ulitave

My high school was called Clarkstown High School North, "North" for short. There was a Clarkstown High School South as well.

I didn't understand how strange my high school experience was until I attended college. The only thing I can compare it to would be growign up in some Jim Jones-style cult, and then emerging into the wider world. I found myself the object of much ridicule at freshman parties. People either did or didn't believe my stories. I never decided which was worse.


Out of that chaos, I met some remarkable people who are quite dear to me. We're still in touch, almost daily. In two years we'll have our 20th high school reunion. yikes.

J is 11yo's godfather. He is also a mad scientist and one of the most brilliant men alive. The government pays him to not fall into the hands of the Russians. I'm not joking.
CT and SRT dated in high school and all through college. They have two kids now. CT is more or less an investment lawyer/banker for a ginormous multinational. SRT teaches dance, which she was absolutely and always meant to do. CT had to run for it on 9/11.
CB is a fighter pilot. Just about everthing he destroys is classified now. Stay safe buddy, enjoy the [local ethnic dish].
P&DH are about to have their 4th (!) kid. P is an associate dean at a Catholic Seminary.
VP is also an investment banker. The second plane hit his office on 9/11. "Hit" as in the nose went into his window. VP was late to work for the first time in his life that day, so he's still with us.
W is a nut. When he was an EMT, he once got a call to drive when he was off-duty. Problem was, he was drunk. He gave himself a transfusion so he could drive. W's a cop now in our hometown. That's not such a good idea.
E was my first editor. She just escaped a terrible marriage and will visit in a month or so. Her younger brother is also a fighter pilot, but in a different branch.
K is kinda the glue that makes us keep talking. When things get quiet (like a week without a message) she mails us something about her and her kids.
B  went to South but we like her anyway. she's a teacher now, with one kid.
M is a GOP operative. Whenever you hear of GOP skullduggery, M and his cohorts are the guys who actually do the do. Last time I saw him I checked his pockets for Al Gore ballots. He said he ruined a perfectly good pair of shoes in that swamp.