Remember that 1986 movie Ferris Beuller's Day Off? I confess I've never seen the movie, but I know it's about a high school student who decided he needed a day off from school.
At my 45th high school reunion, many of us missed Annie. She was a cheer leader, the Homecoming Queen, the everything queen, and Miss KPOI. KPOI was the top teenage radio station in Hawaii in our time. When she was crowned Miss KPOI, I remember all of us in the audience standing as one, jumping up and down and doing whatever crazy thing kids did in those days. We all loved Annie. We loved her because she wasn't just beautiful on the outside, but beautiful in every minute corner of her insides.
She won a new wardrobe of gorgeous clothes from Liberty House which is now Macy's AND a car! Everybody was thrilled for her.
As I studied my high school yearbook before attending the reunion, I came across this photo. It brought back a memory that I've kept in a special, happy, secret place in my heart these 45 years. It reminds me of the only time I ever ditched school.
Not everything is clear about the day, but I remember Annie asking me if I wanted to go on an adventure. I was always a pretty straight laced, follow the rules sort of person (I think, but maybe not). However, when Annie asked if I wanted to ditch a few classes and go for a ride in her new car, it wasn't something I could pass up.
We snuck off of the school grounds, got into her car and proceeded to drive into Honolulu. What wild and crazy place did we go to, you ask? The beach? Waikiki? Nope. We went to the Honolulu Public Library, walked around, got back in the car and headed back to school again. We were a wild and crazy couple of girls, I guess. Whatever the case it was during the ride to and from that we talked about our own teenage angst, happiness, plans for the future, and other so very important things.
When we got back to school, we crept back to our classes and didn't tell anyone. I just told my mother about this today and she was shocked, but laughed that I would have done this.
Annie is now living somewhere on the mainland and wasn't able to attend the 45th High School reunion. I would dearly love to be with her again. We all do.
She wrote that veiled question at the top of the photo asking if I remembered.
Oh yes, I remembered and never forgot.
POSTSCRIPT: Is there a high school secret you'd like to share with us?
At my 45th high school reunion, many of us missed Annie. She was a cheer leader, the Homecoming Queen, the everything queen, and Miss KPOI. KPOI was the top teenage radio station in Hawaii in our time. When she was crowned Miss KPOI, I remember all of us in the audience standing as one, jumping up and down and doing whatever crazy thing kids did in those days. We all loved Annie. We loved her because she wasn't just beautiful on the outside, but beautiful in every minute corner of her insides.
She won a new wardrobe of gorgeous clothes from Liberty House which is now Macy's AND a car! Everybody was thrilled for her.
As I studied my high school yearbook before attending the reunion, I came across this photo. It brought back a memory that I've kept in a special, happy, secret place in my heart these 45 years. It reminds me of the only time I ever ditched school.
Not everything is clear about the day, but I remember Annie asking me if I wanted to go on an adventure. I was always a pretty straight laced, follow the rules sort of person (I think, but maybe not). However, when Annie asked if I wanted to ditch a few classes and go for a ride in her new car, it wasn't something I could pass up.
We snuck off of the school grounds, got into her car and proceeded to drive into Honolulu. What wild and crazy place did we go to, you ask? The beach? Waikiki? Nope. We went to the Honolulu Public Library, walked around, got back in the car and headed back to school again. We were a wild and crazy couple of girls, I guess. Whatever the case it was during the ride to and from that we talked about our own teenage angst, happiness, plans for the future, and other so very important things.
When we got back to school, we crept back to our classes and didn't tell anyone. I just told my mother about this today and she was shocked, but laughed that I would have done this.
Annie is now living somewhere on the mainland and wasn't able to attend the 45th High School reunion. I would dearly love to be with her again. We all do.
She wrote that veiled question at the top of the photo asking if I remembered.
Oh yes, I remembered and never forgot.
POSTSCRIPT: Is there a high school secret you'd like to share with us?
Haha, good onya, Kay. And you didn't confess to your mother until today??
