Chris Divincenzo:  

"SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS" My Story is short but oooh so sweet! I first met Joan Presti when I was in the 10th grade, she in the 8th. We started dating in high school, soon after we started going steady. It was either the summer of 67 or 68 when a bunch of us boys started (Joe Roskoff, Mart Mordarsky, Ricky Linhart, Tarston krawl, Billy Ekstein, Al-Baritone voice, and Tim (stick) Ligasinsky put up a pirate radio station called WNTR - "keeping you cool in the summer" As DJs we had Buana Don, electron Marty, Stick, and me Banan the man. Starting to remember folks? That summer was GHTS Woodstock. The summer of Love... For you technical folks; our antenna was bare copper no. 10 or 12 wire cutesy of electron Marty (Marty & Peach) wrapped around Tim's house a couple hundred times - transmitting to approx 50 miles radius, upstaging many of the Cleveland rock radio stations. We got busted by that summer and had to take it down. If any of you guys remember and want to reminisce the characters and wonderful and wild youth experience during those 4-5 yrs mailme:chrisdivin at yahoo dot com. Continuing with romance: Joan and I stuck it through high school and college. We married in 1974 and she became Joan (Presti) DiVincenzo. We have three grown handsome (took after their mother) young men Christopher (31), Jason (27) and David (23). Our relationship has endured and was truly made in the stars. We have been blessed and are still going strong - at times dancing at clubs and holding our own - though not with the same crazy energy, 35 yrs later or as Joan(babe to me) likes to say still in love 45 yrs later. The only other couple HS (friends) that we know that is still together is Marty and Peach (Judy). "You Guys" (boys & gals - our lingo) remember the 10th GHTS HS reunion? when Joan and I finally won "best dancers". Actually we should have won it at our HS prom but we were not part of the click - the collegiates. We were greasers, though years later we became part of the professional class. No hard feeling; Joan and I remember all of you with fond memories and would not change a thing. OK, you guys remember George Hasonolff? the strongest guy in our region - could bench 400 lbs with no sweat. I believe he went and played pro football for a yr or two - the Giants? We all lost many friends: Vietnam, alcohol, drugs, accidents, heart attacks. Some of the named guys are no longer with us, but I remember them with a smirk on my face. You remember the rivalry between Garfield HTS and Maple HTS, The High school dances, the occasional fight over a girl or boy or a school rivalry? Your first car? Mine a 60 T-Bird "love bird". As I have told my boys (though not every thing) - The movie grease and Woodstock - we were living it. We had a great, wild, crazy time without hurting anyone except for the occasional aforementioned libido driven skirmishes. I want all to think about those days and if your sad or hurting and remember some of your high school friends or memories. It may make you smile, smirk, or even tear up, but it will definitely make you feel alive. OK, this wasn't as short as I had originally indicated, but once I got started I could not stop. To date I have not recognized or communicated with any of the HS classmates, and I apologize if I got your name wrong or misspelled it. That is because I did not recognize you names. But most of us never forget nicknames. Most of you will not remember Chris DiVincenzo, but you may remember Banan "the nose". If you do contact me, email me and tell me your, our story. I don't care whether I win or not, but when I saw the sweet story line request, it sparked something within me and I started to fly. This is not just about my personal romantic relationship but it about the romance of our time: starting with fear of nuclear raids, JFK, pop the cork (paddle), superior science fairs, JrH and HS football and wrestling championships, HS band, HS dances, HS love, fast cars, great looking babes and cool guys, book worms and math wiz, out of town prom trips, the park - lovers lane, some minor scrapes with the man, Woodstock and going to the moon. That is: it was about our youth, vigor and passion. It was about us... it was about you. I hope you still got it and I invite you all to tell your story. What happenened to Ricky Linhart, Marty, Tim, Mouser? If any of you guys out there in GHTS HS land know whom I'm speaking about get this story to them. I been trying to find them but w/no success. Thanks Hope to hear from any of you - wish you all well, Chris "Banan" I always wanted to be a scientist when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea. As it turns out, they were right. I always wanted to be a an inventor when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a stretch. As it turns out, they were wrong I hold 3 patents. I always wanted to be a keep on dancing when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a Geat! idea. As it turns out, they were right on target. I always wanted to be a true friend when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a good aspiration idea. As it turns out, they were right. . I always wanted to be a family man when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a fitting idea. As it turns out, they were right. Any of the guys that ever came to my house, knew mama D and shared dinner with us, understood how important family is to me. Like wise the presti family (8 kids) has strolg family ties. I believe that it was those combined strong family ties that has made our relationship so enduring. . 1.I like to sing old Itatian songs:sloe mio, e cumpari, volare a...Expand for more