Are we there yet?
March 6-12, 2017
By Jay Edwards
I told you about our mini reunion coming up next month at Oaklawn Park for our high school classes from 1975. Looking back on that milestone year, as we prepared to embark on journeys to universities and other exciting destinations, there are a few things I’d forgotten.
Like the two childhood friends who said they could program an interpreter for Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems’ microcomputer that had come out the year before. The guys were right, and came up with the name Microsoft for their new venture.
That same month, April, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” was released. It played at the Cinema 150, where my devout Catholic future mother in law and her good friend Bea, left after about ten minutes.
And on the last day of April, the Vietnam War ended as Communist forces from North Vietnam took Saigon, resulting in mass evacuation of the remaining American troops and South Vietnam civilians.
In May, after my last final in National Problems, I said goodbye to Father Schneider (aka “The Rock”) and headed out to the swimming hole at Ferncliff, with my friends John Davis and Randy Morley. Davis stepped on a fishhook, but not even that could spoil the momentous day of freedom we enjoyed.
Also in May, Bobby Unser won the Indy 500 and the Golden State Warriors, led by Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes, swept the heavily favored Washington Bullets for the NBA Championship.
In June, Davis and Greg Spillers and I drove to Fayetteville for orientation, in Spillers new royal blue Toyota Celica.
RIP SpillRoy.
There was a new movie starring a shark that was freaking everyone out. “Jaws” would become the highest grossing film of the year. I sat by KM when we saw it at McCain Mall, with some friends, a perfect handholding movie. I got her alone a few months later when we saw “Shampoo” (a perfect kissing movie) at the wonderful old Heights Theater on Kavanaugh.
On July 6, Ruffian, the wonderful filly champion racehorse, broke down in a match race against Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure; Ruffian had to be euthanized the following day.
On July 30, Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa was reported missing.
In August, I said goodbye to KM, and headed off to Fayetteville, where my first significant accomplishment was winning the watermelon speed-spitting contest held outside of Brough Commons. My mom seemed pleased, Dad, not so much.
Davis and I were roommates that first semester on the 6th floor of Yocum Hall. Also there from our Rocket class were Alfred C. Harper, Steve Lienhart, Robert Caringola, David Battisto and Tom Clifford.
A few months later, after the Texas game, a fight broke out with some other guys on the same floor, who didn’t like us for some reason. A few days later, a Judicial Board ruling decided to split up our band of merry men. Harper, Battisto, Clifford and I all joined a fraternity, to get more stability in our lives. Mom seemed pleased; Dad, not so much.
In August, the Superdome opened in New Orleans. Four years later, in my last hurrah college event, I would head down to that same Dome to watch the Hogs play Bama, and one of the Bear’s last great teams. We were 10-1, but Major Ogilvie and his mates were too good.
In September, Patty Hearst was kidnapped. We heard from her later as Tania.
In October, Ali defeated Frazier in the Thrilla in Manila; a new show called “Saturday Night Live” premiered; and Carlton Fisk hit a 12th-inning homer.
In December, I headed down the hill for Christmas, to see Mom and Dad, but most of all, KM. And all was right with my world.
Jay Edwards is publisher of the Daily Record. Contact him at jedwards@dailydata.com.
