John McGuire

jjmcguire@mindspring.com

We are all almost 50! You're all invited to California for a visit. How's Memorial Day?

I was a band nerd, of which I have many memories. Ron Holleman was the wind ensemble and jazz band guy, and he was hilarious, once you got past his serious grouchiness. Mr Wirtz was the orchestra director, and he had some issues, as I recall. I was in school the same time as his sons, and they were great guys. I was kind of a jerk when it came to relationships with my female peers; I couldn't get enough of them, and so carried on briefly with many in quick succession. It makes me shudder to remember. I was a short kid with long hair and a winning self-protecting smile. I loved playing trumpet in the school musicals "The King and I", and "Fiddler on the Roof". The school had a theater arts program back then, and there was a cult following of the director of the program, located right across the hall from the music program, with the guys on the crews, lighting, building, costumes, etc. I think his name was Mr. Nielson. I can remember many of the faces from this period, but not many of the names.

Read history, play trumpet, learn about new things in general, attend church, play with my seven-year old, make fancy meals, fold laundry, worry about business, hike the Northern California trails, reminisce about my past, listen to NPR, surf the web, stare into space, feel the wind on my body, feel remorse over past actions, attempt to recreate former glory moments, question my sanity, wake up early.

Clown
Nerd

From the era of High School attendance, I think bebop jazz, classical/jazz fusion, Stan Kanton, Woody Herman, Maynard Fergeson, Count Basie, Aerosmith, Earth Wind and Fire, Steely Dan, and freestyle improvisations with some fellow travelers.

Studs Terkel: " Take it easy, but take it".