Stumbled across this digging through Facebook. It was definitely a surreal experience. I remember we had all "celebrated" or at least "acknowledged" we were the first class in a while to make it through senior year without a tragedy. Then come summer Harris, of all people, was lost. Then soon after Ron, which shocked me more because I'd been closer to him. (I was unaware of James' passing until now). I know others have left, John Cleary as of recent, but yeah, that summer infused a sense of mortality into me that otherwise hadn't been there.
Thanks for reading, Mike. You put it more succinctly than I ever could - in terms of the sense of mortality that we didn't know until then. That feeling of loss never left me, not that I knew I would ever write about it...funny how life works.
I think I read all the essays you wrote a couple weeks ago. It's fun to hear about your experiences and just what other kids were doing to pass the time. It really was the most boring town in many ways. I re-visited only once in the last 30+ years, for one evening, and I went to look for gas in the evening and couldn't even find an open gas station. I remembered how much I hated that feeling of being trapped and never went back ever again!
Incidentally, I didn't know about your music experiences. I enjoyed those essays even more. I love music industry stories. I had that No Alternative album and a couple others in the series and never put together the connection. Seems you've had one of the more adventurous paths of our alumni. Super cool. From the guy before you in the alphabet and sitting front to back through thousands of home rooms, I regret not getting to know you better. :)
Talk about boring, our home-room was the worst! What a tedious excercise that was, to sit there with alll the other kids named G-L (or whatever our alphabetical ranged was) and be counted or whatever the teacher did to acknowledge our presence. I spent 4 years opening my locker with Martina H and JoJo H right next to me. You were probably one or two further over. My primitive reaction to Bridgewater was to get out and stay out! I ended up spending most of my 'college' summers - at college. It was far more interesting to be in Providence, RI than back in NJ, even if I was doing the same shitty roofing job there as I did in Bridgewater. At least there was a city to enjoy after work....Thanks for reading everything!! Bridgewater was/is a nice place, but it was not designed with teenagers in mind!! I realize now that some of my 'life-choices' like moving to NYC and barely being able to pay rent as a kid out of college were unorthodox, but moving back home would have been, defeat. I get that real estate and/or rent is even more expensive now, and a lot of kids continue to live with their parents after college, but at what cost, in terms of life experience? Aren't there supposed to be a few crazy years when you're young?! Ahh, I sound like an old person talking about how good it used to be....Anyways, thanks for reading - and reaching out! I really appreciate it!
Paul that was absolutely wonderful. I think of Harris a lot more in August because he died a few days before my birthday. I think of Ron from time to time too.
I live that you shared your memories and gave me a little more insight about Harris and you. Thank you so very much!
Stumbled across this digging through Facebook. It was definitely a surreal experience. I remember we had all "celebrated" or at least "acknowledged" we were the first class in a while to make it through senior year without a tragedy. Then come summer Harris, of all people, was lost. Then soon after Ron, which shocked me more because I'd been closer to him. (I was unaware of James' passing until now). I know others have left, John Cleary as of recent, but yeah, that summer infused a sense of mortality into me that otherwise hadn't been there.
Thanks for reading, Mike. You put it more succinctly than I ever could - in terms of the sense of mortality that we didn't know until then. That feeling of loss never left me, not that I knew I would ever write about it...funny how life works.
And - you might enjoy the Pool Hopping story.....it's as meditation on being young, bored and restless in a Beatwater summer...
I think I read all the essays you wrote a couple weeks ago. It's fun to hear about your experiences and just what other kids were doing to pass the time. It really was the most boring town in many ways. I re-visited only once in the last 30+ years, for one evening, and I went to look for gas in the evening and couldn't even find an open gas station. I remembered how much I hated that feeling of being trapped and never went back ever again!
Incidentally, I didn't know about your music experiences. I enjoyed those essays even more. I love music industry stories. I had that No Alternative album and a couple others in the series and never put together the connection. Seems you've had one of the more adventurous paths of our alumni. Super cool. From the guy before you in the alphabet and sitting front to back through thousands of home rooms, I regret not getting to know you better. :)
Talk about boring, our home-room was the worst! What a tedious excercise that was, to sit there with alll the other kids named G-L (or whatever our alphabetical ranged was) and be counted or whatever the teacher did to acknowledge our presence. I spent 4 years opening my locker with Martina H and JoJo H right next to me. You were probably one or two further over. My primitive reaction to Bridgewater was to get out and stay out! I ended up spending most of my 'college' summers - at college. It was far more interesting to be in Providence, RI than back in NJ, even if I was doing the same shitty roofing job there as I did in Bridgewater. At least there was a city to enjoy after work....Thanks for reading everything!! Bridgewater was/is a nice place, but it was not designed with teenagers in mind!! I realize now that some of my 'life-choices' like moving to NYC and barely being able to pay rent as a kid out of college were unorthodox, but moving back home would have been, defeat. I get that real estate and/or rent is even more expensive now, and a lot of kids continue to live with their parents after college, but at what cost, in terms of life experience? Aren't there supposed to be a few crazy years when you're young?! Ahh, I sound like an old person talking about how good it used to be....Anyways, thanks for reading - and reaching out! I really appreciate it!
This is so good!
Thanks for reading!
Beautiful story, amazing humans lost too soon!!
Thanks for reading M -
Paul that was absolutely wonderful. I think of Harris a lot more in August because he died a few days before my birthday. I think of Ron from time to time too.
I live that you shared your memories and gave me a little more insight about Harris and you. Thank you so very much!
Love not live
Beautifully written. Love the dedication, as well.
Thanks, Susie, appreciate you reading it!