Michael Lopes:  

Life Live in the same house I bought 40 years ago outside of Annapolis with my wife of 49 years whom I met at the University of Maryland on her first day of class in her freshman year in 1964. She was a cheerleader for Dematha High School and I was immediately smitten.(I was a big time Soph. and got lost showing her to class). It was at that point that she got the idea that I needed some additional help navigating lifes complexities.Her Mother was less than pleased when I followed her home that day. By the way, she graduated despite getting married to me during her next to last semester. I was under threat of death from her Father who I trusted would carry out his wish to have me eliminated. Have 2 grown children, Keli (44) and Chris (43).Both live in Maryland and promise to move back in at the slightest hint of problems. Keli, however, is married to a British Astronomer so maybe she is OK for awhile. She delivered twin boys July 25th, 2011 making this my first and second shot at being a Grandfather which seems sorta surreal. I had no idea that I would embrace my role of "Grandpa" as much as I have during this first 2 years. My son married a lady that he had known earlier in life and decided to reignite the relationship. They had a desination wedding in St John, U.S Virgin Islands in November of 2013. He just moved in a new custom home on a nice 6 acre lot in Howard County. He has bought a farm tractor and already thinks he is a farmer. I have already put in my reservation for "pool-time" at his house when it is ready. .My daughter also moved in November of 2012 from Baltimore County to a home in Severna Park just 18 miles from me. The twin boys already love the added space and the nearby park. Worked in Real Estate for 30 years primarily representing builders of new homes. Worked in 7 different counties over the years for dozens of builders. Was the first Sales Manager for Oyster Cove on the Eastern Shore, a multi-million dollar luxury condo project. Also headed up the sales of one of the most successful new home projects in Anne Arundel County in the early 90's- Jamestown On The Magothy built by Mandrin Homes. One of Last real estate projects was GrandView in the Parole Towne Center in Annapolis which is a luxury condo project. Named Sales Agent Of The Year for 2 different real estate companies. Who knew the fairly shy kid from high school would become an extrovert in real estate sales?.I would not have put any money on it. Like to travel and schedule one or two big trips a year. Love the ocean but don't get there as much as I would like. Fortunately, the annual Real Estate convention is at Ocean City every September. Saw a bunch of friends there at the 1960 class reunion including my old buddy, Steve Lamphier. Damn, he looked old! Just kidding! (check out the web site of the '60 class of Northwood at "northwoodhighschool.com").Visited Cancun, Mexico and Montego Bay, Jamaica during Spring of 2011. Another trip was to Sandals/ Negril in Spring of 07. Made the mistake of checking out Hedonism 2 next door. That's when I decided that people over 60 should be banned from walking around naked. Scary images but I survived (and kept my clothes on). Also have been to Sandals Whitehouse in Jamaica and another Sandals resort in Nassau as well as several cruises including a Baltimore to Bermuda cruise during the last several years.Just got back from Sandals Grande Rivera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It is a fantastic resort and our ocean front room could not have been better. Was there for our 44th Anniversary in April, 2012. A highlight was hiking up Dunns River Falls which rises about 600 feet from the sea floor. I can't believe we took a chance on that but both wife and I made it with no mishaps. We will be returning to that same resort in the Spring of 2013. Recently, we travelled to Skyline Drive for a 3 day gataway up in the mountains. Visited Luray Caverns which I had not been to since high school. Stayed at Skyland Resort and enjoyed the views and a fantastic wine tasting session. My last two trips were a cruise to Maine, and Canada, with stops in Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, St John, the Bay of Fundy, and Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia; and a cruise to the Carribean visiting Cozumel, Grand Bahamas, and Honduras. Next big trip will be to Punta Cana in the Spring of 2016 which will include my twin grandsons. One of the joys of life has been staying in touch with the Northwood reunion committee at various get togethers. There were 18 participants at a previous Happy Hour at McGinty's in Silver Spring ( May 12, 2011). We plan to keep scheduling informal events until our next formal reunion. (55th reunion in Columbia -2014). Ken Simons, Evelyn Koutsos, Doug Taylor, Susan Whitmer (Doug's wife), Charlie Graham, Ed Hutman, Janet Hall, John Grimsley, Ronnie Beard, Rob Ciapetta, Bob McCullah, Linda Whiting, Barbara Whiton, and myself were in attendance along with spouses and Evelyn's son, Jim. We all really enjoyed our 50th reunion held at locations including the Silver Theatre, Mrs. K's Toll House Inn, and Northwood High school where we chowed down on Hot Shoppes type food. Attended the Class of 1961 reunion in October of 2011 because my sister and her husband were in that class. It was great seeing some old friends including Carolyn Holmes for the first time in many years. She and I danced together for the first time in 52 years! We did pretty good! Our 55th reunion was held in Columbia in 2014 and had a good turn out. Over the years, I have collected thousands of songs from the 50's as a hobby and I play them on a regular basis.It just didn't get better than that as far as memorable music goes (except for "Purple People Eater") The great classic "I Only Have Eyes For You" by the Flamingos was released in May of 1959 just prior to our graduation from Northwood. It was a tune actually written in the '30's for a Hollywood movie and was popular in that time period. Another great hit a favorite of mine was " It's All In The Game" by Tommy Edwards. He first released this song in a different arrangement in 1949 and updated it in 1958 with an up tempo arrangement which hit #1 on the charts and stayed that way for six weeks. It was a great time for ballads. Anyone interested in a really incredible collection of oldies should look at the 12 CD series called "The Golden Age of American Rock and Roll" . It was produced in Great Britain and includes hits from 1954-1963. I found some really rare stuff including "Life's Too Short" by the Lafayettes who played at the Silver Spring Armory..and "Love You So" by Ron Holden. You can find the series at Amazon.Com. Anyone remember "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens, or "Black Slacks" by Joe Bennett and The Sparkletones? They are all found on the series. I had a record appraiser value some of my collection and it looks like I have a few valuable discs. Remember "The Hangmen" ? They were a local group who went national with a hit called " What A Girl Can't Do ".I have their original first album as well as several other first albums including Janis Joplin and The Holding Company. As far as Doo Wop music is concerned, some of my all time ballad favorites include:"Gloria" by The Cadillacs, "Been So Long" by The Pastels, "Deserie" by The Charts, "Just To Be With You" by The Passions, "A Sunday Kind Of Love" by The Harptones, "Once In Awhile" by The Chimes, "My Reverie" by The Larks, "The Wind" by The Jesters, "My Memories of You" by The Harptones, "The Ship of Love" by The Nutmegs, and many others. I have collected all of the Rhino produced Doo Wop boxes over the years. If you don't recognize most of these, do not worry! I am a serious music collector and do not play a lot of the typical Top 10 Oldie hits like "Wake up Little Susie" by The Everly Bros. although I still like to hear them.. I listen via CD'S, Doo Wop Specials on TV, Pandora Radio, downloads from Pandora and other sites, and my trusty record turntable for a collection of 45's and 331/3 records. Even though I am now 76, I burn my own CD'S and try to stay up on new technology as much as possible. I recently got some of my LP records appraised and some are valued for up to $400! When I bought a new computer in 2010, I made sure I equipped it with upgraded Bose speakers and headphones for the best sound reproduction possible for my music interests. I guess you may say "I LOVE MUSIC". Please refer to my UPDATES at the end of my pages. School Attended Northwood high from 1956 to 1959. Part of 1st full graduating high school class in June,1959. All I can remember is skinny dipping at Camp Wilson at Northwest Branch. All you "Camp Wilson" people know what I ...Expand for more