my careless contagion

Graduation: a beginning and an end. But mostly a beginning because even the word commencement means more than just a ceremony; it means a beginning. The above photo was taken shortly after my high school graduation in 1996 (which looked a lot different from graduation this year, I must say). I'm on the right. The other two are Jeff and Michelle. The photo was taken for a short news story of importance because we had all come from Hot Springs and ended up in Broken Bow. We knew each other from one town and somehow all made our way to a different town in a different state, eventually graduating together. While Michelle is still my friend today (she's moving back to Nebraska soon), Jeff has gone under the radar and I'm not sure how to contact him. His father died a few years ago (right after his dad retired, I heard). His dad coached both my brothers. I recall him on school grounds before they moved with Jeff's younger brother. I instantly recognized him and wondered wh...

You don't miss something until it's gone. In 2021, it will be a quarter-century since I graduated high school. If I had done things the right way, I would have graduated from college in 2000, gotten a good job, married a nice girl, and then had a few kids. All of those are blessings from God. Instead, I made my own way, screwed up my life, and have regretted my mistakes ever since. But let's take a look at what was, not what could have been. My senior photos were taken in 1995. I don't know exactly when. It doesn't matter. I was asked to bring along some things that were meaningful to me. So I brought my Bible (pictured above), my fishing pole (fancy and collapsible), tackle box, and a whole lot of denim. Holy crap, the denim. The photo below is actually huge. I couldn't scan it so took a photo. All I'm missing is a denim belt (actually, it does bother me I'm not wearing any kind of belt). you'd think my parents worked for a textile factory. Al...

Geoff was my best friend once upon a time. My family moved from South Dakota in 1987 to Nebraska. My oldest brother and father moved first, then the rest of us over Christmas break. Apparently, there was a lack of rentals. Geoff's family lived next door. We were in the same grade (4th), and he took me under his wing.  The top photo was taken at Geoff's high school graduation party (he's wearing the tie and I have my arm around him, my brothers on either side). This may have been the last time I saw him. That's a sorry ending to a best-friend story, I know.  Geoff was the best at everything, as I recall. He was super smart, athletic, well-liked, and had plenty of friends. When we moved to Nebraska, I was at least a year behind in all my subjects. Using Geoff as a marker of success, I got myself good grades again by the time 5th grade ended.  I went out for Optimist Football using a borrowed helmet and pads. On the first day of practice, I recall Geoff yelling ...