Marilyn Main (Hooks)

Ralph, aka Porky, was a natural comic.  He and I dated most of the last two years of high school, some college and then got together again after our divorces for a few years.  While we really loved one another, I couldn't fight the demons that took over his life in his thirties.

Porky made the senior trip to Bandera fun for many of us!    I remember a bunch of us in the pool, drinking beer (was that allowed...no) and listening to him crack everyone up.  I'm convinced that he was the reason most of us remember the trip with fondness! 

Remember his red apple car with some missing floor boards?  His car was so loud that he would coast up to my house so my father wouldn't yell at him!  I sometimes wondered if we were going to have to put our feet down to stop because his car, while memorable, was hardly a sound mechanical machine! 

He was a smart businessman, mortgage banker, and stockbroker.  We caught up with each other in Austin in the late 70's.  He loved Vegas and taught me the finer points of gin.  I never won a game as I recall but I sure tried!  He could be loving and infuriating all at the same time! We shared lots of quality time.

He always told me that he wouldn't make it to forty and, unfortunately, he was right.  He got caught up with too much partying, alcohol and drugs and just couldn't beat it. 

But he was a man with a heart of gold, good intentions, and I wouldn't trade the time we shared...good and bad.  I remember him now as he was when we were in high school, laughing and listening to him tell his jokes and hilarious comments about everything! 

Still miss ya, Porky!  Wish you could be with us on our 50th...

Marilyn Main Hooks