Richard Murphy:  

As We All get Closer to "The Home" (as the Notorious 60 was just hit) it seems Most of Us need to Look Back. As One who's always Living In The Retro Past (particularly the 40's, 50's and Early 60's, most of which I missed or was too young unfortunately) in My Writing and Life Interests, The High School Years aren't ones I Remember too fondly - Too Busy, Too Involved, Too Driven, Too Active, Too Much Pressure, Too College Focused TooTooToo MUCH! In Retrospect, I missed out on the Fun of it. Sadly. I needed a lot more "American Graffiti" and a lot less "Night Of The Living Dead". Stomping like a Frankenstein-ed Out Zombie Down the Road of Life.. One foot forever stuck in the Past, the other trying to GoGoGo! into a Successful Future. Never in the Now. Something that has Plagued & Haunted Me most of My Life. I never really look Back at 1970-74. Life got a lot more Fun and Interesting after WHS. Clark Lane was a better time, maybe because it was less Responsibility. Compared to Our earlier 7 Grade School Years things were now getting more interesting - More Students, New Friends, Cooler Classes, After School Activities, The Whole Social Thing (Not that I was included or a Hipster in any way. Just the Opposite. Way/Way/Way Opposite), The Mystery of Girls (Yikes!), Rock & Roll, The Infamous D-A-N-C-E-S ... Life was Changing at Fantastic Speed. Clark Lane was Our Real Life version of "The Wonder Years" (interesting that The TV Series covered 1968-1973. Missed it by One Year but close enough). The Advertising Campaign for "American Graffiti" was, "Where Were You in '62?" And My unfortunate Answer is First Grade at Cohanzie School along with a very Motley Crew of Rob "The Chief" Renehan, Paul "Vince" Danielovich, Dave "The Knave" Clemens and Brian "Lurch" Chu...Expand for more