School Story
Some memories of the good old days.
Made the mistake of knocking out Greg Schmidt's front tooth when he and his CP (Common People) gang buddies (Applen, Jensen etc) kept messing with the pool game we (Tom Lentz, Rick Thompson, and me) were playing at Loyola Youth Center. Was on their hit list after that. Heard stories about the gang using chains on people so I tried my best to avoid them. They caught up with me once while playing softball with my brothers at Franklin school, but after a couple of pushes and punches, Schmidt tearing my favorite Gant (why was I wearing a Gant playing softball- who knows), and then me ripping his T-shirt, it thankfully ended with no chains ever being used on me. After that altercation, and after a couple of them transferring to Kato High, the hostilities between the CP's and me mostly died out. Except the time I got a job at Robby's when they harassed me while ordering their burgers- I quit that job after a day. Got some revenge later when Tom Lentz and I went to a dance over in LeSueur. The local guys were giving us a hard time about talking to their local girls, told us Mankato guys weren't welcome there, so I called one of the CP's (Applen I think). The gang showed up at the dance, and started a big fight, while Lentz and I snuck out the back. The fight got coverage in the newspaper, and I remember that some of the CPs got it trouble over it. Wonder if Greg still has that silver capped tooth?
Spent many nights cruising up and down Front Street in my 57 Ford Retractable Hardtop -that I paid $200 for and would be worth well over $50k now if I'd kept it.
Still feel a bit guilty about being part of the large bunch that, after graduation, ran down Front Street blocking traffic, and running though stores causing chaos and some damage. I felt so bad at the time that, as the crowd stormed through the movie theater, I sat down to watch a free movie while the rest continued on their rampage through downtown. Unfortunately with no ticket stub, I was soon kicked out.
Always looked forward to the few weeks a year the Tourtellotte pool would open so we had something more to do in the summer than ride bikes and make tree forts in Dr. Kearny's woods. We'd turn from white toe-headed Minnesotans to dark skinned aliens -after a few skin peels. Never heard of sunscreen back then. Guess that's part of why I look like I do now-lol.
Finally got old enough to attend Mankato State where getting drunk and meeting girls was the most popular major. One night after dropping off my future (former) wife at her dorm, drunk as a skunk I pulled off to puke but forgot to open the window, took off my coat and shirt, laid down and fell asleep for a couple of hours in 10 degree weather. Woke up shivering so bad I could barely turn the key to start the car. Drove home on snow covered roads, still drunk, did some intentional cookies in the middle of the road on the way for fun, and made it home in one piece. Surprised Mom a bit when I walked in from the cold shirtless. She just shook her head.
Was a towel boy (team "mgr") for a while. Would run out when basketball team huddled with a sweat towel for them, stepped on Bob Hoffman's finger, thought I really messed it up but he told me he played better right after- not sure if he was just being nice about it or not. Used to love the guys throwing their dirty towels in my face and throwing them back at them-Not.
Used to really like sock-hops, music nights at Loyola and at the Kato Ballroom. Practiced James Brown's footwork, tried it out at the Kato Ballroom with a girl-she turned me down for a second dance-lol.
Lots of crushes on girls in school but unfortunately no takers- until Lorna at Kato State. Finally ended up with the best one (Paloma) last.
Funny, some of the things from the past stand out more than others. I'm might even have some more inconsequential memories to share (with somebody) if I run out of other ways to spend my spare time.