Kevin Travis: Author/Dog Lover/Sports Writer

THE HUDSON YEARS. CLASS OF 1983 (Part 2)

It seems like just yesterday...well, maybe it seems like close to 30 years...that we donned the blue caps and gowns and strode across the stage to accept our high school diplomas. I'm sure you all remember me. I was the dashingly handsome, somewhat quiet, rugged, masculine, 110-pound guy who drew quite a round of applause. This was me then.

As many of you see the picture, I sense you saying, "Ohhh yeah, now I remember that guy. Yeah, he was kind of nerdy." While others are saying, "Mmm mmm mmm. I remember I should have gone harder for that guy. He was a stud muffin and a half. He may not have been the most muscular guy, or the smartest guy, or the most popular guy, or...what was I saying again?..."

I do remember going across the stage, and a band began to play in my honor.

No. Wait. I take that back. These young fellas jammed out during a Talent Show. My talent? I sat in the audience and daydreamed about which lucky lady would get to go to homecoming and prom with me.

On a sidenote. We had Tom Petty in our school. Tom FREAKING Petty. How come we didn't get HIM to perform at any of the dances??

Back to homecoming and prom. I was asked by many, by the likes of these pretty ladies who so desperately wanted to be seen walking arm-in-arm with yours truly....

Jackie Young. So nice and pretty, seen here daydreaming about me. Well, probably not.

Wendy Wolff. Crazy pretty and nice. No wonder she was Homecoming Queen. Here she is staring at me as I walk into history class. Well, probably not.

Here Wendy is, with Sam Anderson, who was crowned Homecoming King. I took runner-up. Or something like that.

Becky Spooner. So pretty and nice. Seen here talking to her friends about me. Well, probably not.

Kim Shaw and Denise Plascik went out of their way to get my attention. Well, probably not.

As did Janet Lasher. So pretty. Wait, this was for Halloween. Yeah, she didn't do this for me. Hmm, now I feel a bit silly. But the girls, oh how the girls did try to woo me.

The beautiful Sarah Wilson tried to use a chart, and science from some classmates, to figure out a way to get me to go out with her. Poor thing never solved the equation and ended up settling for John Oberlin... the buff, blond, blue-eyed Hudson Explorer star.

Oh, homecoming and prom were so fun. I really cut a rug. I remember the ladies just staring at me with wide-eyed fascination.

Heidi Rubin and Lisa Bottke were so darned excited to see me walk through the door. Wait. Maybe it wasn't me after all.

There I am at homecoming doing a jig. Wait. Is that me? Did I have blond hair back then? Was I tall? Huh.

Oh, but me and Kendra Schaffer boogied the night away. Let me tell you! Hold on. Hold on. This is awkward. That's not me. That's not me at all.

I couldn't dance with just one lucky gal. I had to spread myself around, like I did with Cary Stauffacher and Meg Riley. Don't they look gorgeous? And don't I look handsome? Wait. That's not me. I don't know who that is. Scratch that whole thing. Where the heck was I?

Probably doing something athletic, like playing basketball and beating my brother, Scott, one-on-one.

Nice, "fro," Kevin. Now I know some of you are thinking, "Oh yeah, the kid with the wild hair. Yeah, he was nice. But kind of odd."

I was athletic, after all. I'm sure you remember that. I was quite the basketball player.

Oh yeah, I just watched from the stands. Remember Donkey Basketball? Good times. Good times.

However, I did get on the football field once.

Of course, it was as a cheerleader for Powder Puff football. I'm on the top row kneeling over, to the right. Billy Cuthbertson is topping the pyramid.

But anyway, where the heck was I during homecoming? Work? No. Game? No.

Hold up a second. I got it. I know where I was... wondering where the heck all of YOU were!

MULE TRAIN!! BoxCar Willie was nothing short of brilliant.

Anyway, I did actually go to prom. Only one lucky lady got to escort me to prom. Of course, she wasn't from Hudson. I will not release her name to protect her. But I think she wasn't exactly dazzled by the light blue tuxedo my mom suggested I wear. (Needless to say, I remained as pure as the driven snow that night. Ahem.)