Sunday, October 19, 2025 – Day 432

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Good morning, all!

I was watching the news and saw a story about a New Jersey high school that canceled its homecoming dance because of low ticket sales. That one made me stop and think. Low ticket sales? Wow. Back in the day, homecoming was a main event. Of course today, with social media and everybody being connected by technology these are very divergent experiences separated by 50 years.

I started high school as a pretty shy kid—or at least that’s how I saw it. Looking back, it was probably more fear than shyness: new school, new faces, and no idea where I fit in. But I loved being involved—building sets for plays, decorating the gym for dances, and generally volunteering for anything where the opposite sex was involved.

Homecoming week was the best mix of nerves and excitement. The football game was fun, but the dance was the main event. Somehow, I ended up helping set up the gym every year. That turned out to be a pretty clever move—because working alongside the girls decorating the place gave me a chance to talk to them without having to actually ask them out. It’s funny how much easier conversation comes when you’re holding a roll of crepe paper and a roll of tape.

Those early years of high school were awkward, though. With a few thousand students roaming the halls, finding your crowd wasn’t easy. It didn’t help that my triplet brother Tim and I fought like Ali v. Frazier. Our disagreements were loud, dramatic, and usually ended when one of us got too tired to keep swinging. We fought over everything—friends, girls, and sports. The good news? It prepared us well for adulthood and we learned to become good friends.

Asking a girl to a dance back then was no small task either. No texting or Snapchat—just a rotary dial phone and pure terror. I’d dial three digits, hang up, take a deep breath, and start again. When I finally let it ring, I prayed her dad wouldn’t answer. If he did, I was ready to fake a wrong number and bail.

I never really had a “steady” girlfriend, so each dance was a fresh adventure. But those dances gave me friends, memories, and confidence that shaped who I became. High school without those events would’ve been a blur of missed homework assignments, cafeteria pizza, skipped classes, and the sound of my locker slamming shut.

I’d actually do it all again—though maybe I’d spend a little less time skipping class and a little more time studying. (Maybe.)

So, I feel bad for those New Jersey kids. They’re missing out on some of the best awkward, hilarious, character-building nights of their lives. I owe a lot to the people who helped “arrange” my dance dates over the years, too. Without them, I might’ve missed some pretty great nights—except, of course, for prom night, when I ran out of gas…with my date in the car. Sorry again, Jeanie Wolf. Some mistakes stick with you and this one I’ve never forgotten.

Have a great Sunday, everyone. Love you guys! ❤️

Photos:

Last nights dinner at Barb and Mark’s. L to R…Tom, Joy, Mark, Cindy, and Andy

Mike and Beth tooling around in AZ sporting their Andy’s Army shirts.