The boyo simply won’t have it with pictures these days unless it’s a serious occasion, so this will have to suffice in place of the annual back to school photos. 11th grade! How in the world is that even possible? Junior year of high school for me in 1987 was one of the finest and happiest of my entire life.

The friends, the girlfriend, Weightlifting class, which was a hugely transformative moment in my life as you may have read in my book, “Revolution Calling.” The cool teachers, the music that filled our ears, yeah, even working at Super Thrift. This is the year my writing teachers (Paul Day and Steve Hollands, I’m looking at you) saw something in me and brought out the best in me, making me read everything I wrote in front of the class. I owe those guys so much.

At the mall, at the movies, concerts, hiking trails, cruising around 140 shopping center all night until the cops chased everyone away then the whole silly swing reformed 15 minutes later. METAL! Lots and lots of heavy metal. Making out, making mischief, swapping my Van Halen cassette tape for the Spanish tutorial in Senora Kirchensteiner’s class. Three or four man mosh pits. Bridging with the punk rockers and becoming a united force. All the ladies who sought my counsel since I carried an empathetic ear. All the horror freaks like me who flooded the cinema together. God, the 80s ruled.

My kid often wishes he could visit the 80s as much as he’s content to do his own quiet thing, now working part-time himself and no doubt happy to have people his own age to talk to instead of bickering with us old farts all summer long. I look at today’s generation and try to avoid that fossil view we all tend to have looking at those who come after us, hoping they will carve out their lives and their own bittersweet memories, shaking our heads at their ongoing apathy. It’s the vicious cycle.

Bro, may you have an incredible 11th grade as you pre-enlist for your future in the Army. You’re an absolute punk, but you’re so loved. Senior year is only the corner!

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.