you nailed our fashion preferences with the high-water levis and the (usually) red sox. I'm somewhat chagrinned that a cross country jock could recall such detail. Evidently your attention to detail was derived from your musical interests rather than your athletic prowess. Fern: if there’s going to be a microphone I highly suggest we pass it around, Davies would probably choke on it. J. Remmel: you took a dish like Jane Powers to the prom and had a miserable time in high school? Rodger Wood, what were you thinking? Amy Green in a dark room? Were you a total dork? (I know I was). Such opportunities come only once in a lifetime. D. Shavey (legs) I’ll be in love with you forever. Time for a couple of more cold ones.
Alcoholanon –
I think Mike D has been very impressive, too, being the sentimental guy he is – but then, I do like a man who makes you think. You, on the other hand, have brought wit and hilarious sarcasms to the table along with your perceptive memories. I so enjoy your comments.
Mike D –
I’m only about a month late responding to a May 10 entry of yours –
“I’ll thank Debbie C. (Cole? Crawford? Coleman?) for her complimenting my rather uncharacteristic display of sentimentality in commenting on the reading of the updates”. . .
It’s Crawford. . .and you’re welcome.
Speaking of sentimentality – you have spurred me to share something I heard a while back on NPR, a feature story on Yearbooks and how they are slowly going out of style and will eventually become extinct. I felt compelled to share this with everyone due to all the fun we’re having reminiscing.
The story began by saying High Schools and Colleges are noticing a declining interest by students to acquire a yearbook such that for some schools, this will be the last year a hardback version is printed. Future “yearbooks” will be put on CD’s or found on MySpace or similar internet sites.
I was heartbroken to hear this. A yearbook is an icon of bygone years and can’t be replaced by a plastic disk. With the way technology rapidly changes, who’s to say in 40 or 50 years you would be able to “open” your CD yearbook. And who knows how long MySpace and other sites will still be around, say, in another 40 years.
With a yearbook, you don’t have to figure out how to use it or if you have the right technology to “read it”. It’s User Friendly. Nothing complicated or intimidating. It never gets old or becomes obsolete. It just sits and waits for you to discover it again.
With a CD, you need a computer to access it. Also, you can’t leaf through the pages, smell the leather binder or touch the inky smoothness of the photographs.
A yearbook gives you the opportunity to crack the cover and reread all the personal handwritten notes and secret memories left by special friends and savor the moment.
With a CD, it would be difficult for classmates to sign their name and best wishes on its limited circular surface. And though you may be able to leave a note of remembrance on the website, the personalized handwriting of the person who wrote it would be neutralized by a stock font.
What a loss this will be to future generations. Granted, they may not value it now. The events and memories are still too new, but unfortunately, in their older years, they will not get to have this sensory experience. There’s nothing quite like the spontaneity of taking your yearbook out of an old box or off the shelf – and in a brief moment - daring yourself to enter into those hallowed pages and relive those impressionable and formative years.
Books are warm and wonderful just the way they are. They have and always will sustain the test of time long after technology has morphed through endless changes and possibly into extinction itself. So covet those yearbooks and all their wonderful personal memories. It’s all we have left of what was.
(sobbing sounds...) I want a big hug, Debbie C (another disadvantage of digital communication)
Alcoholanon - Hummmmmm, there was only one person in junior high and high school who called me "Shavey legs!" Coincidence? I may be on to you now. Are you listed on the "can't find" list? Just to let you know, I kind-of liked that nickname!!! How funny! Later - Debi Shavey-legs!
Ah, sweet Debbie, I thought you had me nailed but, in your very first post you referred to yourself as "shavey legs". My pickeled brain cells picked upon that and retained it through an amazing 170 or so blogs. Of course, you must know that I hang on your every (written) word that I can decipher through my drink induced blurred vision.
Debbie C.
Your comments about the demise of the printed yearbook really go my attention. My favorite part of my yearbooks are the thing my friends wrote in it. How many people can write on a CD. I know, your friend writes on a piece of paper, it gets scanned, that file is turned into a *.pdf and it is included on the CD. How dumb of my not to think of that. I'm sorry, that's just not the same thing, but then I'm old and not with the times, I like books. Somewhere on one of these blogs, said something about how good it is/was to grow up in the 60's. There we had real books and friends really talked to each other face-to-face.
Roger Wood
Debbie C...thanks for bringing up the yearbook topic ...I love how you write....
