Here's me filling out one of those online questionnaires that make the rounds. This one's about one's Senior Year in high school…
Class of: 1969
- Did you know your current love? Nope.
- Type of car? Didn't have a car then. I was highly dependent on the Santa Monica Bus Lines.
- What kind of work did you do? A tiny bit of writing that paid a tiny bit of money.
- Where did you live? West Los Angeles.
- Were you popular? No but I wasn't unpopular. And some kids liked that I could say silly things at the right moment.
- Were you in band or choir? No, that would have required talents I have never possessed and will never possess.
- Ever get suspended? Nope. Never did anything wrong except the one time I slugged a guy in the locker room. The Boys' Vice-Principal took a look at our respective records of behavior and expelled the other guy. Such is the value of having a reputation for never doing anything wrong.
- If you could, would you go back? Not a chance. It would be like going back to prison.
- Still talk to the person that you went to prom with? Didn't go to the prom. That might have required dancing, another of those talents I have never possessed and will never possess.
- Did you skip school? No. I never did anything wrong except as noted above.
- Go to all the Football games? I have never been to a football game in my entire life. I don't really even know how the game is played. Is that the one with the puck?
- Favorite subject? None of them but if you forced me to pick the one that's been the most useful in my life, it would be Typing where I learned to do what I'm doing at this very moment.
- Do you still have your yearbook? Somewhere.
- Did you follow your career path? Absolutely but in strange, unpredictable ways.
- Do you still have your high school ring? Somewhere.
- Who was your favorite teacher? I liked a Physiology teacher named Mrs. Jodele for reasons that had nothing to do with Physiology. We just kind of became friends and had interesting conversations. Back when I was surrounded by girls, there was a value in learning a bit about how to talk to a woman.
- What was your hairstyle? Uncombed, even just minutes after I'd combed it.
- Favorite shoes? I had these ugly, prescription orthopedic shoes that weighed a ton and made me walk like a duck. I no longer have to wear them but I still walk like a duck.
- Favorite food? Probably Italian.
- Favorite band? When pressed to name one, I would usually say The Association but I really didn't have a favorite.
- What cologne/perfume? Buitoni Meat Sauce, probably.
- How old were you when you graduated? Seventeen. I'd skipped a couple grades then missed half of one due to a childhood illness.
- Who will play along? I have no idea what this question means.
- What high school did you attend? University High School in West L.A. It's still there but the important thing is that I'm not still there.