John Hanlon:  

I grew up to believing in fairy tale princesses, the prince slays the dragon, and that good always triumphs against evil. While working jobs I started when I was 12, I learned that Life can give you anything if you are willing to work to get it yourself. Success is in yourself its up to you to get it out. Because of what I believed, I lived my life by certain principles, integrity, being truthful, respect women, live with your heart, be faithful and true to family & friends. I started school in 1961 in Kinder garden at Our Lady of Fatima School near Colgate, I was 4 years old in Mrs Browns class, We moved in 1962 I attended Carol Manor Elementary in Baldwing, Md, at 5 yrs old. In 1963 we moved back to Colgate and I went to Colgate Elementary, in 1969 Holabird Jr High and to Kenwood Senior in 1972. At Caroll Manor Elementary, I was so young. 5 yrs old. I was sick a lot during that year.(Scarlet fever, Chick Poxs,Tonsuls out and Hernia fixed). I remember a little girl name Valery I liked. I think she had brown hair. I love running at recess (It could be because a little girl was always trying to kiss me) and playing dodgeball and kick ball. I was so shy. I lived down the street from my cousins house George, Linda and Lisa Harms. They went to Delany Valley High. At Colgate Elementary, I was still really shy about liking girls, But talking to them no problem. I learned to be the go between for messages between girls and guys. Loved to play sports, Baseball, Football, Basketball and Dodge Ball. I was always a good dodge ball player and kick ball, I was a small tarqet, quick and could really catch the ball. When it came to liking girls and talking to them, I just could not get the words out. Like Robin King in 6th grade If I recall she had long blond hair and blue eyes. It was the shortest relationship I ever had in my life, one week. I could never get the words out, to talk to her, Had to work on my communication skills,I guess. I made such a bad impression on her she never ever wanted to talked to me after that, including Junior High and Senior High .I guess I deserved it. She was a very nice girl and funny when we were just friends. I learned my lesson after that. Laura Parker, Allison King, and others who help me out in getting past the fear of talking to girls I liked. I join the Colgate's Purple Panthers playing football. I was a small fry playing defensive lineman, I could move so quick I was pass the defensive lineman before they could get out of their stance. My legs were strong enough to push guys out of the way. Won a trophy for the longest throw from home plate to the out field. God gifted me with quickness, strong legs and a strong arms. At Holabird Jr High, playing roles in plays, singing choirs, playing rec football, baseball, basketball and wrestling. Setting school records in running, had allot of good friends that helped me with my sanity throughout those growing years. Had a gift of gab, brains, innocent looks and a charm with the ladies. In school and out I loved watching people. I was fascinated in reading body language back then. My mother taught me some of the basics, she was really street smart. I just expanded it by watching people and noticing by the way people move, talk, facial expression, posture, reaction with other people, dress and the friends they associate with. They would tell you everything about themselves before you even met them. Reading books about the subject helps. Nick Marangus from Dundalk who had the most beauty sister and who told me he would kill me if I asked her out. He did not trust me or any guy with his sister. I wouldn't either with a sister who look like that. He taught me about ouzo, liquor in coke cans, how to fight, whose was who of the girls in the school and had my back through-out those tender years .I especially remember one of my best friends with a heart of gold and great personality that could light up a room Bonnie Spicer who went to the prom with me in 9th grade. The years at Kenwood High was fours years of learning, growing pains, living and experiencing first freedoms, wild parties(which my wife forbid me to mention), beautiful girls(those too mostly), playing sports, making money, dancing, beaches(that to), tragedies of friends and family, integrity challenged and hearts broken. In my sophomore and junior year it was a thing of dances, mischief, football, and gymnastics in plays. Meeting new friends like, Janet Januska, Nancy Brown, Terry Patrick and the other girls who kept me company and made my day, a perfect day, every day, Most my friends were girls, my comrades of understanding the female moods, wants and desires. They always told better jokes, in more detail than any guy could and their interest always amazed me in things guys could never conceive of back then, like art, music, wine, formal dancing, true romance, the art of love and the finer things in life. Janet Januska who during homeroom and other classes kept me laughing