Some of us were talking about the "internet" method of comminication again the other day..I think maybe because my youngest is in Dubai for a year. He calls or e-mails almost every day...and it's almost "real time". BUT...I can't look in his eyes or hug his neck..I can't look at his face to see if he's smiling or frowning or "rolling his eyes". I don't know if he's really listening...or watching tv,texting,reading the paper and surfing the web as we talk....knowing him probably all of the above.
I see groups of kids, families, and friends all walking together or in the same room but all on their phones talking to other people. What a shame, that as Roger said,they are missing the chance to talk face to face.
I had the sad, but lovely opportunity to attend Janet Z's mom's funeral last week. Although all of the service was nice ...the best part was when her grandsons read parts of "love letters" written back and forth at a time when their grandparents had to be apart. Both of Janet's parents were very talented and sensitive writers. I don't think there was a dry eye when the boys were done reading. What a shame that our generation and future generations will miss this. Sure it could have been printed out in Word....but to read hand written letters..back when penmanship was important is such a nice touch. One of my favorite things to do on a winter evening is to sit with something warm to drink and read letters written by my great grandparents to each other. They are yellowed with age and so fragile due to all the times of folding and unfolding to read those precious words over and over...now for 5 generations.
So I too really enjoy reading the notes that friends wrote in my yearbook. One says something like
"Well, we'll never forget what happened in Chemistry"...I'm ashamed to say...I did forget.
I can't believe I'm still alive. this is a test~~~~~~~~~~~~~~If this shows if , I'll be shocked. If it doesn't it's Terry's fault.
dexter morgan
Thanks to Jim C. I found this song on You Tube. The artist was our age and while the song wasn’t released until 1975 it seemed appropriate as an expression of the angst many of us felt during our high school years.
AT SEVENTEEN"
By Janis Ian
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say "come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen...
A brown eyed girl in hand me downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said: "Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve"
The rich relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly...
So remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debitures of quality and dubious integrity
Wow, the whole blog has really come alive the last week or more.
Could it be because the Big Event is two weeks from tonight?
Hope all you anonymous people "fess up" on June 20th.
Can't stay away from the music thing. Father's Day is coming up and to pay respect to our departed dads or to honor those still living here is an excellent song for the occasion. My Dad by Paul Petersen, circa the Donna Reed Show from the 60s. Do the Google/ YouTube thing as usual.
Debbie C. That yearbook elimination is disturbing. Of course, even now they “ain’t what the used to be”. My twin 16 year old yearbooks are a far cry from the distinctive uncluttered looks of our era. They are a lot thicker and filled with pages and pages of meaningless collages made up of random pictures.
Roger W. The “signing” would be a problem if it were channeled through some kinda institutional server with political correctness police monitoring the remembrances. I don’t recall what I wrote in T. Brumm’s yearbook, but he wrote in mine “thanks for ruining my yearbook” and then proceeded to draw a huge beer can labeled “bud” accompanied by the words “stay sober”. My parents were quite unimpressed.
Switching to another subject, and this one is prompted by “Shavey legs” was nicknames and nomenclature that seemed to be prevalent in our high school years. Most guys were known by only their last names (Clements, Brumm, Kennedy, Woods, Acker and so on) and girls by their first names. But in the group I hung around with there were some distinctive nicknames, most of which originated with Merlin “Whiz” Wambsganns. They included “Harsh Marsh” (Marshall Barber) “Lyin Bryan” (Dave Bryan) Smooooot (For John Smoot) “Red Dog” (Rich Williams) “Hope less” (Dave Hope) and “Skinny Jack” (Jack McKinney).
Fern is referred to as “Foyne” in a couple of my friends signing in my yearbook. I attempted to coin my own “pen” name as Ekim Seivad in a couple of papers I submitted to Eubank but it obviously didn’t catch on with Whiz or the rest of the guys I hung around with.
After all the memories that have been shared on this topic, I couldn’t let today, June 8, go by without taking a few minutes to share my recollection of that famous day.
When I was a kid, I faithfully watched the The Wizard of OZ on TV every year. I was fascinated by the real tornado captured on film, especially in light of the fact OZ was made in 1939 and some daring soul risked his ass to get footage for the sake of the movie, and that in itself, must have been some feat in those days. And because of that scene, I always wanted to see a tornado in real life. Little did I know. . . .
