Wow, how does one recall events that happened 35 years ago?
Recollections from Barb (Griffin) Germak
For me, a few cherished memories feel like only yesterday. Here’s a few that I could say made it all worthwhile…
- One particular pep rally my sophomore year… the senior cheerleaders selected me to be blindfolded for an “apple eating contest”. Only problem, it was instead a caramel covered ONION!!! Well I can assure you that was the worst tasting “apple” I have ever tasted. So a couple years later, It gave me great satisfaction to disrupt another cheerleader’s pep rally. Our banner that we (the girls swim team) had created and were to stand behind, ripped apart halfway into the pep rally! The resulting impact was obvious… signs of anger and disgust from cheer captains etc. If memory serves correctly, we collectively raced (and I mean raced) for the exit hoping that NO ONE would see our half naked bodies in swimsuits! The only satisfaction we got was to piss off all the cheerleaders, so to that end, I guess it was mission accomplished (sorry all you x-cheerleaders!)
- Some particular swimmers might recall the painful, if not torture session, inflicted by our coach Tom Schwere, when he decided to apply “Icy hot” to our shoulders and legs prior to entering the hot showers. The resulting double heat felt like a blowtorch to my extremities and was a painful reminder of my time at CHS.
- Who else remembers the chorus practice when Julie Schmidt and I couldn’t stopped goofing off so John Dehann threatened us with thumb screws! I recall Julie’s voice solo as one that nearly had me pissing my pants!
- Another fun recollection for me and a few girlfriends, was getting stopped by an Illinois State Trooper on our way home from a full day of skiing at Chestnut Mountain. This party on wheels took a new spin when flashing lights quickly filled my rear view mirror. Just minutes from the bridge, we quickly tossed whatever “evidence” we had out the window! As the officer approached, I rolled down my driver’s side window, only to release a large blast of smoke engulfing the officers head. This Cheech & Chong moment will be one I will cherish. I’m happy to report, no ticket was issued. Guess he was having a good day!
Barbara (Griffin) Germak
Do you have a memory from those hazy-lazy school days? Jot it down and send it in and you too can be featured here in…