Monday, September 1, 2025
Mr. Pollins was my junior year homeroom teacher. His nickname among the students was "Air Jesus." I did not get the Jesus part. He had a thick beard. He did not have long hair. Now I did get the Air part of his nickname because he played basketball. There were pickup games in the gym before school... Sign in to see full entry.
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The Station Nobody Wanted
The Station Nobody Wanted Across the street from my high school sits an Exxon station. Back in the early 1970s, when it was still under construction, Esso (as it was called then) approached Pop-Pop about becoming the dealer. He declined. The surrounding neighborhood didn’t want the station built at... Sign in to see full entry.
Monday, August 25, 2025
Junior Year Teachers
Heading into junior year, my mindset was clear: I was going to dominate. Sophomore year’s mediocrity had lit a fire under me. I had no concerns about Morality/Justice with Mrs. Dill—religion had always been one of my strongest subjects, and I saw no reason that would change. I also had another round... Sign in to see full entry.
Friday, August 22, 2025
Luck of the Draw
Ann always got to miss school when she had her physicals. I never did. The difference came down to timing. Ann was born in February, so her physicals always landed during the school year. I was born in June, which meant mine were scheduled for the latter half of the month—when school was already... Sign in to see full entry.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
A Change in Format
I need to make a change to the format of The High School Years. With my junior year about to begin, now feels like the right time to switch things up. Up to this point, I’ve been writing about my freshman and sophomore years by focusing on one subject at a time. I’d cover the teachers, key... Sign in to see full entry.