with conversations that was between good friends. I never forgot you old girl. Playing sports did have its advantages, the parties that kept you smiling and the sports themselves, running over a linebackers, scoring touchdowns.Gymnastics where every trick is awesome to see and very few people can perform them. The pain we use to inflict on ourselves in order to stay in shape and get the best out of our performance only few people knew or understood the hard work we went through. I worked three jobs during those high school years, I had a paper route since I was twelve, worked at White Coffee Pot Junior and Jack In the Box where streaking customers would pick up their orders in the front and the drive through. In those days it wasn't all work and no play sometimes. This was all to make money to continue the fun and joy of a high schooler learning the ropes of life. Nancy Brown who was nice enough to accompany me to my Junior Prom, she put a smile on my face with every dance step we took that night. She was beautiful, and I wanted that night to last forever. The beginning of that senior year I lost all interest in girls,(Nancy Brown) sports(football, gymnastics,etc), and everything else I loved to participate in, lost my mom in a tragic accident that summer in July 1974 without the friendships and support of my friends in those days in high school, I do not know, if I could have survived it. Terry Patrick who help me learn my lines and kept my confidence up & lighted up my spirit with her company in the play we were both in, Bob Walker and all my friends who kept me together, gave me joy in my life and supported me with your lives, so I did not have to think about mine. They help me finish that year so I could graduate. By chance I met Cheri Petty from Dundalk who lighten up my heart and kept me company in the middle of my senior year at home and abroad. She was one of the best and closest friends during that year. She was also the tallest girl I ever dated. I was 5 foot 6 and she was about 6 ft tall. I had to stand on two steps just to be at the same height as she was to give her a kiss. I liked it, it was different and I was the small one for a change. Everyone should try it at least once. She had long blond hair and the most beautiful brown eyes I had ever seen a girl have. I still remember them today. Never could take her to my senior prom she was still under lockdown by her mom. For what I will never tell. We kept together writing notes, and calling until I left and went into the Air Force two days after graduation. With an opening to the prom. Janet Januska you were the one I wanted to go to the senior prom with. You had a beautiful heart and were there when I needed a smile every morning. The day I saw you at the maul I was going to ask you but you walked over to a guy. You told me afterwards at school he said yes when you asked him to the prom. I have never forgotten you. I spent my graduating summer in boot camp, getting into shape and changing from a boy to a man. I never came back to Baltimore to live again. Like all long distance relationships, I too got a John Dear letter in the mail. I let Cherri go, knowing she was better off with someone else who was physically there for her. She deserved so much more than an empty seat and a long distance phone calls. At that time I hoped and prayed she found someone and I made the right decision. After basic training, I was transferred to a tech school in beautiful Colorado Springs where I learned to be a Mushroom maker and glow in the dark 46350 (Nuclear Weapons Specialist). Colorado Springs is really a beautiful place, it was six months of holiday blitz, you could say a vacation with a tech school. I enjoyed myself with what the world had to offer back then, story book picture-est mountains with a lookout to kill for, which was a days ride away from the base. Weather like Dorothy s Wizard of Oz, that changed all the time, snowing one day, high winds and dust storms the next and 90 degree all in one week, just like one's unpredictable life, yes unpredictable all the time. Got to meet the new treasure's of the USAF finest recruits, new girls straight from basic training every six weeks it was a 18 yr old guys dream come true, Dancing, music and girls. After Tech School, I was sent to the frigid cold of the Northeast to Pease AFB, in Portsmouth, NH. Strategic Air Command(SAC) to the 509th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS).The 509 MMS traces its history to the World War II 509th Composite Group (509 CG) from Oak Ridge, Tenn. which conducted the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.) 509th drop the bomb. While in the service I had a chance to visited Oak Ridge Tenn. where the first atomic bomb was created, a wonderful town who had the nicest people with one of best friends at the time Nancy Jarvis who was from Oak Ridge, when we went she showed me a mirror of experiences and memories more then I could have ...Expand for more