School Story:
Bobby Harrell caused me to remember the WQAM basketball game. I had all but forgotten about that little stunt that almost got me kicked out of school. I decided the club could make some money so AI drove to Miami and signed the contract and paid a binder (from the club money) before getting the school's OK. Principal Woodall was fit to be tied - he said "Who will pay to go a basketball game with a bunch of DJs from out of town..... no one ever heard of these guys".
On their drive to Ft. Pierce they stopped at pay phones and called back to the radio station to talk about the game - even "Chickenman" interviewed them ( you remember ,“He’s Everywhere, He’s Everywhere!). Of course everyone listen to WQAM, and therefore everyone turned out. That was my first lesson in mass media marketing. I was so worried because I had promised to pay them more than we had in the club treasury. Not sure what I was thinking (maybe it was that I wasn't thinking - 17 year old hormones most likely played a roll in that lapse in judgment) and not sure what I would have done if it had failed. I was at the gym 2 hours early pacing and worrying. I looked to be the earliest heart attack candidate in our class.
The DJs arrived just before the game (they got lost) and by the time they took the court the gym was packed, and my butt was pulled out of the fire. I believe, that is the first time in my life that I can remember thinking I could do anything I set my mind to. I have pushed all the chips to the center of the table a number of times over my life, just like that WQAM basketball game. As a sidebar; to Principal Woodall's credit, he called me to his office the Monday and told me he was proud of the job we had done - but was quick to add that I was never to pull a stunt like that again without permission - can't say I took that advice completely to heart, but never pulled as "public of a stunt" while walking the hallowed halls of DMHS. Thanks Bobby, for causing me to remember that ball game.
Driving to Lums Restaurant with a car full of kids knowing that life will never again be this much fun.
Other DMHS memories include..........
Our Senior Trip to St Augustine when Mark Moore tried to buy beer with a fake ID and a fake mustache. While getting carded in a bar under a black light the glue that held the fake mustache on glowed green - no beer for Mark
The Burning of the Indian
Our Sheriff's daughter (that would be Lana Norvell) convincing the Sr. Float Committee it would be OK to "Borrow" a little wood from a construction site to finish out float
Getting rubber as you left the Senior parking lot
Mitch Hilburn signing "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying" as the last song at every victory dance.
Cindy Stringfield's dad (the Highway Patrolman) scaring the crap out of me when I came to pick her up for a date
Driving my first car on my first out of town trip with a bunch of friends to see Paul Revere & the Raiders play in at Pirates World
Warren Crittenden teaching me to sail his Hobie Cat
Being a founding member of the Spirit of 70
Playing cards all night at David Feibelman's house
Landing the roll of the cheerleader in Cheaper By The Dozen, our Jr. Play
Mustering the courage to jump off Little Jim bridge
Dressing as a cheerleader with my fellow Key Clubbers for the Powerpuff football game
The fear of not being ask out at Twerp Week - thank God I wasn't overlooked - I gained a new respect of how hard it was for you ladies to wait to be ask out -- every week
Road trips to out of town football games
Laughing at anything Ronnie Grifffith said
Surfing North beach and letting the air out of the tires on any car with a Miami license plate (Miami Kooks)
Circling Bill's Burger 62 time in one night
Fairy Loops on shirts, Desert Boots, bleeding madras, 8-Track tapes, knots on your knees from paddling a surfboard was a good thing.
Learning to kiss in the back row of the Sunrise Theater
Growing up in a time that locking your doors was not needed, your word was all that mattered, and no one needed a lawyer except for a will.
And the list goes on..........