The evening of the tornado, my family had just finished dinner and my brother and I were preparing to wash dishes. From the sink, I could look out the kitchen window and see Burnett’s Mound in the distance. The sky looked eerie. I remember Mom leaning towards the window to get a better view of the storm that was brewing. She commented on the dark wall of rain moving towards the back ridge of the mound and decided to turn on the TV.
Suddenly the those god awful sirens started wailing, the sirens we’d heard hundreds of times before but nothing ever happened. Diligently we went to the basement and turned on the radio. I dragged a chair over to the basement window and stood on it to get a better view. My heart was racing – maybe this time I’ll get to see a tornado. My Dad was upstairs nervously running from room to room gathering things and adjusting windows. You see, the house we were living in was brand new. My parents built it the summer before, and in Oct we moved in. Now, we were poised to loose it all.
Standing tip toe on my chair, I watched as the storm came closer with a vengeance. Debris was racing through our backyard, at times horizontal to the ground and other times floating in slow motion as if absent of gravity. Mom called us from the windows and we crawled under the ping pong table (about as secure as a school desk in a nuclear attack), but there we huddled, holding our breath, waiting in the silence as the radio broadcasted a play-by-play. It was in that moment I started negotiating with God. I had changed my mind about things and now wanted it to go away.
At first, we thought we were in the path of the tornado, but it angled off towards the VA. After a few minutes the wind and rain died down and we decided the coast was clear. We left the basement and went out on the front porch.
From there we watched as this horrendous whirling cloud of debris worked its way towards downtown. Within minutes, before our eyes, this chaotic mass transformed into a long, thin, dangling white funnel dancing gracefully against a dark purple backdrop. I wondered, at that moment, if it was white because of the cold air it was sucking in. I was mesmerized.
But in all its beauty, like a woman scorned, it was still ripping and tearing its way through the city headed for Billard Airport. Then, as if it exhausted from its tantrum, the funnel wistfully retreated up into the clouds and vanished. Oddly, in the silence that followed, a ray of sunlight appeared from the west and a vague rainbow could be seen in the distance.
Today, just out of curiosity, I googled “June 8, 1966 tornado” and was surprised to see all the information that came up. . There were pictures of things I had completely forgotten about. And things about the infamous tornado I never knew. There’s even a video shot by someone (amazing for that day and age) as the tornado headed for the water tower on the VA Hospital grounds. It seems, if I remember correctly, with those old movie cameras you had to wind them up to start the filming process. (Wow, now today, all you have to do is hold up your cell phone and press a button).
TerryD. - wasn't sure where to post this. Maybe it was better suited for the "Something in Common" section since it happened before HS but was still part of the '60's. Feel free to move it if you want.
Debbie C, Long time no talkie. Where is your parents house, say, from 29th and Gage?
Could you hear the tornado as it passed? I can still hear that one-of-a-kind roaring noise. Something that a person never forgets. Also, the eerie black-green color of the sky.
My parents house is straight north of Burnett's Mound just across I-470. Got to thinking the other day, several classmates lived fairly close to me. Terry Albert, Kevin Chismire, Bayliss Harsh, Cynthia Jameson, Danny McDonough, and Susan Wallace. If that "twister" had taken a path 1/2 mile or so more to the west than it actually did, all of the above people would have been in "ground zero".
June 8, 1966, is unquestionably the most vivid recollection of my life. That even ranks above sitting in Mrs. Perry's 8th grade science class (Jardine JHS) and hearing about John Kennedy being killed.
June 8th is the main reason that I live in Idaho. Here, a big tornado cuts about a 20 foot swath, munches a mobil home and, figuring it did a good job, goes away.
I remember Bill Curtis on Channel 13 saying "...for God's sake take cover... ." That's when nobody said anything like that on TV.
I can still see a house on Burnetts Mount rising up, doing a 360 and turning into toothpicks. Then for the next couple of days using a wire brush to helping my Dad get GRASS out of the side of our house.
Debbie C. I think June 8th memories can go in the "Remember When" section. That summer was between our Sophmore and Junior years.
Roger Wood
Roger –
“Miss Fowler” ALERT
According to my sources she's headed your way.
Ms. Fowler and my Mom are members of Delta Kappa Gamma for retired teachers and during a conversation at a recent meeting it was learned she is planning a trip to Yellowstone this summer. SOoooooo – Run Roger Run, Fly like the Wind (I recommend Southwest, good on-time performance) - all the more reason to get your butt to Topeka.
OOops – you’re right -1966 was the summer before our Jr.year. Never mind TerryD. Roger is on the ball here. You have some pretty vivid memories, there, but then a tornado does some pretty awesome stuff.
