I see 1987 as basically two halves. The first half would be the Spring of my Junior year and the Fall would be the beginning of my Senior year at Livingston High School. It was as if there were two different mindsets going on during this time. When you are in your junior year, specifically the Spring, it’s almost as if it’s a weigh station on the road to graduation. It’s important but its significance pales in comparison to the perception that you will soon be a senior, essentially the top of the mountain as far as high school goes. The celebrations to come during the Spring of 87 are reserved for those outgoing seniors who are taking the leap towards college and we as juniors are left holding the proverbial check or as some would say, picking up the torch.
All that said, I found the first half of 1987 pretty dang cool. As juniors, in support of the seniors, it was our duty to organize, build, and put on the prom. It has been quite a few years since that time but I believe the theme was a King Arthur style castle. I remember doing a lot of painting but the scenery wasn’t what it was all about. This would be my first prom and at the time I wasn’t dating anyone steady. However, I was friends with everyone and wasn’t too stressed about it. Now, as I mentioned before, there have been many years since that time and so this may have some slight revisionist history going on. However, one of those great friends was the legendary Lisa Thomas. Lisa ran with one of the coolest crews, which included Ginger Keller and the infamous Autumn Smith. To describe them as just cool just doesn’t do it justice. They epitomized what it meant to be carefree and fun. I think Memo Taylor was part of the crew as well but while the rest of the bunch like me, I’m not sure Memo was a big fan. I’m fairly certain that is my fault and I would definitely change that if I could. Hopefully one day I’ll get the chance.
I may have to correct this once I hear back from Lisa, whom I messaged earlier today. But, the way I remember it, I was driving to Slick’s house (aka James Lowe) on Hwy 146 and saw Lisa coming from the opposite direction, so I flagged her down in front of Ellen Mosely’s gymnastic gym. I remember chit-chatting a bit and finally got the nerve to ask her to prom. We had been friends a while so there was no need to be nervous but remember, Lisa was part of the vanguard group of girls that were definitely leading from the front and not the rear so at 17, that can be a little intimidating. Fast forward through the nervousness, Lisa accepted my request and we went on to have a great time at the prom. I think what made it so great was the fact I got to hang with Lisa. She always struck me as extremely hip and was simply a great person to be around. There was no stress or drama with Lisa just fun and a big smile. I’m thankful to this day that she was willing to be my date. I remember seeing her many years later at a reunion and I wasn’t surprised to see that she hasn’t lost any semblance of that coolness. I’ll always look back on that night and time with a broad smile and fondness for the good times it represented.
The second half of 1987 was the Fall of my senior year. We had finally made it! As seniors, we were finally at the top of the hill and so along with a few buddies, namely, John Cathey, James Lowe, and Bill Haecker wanted to find a welcoming message to the incoming Freshman, aka Fish. As anyone who went to Livingston High School during that time will remember, there was a long drive up to the school from Hwy 190, which was greeted with a welcome/announcement sign as you entered. This gave us an idea! We decided to make a “Wanted: Dead or Alive” poster and hang it from this sign at the front of the school. Bill, possessing mad artistic skills, painted the poster in Livingston Lions green on a white sheet. We then hung it up the night before school started, which is the photo for this post. In fact, this photo made the front page of the Polk County Enterprise. It was all in good fun and was our way, the soon to be Seniors of 1988, of welcoming the incoming freshman. We were setting the stage because the upcoming year was going to be great!
As I write about my first prom in 1987, I do feel some sorrow for the juniors and seniors of today. This is a bizarre time with COVID-19 and I’m heartfully sorry that these kids won’t get to experience their own lasting memory of a prom. My advice is to soak in every moment and don’t take life’s events for granted. You are only young once so let go of the stress and just enjoy it.
19 of 50 - 1987