BF: Slowly Gaining Confidence!

As a student at Ben Franklin Junior High, I definitely felt excited to be there - ya know, out of elementary school and into "real" school. I'll be honest - looking back now I definitely wasn't ready - too young - but when you're going to school with a certain group of kids since kindergarten and kids that you really like, you can't imagine it being any different - yet you see everybody getting a little ahead of you socially. Seeing people I grew up with - like Eide, Rimmer, Petrucci, Katie, Vuke and so many others - I was embarrassed sometimes - they all seemed like they were actually 7th graders and I thought they as well as many others - were so cool.

While I felt older, I definitely wasn't sure how to navigate the halls of BF. 7th grade was hard in this way, 8th was a little easier and 9th I started to feel like I fit in and definitely felt better about myself.

Probably one of my biggest faults even to this day, is that I really wrap myself around things - it could be anything - I have always worn my heart on my sleeve, I definitely get enthusiastic about things - wish I was more low-key. That's not to say I am ignorant just, well, I love being with friends and with people I genuinely like.

I look back on BF and wish I could go back and be part of the paper - Franklin Speaking - or be able to show that I was capable of more things than some thought I was. I was definitely more caught up in trying to fit in and allowed my grades to suffer as a result.

Above - me and my dad around 7th grade - we were attending a baseball dinner - the guset speakers were Bobby Cox (played for the Yankees before he made history with the Braves) and Bobby Richardson. Smile Ricky!!!

By the time I reached 10th grade I was beginning to sew my oats a little - got some confidence suddenly - making up for lost time! I was cutting classes - going to Renato's for lunch, smoking by then. Even started sneaking liquor into our dances (we had great dances with live bands but they stopped doing them because of some fights and probably because they knew we were drinking too!) Despite all of this - I never really changed - I was still myself which is to say these things didn't change my personality - I was a likeable guy and I liked everybody - I was not trying overly hard to be cool - I just, well cut class, drank a little, smoked - I can't explain it but my teachers liked me and so they cut me a break - lucky for me and my folks had so much patience.

I remember one time at RHS while Mrs. Beckett wasn't looking (remember Mrs. Beckett? - Mr. McCutcheon's secreatry - loved her!),  I grabbed 2 special absence/admission slip pads when she looked away. I used these to get out of class - gosh don't tell my kids this!!! Please don't think that I'm proud of this - I mention it because here was this shy generally quiet guy who was able to do these things - I marveled at myself. Mr. Mac used to marvel at me too and in spite of myself continued to cut me so many breaks.

When I was a junior in high school - I think this was my epiphany year - I began dating a girl - from Paramus - I was feeling, well - so happy about my social life, love life and suddenly my academic life began to turn around - it was funny really. Even having the confidence to ask a girl out that I liked but didn't know - Robin Sleeman who was a junior and she said yes!

 It was late in my junior year in high school - I was still struggling to get a grip on my studies and Mr. Honsinger told me it was likely I might not graduate with my class - "What! Are you kidding me!" - this is not happening! I looked him in the eye and asked him what it was gonna take to catch up - he told me my senior year would be pretty busy but I said there was no way I was not going to graduate with my class - bring it on Mr. H! Well obviously I made it and graduated with the Class of' '73 - what a wonderful feeling - it wasn't even difficult - I just spent so much time having fun that I let my grades go.

 If I can figure out how to get some home movies transeferred to the internet - I will post our Class of '73 graduation movie - in it I am so animated, hugging people - I think in part because I was there - I made it - I was suddenly so into RHS, my girlfriend was there, some teachers came specifically to see me graduate - people would never have known I was capable of being so outgoing - I played it so close to the vest before - should have just been myself. But here I am now in 2011 and I'm loving being in touch with so many great people from my past - I swear I felt like I knew practically everyone - I enjoyed everybody - what a great time to grow up!

Artie - man I wish you were around - he knew that  we are what we are as result of so many things and one those things was our time growing up. I feel I always have to remind people not to mistake me for one who is stuck in the past - I just so enjoyed that time that - for me anyway - it is worth remembering - the tough parts as well as the great parts - the loves, loves lost, the friends, the teachers - good and bad - the whole world in front of you - the hard academic days (in my 9th grade yearbook some friends would write "Good luck at RHS - you'll need it!") - the great football games - the drivers license, the first drink. There was a time - probably when I was maybe 18 or 19 when I thought how great it would be to start over and take that "Ricky" back to BF.

Looking back now, I can see myself myself sitting in math class or in homeroom or getting snapped with a towel in gym class - hey see you guys in 41 years at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton!!!