ReplyDeleteIt's true. I didn't tell mom until yesterday and she was really quite surprised. I could never keep anything from her, but this is one secret I happily kept until yesterday. Art says he never ditched because in Honokaa, where could they really go without some adult finding out?
DeleteOh my, what a wild and crazy couple of girls you were! The library? I had to laugh! :-)
ReplyDeletehow fun to remember these early times with dear friends...
ReplyDeleteAt least your mom laughed instead of telling you that you are grounded :) I'm glad you got to pull that memory out and re-live it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great story! The library, really? I never had the good fortune to have a friend with a car to whisk me away, but I did learn about a time when Jake and two good friends ditched school after they had all turned 18 to go register to vote.
ReplyDeleteCan you get an address or email fro Annie? You could connect across the miles.
Actually, this is a good idea. I think I'll see if anybody has her e-mail.
DeleteI missed class only once to protest at Hickam in my junior year in HS...but that was "official" business lol
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
Yes, Kay, I'm totally shocked,lol!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot! Please tell Mom that since you went to the library, the library, not the beach or a bar or a drive-in food place, that it really wasn't "ditching" from your studies if you went to the library. I'm betting your children or grandchildren will go someplace a tad more brazen. Me, I never ditched in high school. I didn't get any guts until college. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I think I'll ask my children if they ever did. Frankly, I think I know the answer already.
Deleteshocked but impressed!
ReplyDeleteCars...lots of girls got into "trouble" with cars. Dianne
ReplyDeleteThis is the best What I Did in High School story I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteHow funny Kay. The library? I love it. You must try and find Annie, how wonderful would that be and let us know some more about her. I love that you just confessed to your mother today,lol.
ReplyDeleteOh I have plenty of high school secrets. I recall disappearing from school like you in my friends car and as we were leaving the school grounds we spotted a teacher. So we bent down (including the driver)so that you could not see our heads. It must have looked awfully strange to see a car go by with no-one in it. Of course the teachers knew who drove what car anyway - we were not very smart in those days!! there were no library trips involved but we went to town to the shops. We got caught of course and the school rang our parents.
I am so glad you had a grand HS Reunion. So sorry that your friend couldn't be there tho. Yes, don't worry about Jon...he's at one of the best schools everywhere. You are such a great mom.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kay for sharing yourself, but also for reminding me about that day I walked to the bus instead of middle school and went to downtown Philadelphia to explore in the city. . . . Magic! I remember thinking "Should I?" I decided that I might have an adventure I'd remember years later, instead of just another school day. That was decades ago and I was right!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you girls made a good decision too.
Wishing You a happy week,
with Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Oh! such crazy deeds of childhood are the most memorable ones for sure..enjoyed reading it..
ReplyDeleteDid Annie Laurie come to the reunion? Would love to see an updated photo of her.
ReplyDeleteNo, Annie was not able to attend the reunion. You know what? Annie will be beautiful to me when she's a 100 years old.
DeleteThat is such a great story! I can just imagaine the thrill of escaping and then not being able to come up with anything better to do than go to the library:-) I hope your mom appreciates what a good daughter she had and has!!
ReplyDeleteI miss high school life. Its much more fun than in university. You met your true and bestest friends there and the memories are truly memorable.
ReplyDeletewedding photographer perth wa
I remember skipping school one day and not having a clue where to go or what to do. It was a lot of pressure and I wish we had thought of a library. Oh I hope you can get back in touch with Annie!
ReplyDeleteSecret: A group of girls our senior year decided to plan a big slumber party at a local lodge. One rented the room and sneaked the rest of us in the back door with our bags of booze and snacks. The manager caught on and ran us out into the cold dark night. None of us could go home because we all had told our parents we were spending the night at someone's house plus a few of us had imbibed a bit much. We drove around in a caravan until we finally decided to pull into a corn field and sleep in our cars. The night sounds and our vivid imaginations kept us all from sleeping plus it was unbearably cold.