How N.W.A. Led Me Back To High School

LinkedIn is high school without graduation. Regardless of that, different sections have different music. It depends on who brings their speaker to work. I was surprised to hear Dopeman.

This led me to say "This is the song we danced to at prom". I said the same thing about Body by Megan Thee Stallion. Some actually believed me. I mentioned the whites in my school would have been scared by rap music.

They put their fists in the air to Bonjovi- I doubt they would have sought any music marginally subversive. A classmate famously suggested a heavy metal themed dance. The class, at the least the uptight, laughed at him.

They asked for themes and no one else stood up to make a suggestion. It would have been loud and fast opposed to Bonjovi who truly was The first Boy Band.

Those thoughts have been covered. A throwaway reference about high school around 8:30 in the morning led to a high school dream. It took place in ninth or tenth grade. I was late for school. Not too late. They made us stop and wait during prayers and morning announcements.

I did not notice who was giving the announcements. It wasn't the principal. It would be nice to hear his voice again. It also wasn't a faculty member who pronounced "Sophomore" as "Soph-a-more" as if there were a tenth grade Girl Scout Cookie.

Deciding not to wait- my classmate Tim decided not to wait either and we headed to our lockers. What are they going to do? It's odd that in my high school dreams the same classmates are there. Wouldn't they have moved on? Did they have to make up for all the missed classes?

This was not a "Fifth year of high school" dream. It probably took place back then and I have not spoken with Tim in the modern era. He was in many classes in freshman and sophomore year. We were in different classes in junior and senior year so I saw less of him.

I bumped into him as my descent after the divorce was culminating. Of course no one knew about the Hell my father wrought. Seeing Tim I noticed that we hardly see each other. He said "It's different."

That's true. It might have been a relief because I got on his nerves occasionally. He was civil and the statute of limitations on my aggravating behavior should have run out. I would not know how to contact him and certainly hope he is doing well.

Which is an accurate recollection of school. I recall no classes and talked to good classmates. That's what high school was really about. Teachers acted like it was something else. What resonates? The conversations and engagement with classmates. Even if it only happens in dreams. At least it happened.