Computers were just on the horizon of being a huge employment opportunity, so I decided that I would go into computers in general for a career, despite never owning let alone every seeing one in person. (Pretty big gamble for someone to at that age peg your future on doing something that you know absolutely nothing about.) I found that my local community college offered Associate's Degrees in Business Data Processing, so I applied there for college in the mid spring. All of my other classmates were applying to several colleges in hopes of being accepted at their first choice, but also having others to fall back on. I figured if I couldnt get accepted at the community college I should just give it up at that point. I got my acceptance letter shortly after I applied, so I knew at least that I was going to be in school in the fall. I wasnt worried about going to a big school and frankly I didnt have the financial means to and didnt want to have to spend so much of my income after school paying off loans.
The school year continued streaking by at a seemingly breakneck pace. Next up was the musical, Once Upon A Mattress. I was spliting the lead role with another young guy. Each of us would play the Prince for one night. I had the part on Friday night, Saturday night, it was his. All that I can vaguely remember is that I wasnt feeling very well as the day came and it wasnt due to stage fright. I felt as if I was starting to run a fever and had a general achey feeling all through my joints. My head felt like a cinder block when I got to the school and got dressed for the show. Danette, the female lead, had some homemade mixture to help her throat and offered me some to see if it would help. It wasn't the greatest tasting stuff, but it did ease the scratchy feeling in my throat. I wish I could say that I remember the night, but I dont remember much of it at all. I dont believe that I forgot any lines, didnt screw up any songs and had nothing banging the microphones over my head as in previous years. The one year that I do alright and I cant remember it. lol The second night when I played a minor background character was much easier as there was only a few small lines and I really took it easy. The one thing that I do remember is that Kris, the young lady I was seeing at the time, had to babysit on the night when I was playing the lead and was unable to make it. Considering the way that I felt, I wouldnt have wanted her to see that performance that was basically sleepwalked through. There are some photos from this musical back in the photo pages section that can be linked to HERE.
The following day was our concert band performance. We admittedly, didnt play up to the level that we knew that we were capable of doing. There were a few minor mistakes that although anyone listening may not have picked up on, we knew that they were made and it bothered some of us that we didnt play up to our normal level when it mattered the most. One of the bands that was supposed to be our main competition was playing after us and many of us stayed afterwards to listen to them since they were playing pieces that we were familiar with. We heard several mistakes in their playing that lightened our hearts somewhat as we felt we still had a good chance to do well. The day outside in King's Island was very grey and rainy throughout the day. Many of us got soaked while waiting to get on the few rides that were still running in the wet weather, while the rest of us decided to just stay in some of the indoor areas and try to unwind and stay dry. I spent most of the day in an Ocktoberfest pavillion listening to German music and the rain pounding down on the roof around us.
Later that evening, it was time for the results of the competition to be announced. The hall was filled with kids from all over waiting to hear how all of their work and practice paid off for them. We were eligible in several catagories. We ended up winning Best Concert Band, Best Marching Band, Best Drumline and Best Auxilliaries (Majorettes and Colorguard). Needless to say, the seniors were all elated to have had such a sweep of awards to close out our years spent playing together. As a group, we were generally close and many of those people I played with I still count among my dearest friends to this day. Its comforting to have people to be able to share the same ups and downs that you do growing up. It ends up binding them to you in your best and not so good memories. Whether good or bad they were there and it sure was nice that the last major accomplishment that we had together was such a resounding one to close out on.
From then, all that was left was the Senior Prom and then Graduation day. The time was flashing by so quickly and so many of my friends were already planning for college and the summer ahead. We were already starting to drift apart slightly. I suppose that its inevitable that people grow up sometimes apart as life goes on. It was really nice to have one final exclamation point on our time together at King's Island though. Thats something that all of the years since can never take away. Next stop, Senior Prom!!