Misty Watercolored Memories…Or Something Like That
Call me a whiny baby all you want, but, stories like this make me want to cuss. Why couldn’t Michael McDonald have done a benefit for the Franklin High School Band back when I were one of them? That’s cause Franklin wasn’t swanky back in the days when Yo Sista cruised the square in the ‘79 Grand Am. (Do the rednecks still sit on the Square on weekend nights and holler at people as they pass? Doubt it. Shame)
The new FHS looks like a stinkin’ country club now. Please take notice of FHS then…the front of the building.
If I remembered those kids’ names, I’d tell you who they are. (Oh Chez Bez? Do you know?) I remember the girls’ faces (and hair) but not their names.
And the front of FHS now…
I bet instead of Lunch Ladies, they’ve got May-truh-dees. I bet instead of Mr. Hankins and his “coffee” cup, they have a Starbucks. Betchya they have concierges, too. Gah.
Ironically, this last coupla weeks has seen a frenzy of reunions on Facebook with kids I went to school with, all the way up from elementary school to the FHS days. We’ve been reminiscing like crazy and trying to put together some meet ups. Good times indeed. People like Bailey Leopard (isn’t that a great name?) Tricia Baker, Marni Gruel, Denise Williamson, Yvette Minton, David Rice (who was one of my goodest buddies)…good folks all of them.
I was at my kids’ high school last night and had to stop for a minute and watch the band practice. They may not have P. Wayne Simpson and his cigarrettes and megaphone hollering “You’re on your own time, People” and making CERTAIN people pick up trash cause they had had enough of that little dweeb, who shall remain nameless, and opened up a Can of Whoop Ass on him. (I don’t know who that was, but, it weren’t me. HAR) but high school band practice still sounds the same with the tom-toms and bass drum in the background, flags a’twirling….ah…
Just for grins…
According to Web, this was a 1984 configuration of the award-winning (are they still award winning?) Franklin High School Marching Band. I was not in it til the next year. Web is more of a Rainman than I am.
Right behind where you’re standing is where I climbed up from the railing and a young man and I had a first smooch on the roof in the middle of the night.
Heh.
That school would be nothing without Mr Hankins and his coffee cup. May he live forever (assuming he’s still around) and nap as many times a day as he wishes.
Well, I got my first kiss in the far right driveway on the Band Bus coming back from somewhere. Heh.
It was also the Band Bus where I first got aholda ….nevermind.
Ooooooooh, I knew you band folks were naughty!
Lardy mercy. That’s about as nawtee as I ever got.
I am still laughing out loud at you saying “may he nap as many times a day as he wishes.” Maybe Denise will scan us a picksha of Mr. Hankins so the blog world can see. He was a dandy. At least he was visible. I don’t know that I ever saw Mr. Pike. Mr. Hankins was always around. Perhaps intoxicated, but, around.
Is that Gena Boyd in the picture? I had a crush on her.
Tricia Baker’s name sounds familiar. I think I might have had a crush on her as well. Ahhh, high school.
Tricia was cute. Still looks the same. She’s on my FB. Gena Boyd…that may be correct.
I wonder if me and you were in any of the same classes? If you classed with a redneck named “John Henry” who called me “SHARN” then we were. Heh. “Hey SHARN…YEW WANNA GO A-OUUT?”
His name rings a bell. Then again, there is that song…
What year did you graduate? All those names sound familiar – I went to after-school care with Yvette Minton. Are you a Grassland alumni too?
Didn’t go to Grassland, but, I knew lotsa Grassland kids. I am a Northside alumnus. I lived in Brentwood and went to Lipscomb.
The top picture is Meredith Handy, John Wood and Wendi Bess (all class of ‘87). I can’t believe my name made it to your blog….I feel almost famous! LOL
I am looking for pictures now of Mr. Hankins…with his cup *smile*
In the old picture. I’m not so sure it’s Gina Boyd. It looks a bit like her, but I think it’s someone else. It’s the 87-88 school year though. The girls are carrying the year books from my junior year. Have fun.
That IS Wendi Bess, isn’t it?
I’m pretty sure the guy is John Wood. Class of 87 I think.
I am the said Meredith Handy in the above photo, alive and well, very surprised to see this image surface from the depths of time. I actually think I look better now! What was I thinking with the hair? Well, it was the 80s……….
Thanks for the post. Sorry to hear about old Franklin High.