Be True to Your School and other Memories

Fight on for Frankford
Come on Hit that Line
Go, Go, Go
Fight on for Frankford
Victory every time
Rah, Rah, Rah
All hail her colors
see them in the sky
Red, blue and gold we're with you
Fight Frankford High

Dada, Dada, Dada, Dada
Hurrah
Dada, Dada, Dada. Dada
Hurrah
dada, dada, dada, dada

Repeat First Stanza

Frankford High "Fight Song"


Many of you are aware that "My Faithful and Obedient Companion " and I attended my 50th High School Reunion last Friday at the VFW Post in Warminster Pa.  It was the first reunion I attended since my 20th back in 1989. We attended due to the persistence of one "Linda Schroder" who was a member of our reunion committee.  She told me she  had the dogged sense that I did not in fact "die" back in February of 1997 as shown on various "friend finder" sites (which have incorrectly associated my Father's death with my profile).  As she told me on the phone she kept insisting that "Jimmie Roberts" cannot be dead!

I was frankly a bit leery of dragging poor Barbara back for the event, since I have not kept in touch with any High School friends (except two guys who I exchange Christmas cards with...and they were no shows) but what the heck, who could turn down a $35 per head buffet featuring Polish Kielbasa and $ 3.50 Yuengling drafts at the cash bar!  So down to Pennsylvania we went.

I must admit I was surprised by the turnout, about 110 Grads attended out of a class of about 450.

Before making my "Observation" I will mention a few highlights from my perspective.

First, only a few of my fellow "football" teammates attended.  But it was great to see Micheal Ray, our starting quarterback, and the first "Black" quarterback in Frankford history. When Linda contacted me about the reunion she had told me that Michael had surgery a few months ago that "left him paralyzed".  I was relieved to learn from Michael that like my death" his paralysis was only "temporary" and that he was getting around ok with a walker and was likely to recover further.   Michael and I chatted for quite some time reminiscing about our team. We recalled that we were "co-game captains" in our win against Edison and we each got a game ball afterwards  (I still have mine in Winter Park).  Also in attendance was Norm Armstrong his backup.  Micheal got a kick when I mentioned how he was the starter because he was a lot smarter than Norm.  As many of you  might recall that at a sadder time in our social history "blacks" were often considered "not smart enough" to play quarterback.  Michael certainly proved that was a crappy racial myth.  It was for  me a reminder that Michael was indeed a groundbreaker in his own right. Of course we talked about the highlight of our year - the "big" upset by Frankford in our Thanksgiving Day game against our neighborhood rival  North Catholic High.  They  were going into the game  "Catholic" League champions and went on to win the a title game two weeks later.  We on the other hand had a dismal 3 -5-1 record going into the game.  Of course neither of us choose to  discuss some of our less "stellar" performances. in Public league play that year.


Of course not all was roses at the reunion.

First up was a girl I dated once in high school who followed my "Faithful and Obedient" around all evening.  Shw continually shared tales of her daughters music career as church music director in Carlisle Pa. and how she and her husband  could not afford to retire.   At first this was all OK but really, not over and over again.

Then there was the rendition of the Frankford Fight song by aging cheerleaders that was both inspiring and yet a bit depressing.

Finally, like at all reunions everywhere I am sure, came the "guy" who now resides in Texas.    He was dressed in a Cowboy hat and a spiffy three piece suit highlighted by a rhinestone "pistol" tie tac.  He was accompanied by a much younger "asian" bride who smiled and giggled at his stories about elementary and high school.  In retrospect I am not sure she even spoke english.  Upon arrival -literally -he asked me to sign his yearbook-which I guess I  failed to do when we graduated. Apparently he had harbored that bad memory for years!

But my real surprise memory story of the evening was by a guy I did not recall at all and who was not even in our graduating class, but which leads me to my final "Observation" about memories.  This one harkened way back to an incident in elementary school. 

At the very end of the evening as people were beginning to leave my "Faithful and Obedient Companion" said "Jim...you remember David Mullen and Mary Flanagan don't you"?  I did remember Mary, she  was a classmate of mine, but no one I was ever really "friendly" with.   Barbara then said "This is her Husband David" who was a classmate of mine (Meaning Barbara's), and he also dated your sister Ethel for awhile".  Frankly I did not remember him at all.  Apparently he was a couple years behind me at both Frankford and at my elementary school H.R. Edmunds.  My sister Ethel I  guess dated him after I went away to college.

OK so where does this lead??

Well suddenly "David" proceeds to recall an incident I had long ago forgotten ...from 6th grade at "Edmunds" elementary school.  He said one of his best memories  from there was the day I fought "Jimmy Reggierio (sp?) in the schoolyard and  I left him a very bloodied  nose and lip and maybe  a shattered ego?  I forgot that Jimmy was always a wiseass bully everybody (especially younger kids like David) had hated.   I then indeed remembered that whole scene when Jimmy decided to punch me in the gut for just "being" around his favorite spot.  I hauled off and proceeded to land a few very effective punches back. I guess several younger kids had happily witnessed that scene.  Who would have thought?

So my final Observation is this.   Like stones throw in a pond that leaves ripples...  one never realizes that even the strangest incidents can leave  a lasting impression on others.   Whether it be an unsigned yearbook slight or an elementary schoolyard brawl.  Incidents we have long forgotten but have left memories that last a lifetime to those we meet along the way.

With that I bid you

Adieu