On a different note - If any of you have been watching the news lately – you all know that pantyhose have become a controversial issue – what with dress codes at work, and all – “To wear or not to wear”.
LADIES – we’ve come a long ways in 40 years. I remember in my Soph year having to wear a girdle with garters to hold up my hosiery (under my regulation length skirts, you know) - and that was before garters were considered sexy.
By Sr year, the Mod scene and short skirts demanded a solution to those unsightly “garter” bulges under our form fitting skirts so L’Eggs invented pantyhose and life was wonderful again. It also simplified many aspects of our lives. . . .if you know what I mean??
Now – women are freeing themselves of pantyhose all together – What’s Next???
Ah, nothing like a 7 day stretch in detox to clear the mind and dry the palette. The only thing better is starting a new binge tonight.
Billie Sue, it’s a good thing McKinney, Pile and Davies were the ones chasing you in 5th grade. Pile was the only one with speed. Obviously, you were faster than any of the 3 or you still wouldn’t be in Kansas. (by the way reason number 11, lately, to live in Kansas is “cheap” gas prices – still 3.74 at a few spots in Topeka).
Vancouver Jan
I’m your man
Lester, the molester, and (hide) under the sheets man got nuttin compared to me. I’m a hard liver and late night giver (my Dr. tells me my liver is hard as a rock) and I know how to show a girl a good time. Just a few (10 or so ) years ago I riled some sweet young thing who, after a drink or seven, told me she would never forget the time we had as she booted me out of her car at 37th and Topeka. If you find the right light pole to prop your head against, a night in the Walmart parking lot can be pretty damn fine.
Of course, I’m anticipating a much better outcome at the reunion. Which leads directly to a question for the reunion committee. How long to we have that shelter house for Friday night? If I get lucky with Vancouver Jan that night can we just sleep in the shelter house or should I plan on a tarp for “sleeping” with her by the lake. I’m not too sure where the nearest truck stop restroom is and, you know, some privacy might be nice.
To be a little more Sirius, whoever I end up with, I’m sure we can make beautiful music together.
Hello boys. This will probably be my last chat with you fellows prior to the reunion. On Friday night at the lake, I will be performing my latest "Vixen of Vancouver" routine that involves my pole, a block of ice, a polar bear pelt and if plans work out-a real Canadian Mountie. After my show I have plans to meet all of you and finally make a decision on my "man of the year". I'll be with you until Lent-so I need to be sure of your intentions, among other things. I'm going to have to choose between some pretty amazing men. UTCM, I have my doubts that there is any man alive with all the qualities you claim to have, but I have to see what you've been bragging about for myself. If you are everything you say you are I'll scratch out the eyes of any other woman that tries to take you from me. Lester-you sweet hillbilly, I can't wait to meet you and see what present you bring me. (You know I'm especially fond of little furry things.)
There are lots of other men that I've been getting to know from this site. I may choose "Hollywood", or Roger, with that really really big- camera, or Jim C with his "sleeper" truck, maybe Gary K or Mike D.(he knows how to keep my assets safe) Any one of you could be "the one". Or one of you quiet guys that just "lurks" on the blog could be for me. All of you should wear a clean shirt and comb your hair -if you have some, get out the trimmers and use them and slap on something that smells nice. I may choose any of you- except for Alcoholanom. (FYI I believe the shelter house closes at 11:00pm.)So-- Alcoholanom-Listen Up-- A TARP??? I'll say it again. A TARP??? What kind of woman do you think I am? You may want to go ahead and start drinking again because there is not a chance for you and me. UTCM will no doubt at least get us a room at the Comfort Inn. Lester will have his pick-up camper with the camo sheets. YOU are bringing a TARP? You honestly think I'm going to fall for a man that brings a TARP in case he gets "lucky"? Girls of the class of 68- let me give you some advice from a woman that knows cheap, dirty, low class, smelly, down and dirty men. DO NOT leave with a man with a TARP. And ladies, take it from someone with vast experience with these kinds of things---- if there are bungie cords involved RUN.
See You Soon--VJ
VJ (how smoothly those initials roll off my fingers on to the keyboard):
Not just any tarp; a blue Walmart one with little tie down eyelets at the corners. And there's more (maybe) if I can retreive my car from the police impound, I'll have a couple of pillowcases stuffed with dirty laundry for pillows. I may be beer sodden but I do know how to treat a lady of your caliber.
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