The Port Arthur Package

Introduction • Chapter 1 • Chapter 1-Page 2 • Chapter 1-Page 3 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 2-Page 2 • Chapter 2- Page 3 • Junior Year • Junior Year-Page 2 • Junior Year-Page 3 • Junior Year-Page 4 • Head Hunters • Black Friday • We Beat Beaumont • Sweethearts • Wrapper Page 1 • Wrapper Page 2

"Our Sweethearts"

Any story about high school would be incomplete without mention of the real reason we were there, the ladies. Education, sports, and the future – all were well behind the main priority.

If it is true that a person is the product of their environment, then these young women were from a terrific environment. They were good people in many very important ways. Compare in your own minds, the females of that era with those of today. The basics are, of course, the same. But in those times there were no tattoos, nose, lip, or eyelid piercing, and worst of all no cleavage. The ladies of the day were completely dressed, well mannered, funny and smart. I wonder why were attracted to them?

Our female partners were there for us too. They were dragged to ball games and beaches, parties and movies. Rain or shine they were there and ready. They were tough in a very feminine way. They marched in parades and ran around the car at stop lights on the drag. They made things for us and rolled houses with us, and froze to death on the rides at the fair. No quitters there.

I would like to express my feelings to a very small group of wonderful young women who chose to spend their valuable time in my company. I never failed to feel important and welcome in their presence, and we always seemed to have great times together. They were very attractive, extremely intelligent, and feisty.

If I had it all to do again, sure, I'd avoid a few pit-falls along the way. But, from the one who walked with me to school from the age of six; to the one who played a great game of ping-pong and hated to lose; to the one whose hair was the color of fire and shook all over when she laughed; I say this to you all- I've not forgotten. If other fellows have half the great memories I've got, they are lucky guys.