THREW Mikes EyEz

Original Writings, Images, Video and Artworks of Mike Hartley

Tag Archives: dailyprompt-1905


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HS plus 50

The daily prompt asks – Describe something you learned in high school.

Now there is a question that is asking me to go back a lot of decades. I went back and looked at the answer I gave to this question 2 years ago in a post called Early Learning, so I thought I’d give an update to that being my reunion was after that post.

We had our 50th HS reunion last year. Here are a few things observed or heard and learned.

I almost didn’t go to my own reunion. One of my closest classmates and friends passed away. Another best friend and some other close ones in those days also weren’t coming because of distance and funds. There were a few neighborhood friends that were going so that was enough for me to say yes.

Wow, people change. Thank goodness for nametags with pictures from our senior year. At the same time some people stay remarkably the same.

Lots of people moved away or stayed for a while and then moved when they retired.

It was nice to see how easy it was to pick up some conversations with the ease we had in high school. But with an adult version. Watching people smile about family and professional updates.

There were laughter and smiles. Hugs and photos. Arnie and Mike stood side by side again (tallest and shortest guys in our class).

People spoke of trips or wishes for trips. There was a slide show and group photo.

Some were still trying to impress. Some had grown into comfortable adults.

Some retired, some working, some unwillingly retired because of health.

Lots of classmates had died. And in the few months right after that we lost 3 more.

It was a pretty good turnout and time for a class that was a bit apathetic. Of course, those were troubled times and a lot of troubled families.

Severn River Sunset. The sun has set on a lot of people. Photo by Mike Hartley


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Learned

Describe something you learned in high school. – The daily writing prompt is asking me to go back into the memory banks for this one.

I learned so many things during those years. Not all of them in class.

I’ll start with an odd one. I learned how to type on a typewriter. Yep, back then (early 70s) a room full of clacking typewriters. When taking this class (on the suggestion of my mom) I couldn’t imagine how big a part of my life it would be. For it’s the start of my IT career.

I didn’t use it immediately after high school but a few years later when early PCs were being introduced it was easy to remember those skills and they took off.

Actually, that was the first time I got suspended in high school. Somehow in the first semester I got the hang of it well, so I started to skip a class here and there. Got a B in the first quarter. As my twisted logic worked back then I thought I had some wiggle room, so I skipped a few classes. I was cruising along doing well on tests the second semester but got suspended for a few days, when I got caught missing too many classes.

Over the years I got pretty good at typing and I’m sure I hit triple digits in speed. But my fingers have aged and injured over the years and I’m back into double digit speed.

No this isn’t my keyboard. Photo by Mike Hartley

I also learned I like taking photos. I got on the yearbook staff and took some pictures that year. Luckily, I kept that passion and have returned to photography after retiring.


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Early learning

Describe something you learned in high school. – Asks the Daily Writing prompt today.

This is going to take me back. Interesting question with our 50th HS reunion next year.

I learned everything and nothing.

Photo by Mike Hartley

High School was a chaotic time. Further complicated, by my use of drugs and booze. I had a lot of great times but many wasted opportunities. No pun intended.

Let’s see, I learned to type (on a typewriter) which I thought would be a useless skill needed in my future but it turned out to come in very handy in my professional career. Thank you, Ms Boone.

I learned I liked the arts and photography. Thank you, Mr Perrine.

I learned that at some point I had to serious up. Thank you Mr Streagle.

I learned I liked fast cars and the opposite sex, not in that order.

I learned I would love sports for the rest of my life.

I learned I could do better but was lazy at learning or afraid to compete, and I was too busy having a good time.