{"id":789,"date":"2011-06-12T14:58:16","date_gmt":"2011-06-12T18:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=789"},"modified":"2025-04-18T09:52:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T13:52:14","slug":"end-of-year-festivities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=789","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 23: End-of-Year Festivities"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Senior Banquet and the Prom<\/h3>\n<table class=\"floatleft\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"60\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/td>\n<td width=\"414\"><strong>\u201cJam On It\u201d by Newcleus<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375886788807\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/Newcleus-Jam-On-It.mp3\">Newcleus &#8211; Jam On It<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>The 1984 Marching Band Banquet was a bittersweet mix of farewells and anticipation of going to college for us seniors.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16853\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16853\" style=\"width: 402px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16853\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-portrait.jpg\" alt=\"Me and Doug at the Prom\" width=\"402\" height=\"604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-portrait.jpg 402w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-portrait-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-portrait-399x600.jpg 399w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16853\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Me and Doug at the Prom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I got a Senior Award, and they showed a nice slide presentation of the previous season, and I was in it a few times. Just a few weeks remained of school as I knew it.<\/p>\n<p>That night, I asked Mark if he\u2019d consider escorting me to my Senior Prom, but he reluctantly declined.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, he was a \u201cteacher\u201d and the pairing would be considered inappropriate. I understood, though we were both disappointed.<\/p>\n<p>The June 1 Prom was fast approaching, so Doug the drumline captain and I decided to go together, along with others from our bunch. Mom took me shopping for a drop-dead red sweetheart-top cascading floor-length chiffon gown in May.<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, we went for Chinese food. Mom spared no expense in an effort to ensure that I could experience all of my milestone events.<\/p>\n<p>I modeled it for Dad in the living room\u2014it was the most mature and elegant attire I\u2019d donned in my 17 years. After all, this event was once-in-a-lifetime!<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately &#8230; Mom was sick in the hospital the night of the big event. So her dear friend and fellow nurse, Florence Schiffman came over to bring me to the salon to have my hair done, and back home to dress.<\/p>\n<p>It was she who helped me with my makeup and took pictures of me and Doug when he arrived, driven in his brother John\u2019s Volvo. It was she who sent me off with a hug and kiss, and said, have a great time tonight.<\/p>\n<p>The first stop was St. Peter\u2019s Medical Center, and the two of us strode through the hospital hallways in full Prom finery, Doug in a black tux with tails and top hat. We caused quite a stir.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16856\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16856\" style=\"width: 581px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16856\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-table.jpg\" alt=\"Our table at the Prom\" width=\"581\" height=\"523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-table.jpg 581w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/prom-table-333x300.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16856\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our table at the Prom<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When we got to Mom\u2019s room, all she could do was smile and cry. I gave her a kiss, she bestowed her well wishes for the night, and then we were gone. How it must have broken her heart to be stuck in the hospital for this special evening.<\/p>\n<p>The next stop was Anne\u2019s, where six of us and our dates assembled on the front lawn for pictures. Then, on to the Dorian Manor we went.<\/p>\n<p>We all had a BLAST! The Class of \u201984 rocked on with food, drink and dancing.<\/p>\n<p>The favors were small wine glasses engraved with <em>East Brunswick 1984 \/ Follow You, Follow Me<\/em> (Genesis song dedicated to the evening).<\/p>\n<p>Afterward, we all hit Denny\u2019s for a late-night snack and to relax. Doug gave me a rather chaste kiss goodnight on my doorstep around 3 AM.<\/p>\n<p><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>Inevitably, I\u2019d been thinking about what it would have been like to have Mark as my date, though Doug had been nothing but charming, gallant and gentlemanly, the perfect escort.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a>&#8220;When Doves Cry&#8221; by Prince<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375810716453\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Prince-When-Doves-Cry.mp3\">Prince &#8211; When Doves Cry<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<h3>Final EBHS Bear Band gig<\/h3>\n<p>There was a ceremony in East Brunswick for some sort of dedication, and the band was asked to play for the event. Of course, that meant one last performance with my snare.\u00a0Well that day was so hot, I began to feel faint as I stood there during the ceremony in uniform with everyone else.<\/p>\n<p>Before I knew it, I was on my butt in Glen&#8217;s arms, and Josh (aka Spike) grabbed my drum before it could hit the ground. Mom the nurse was on the scene in moments with an ammonia amp.<\/p>\n<h3>Grad Party!<\/h3>\n<table class=\"floatleft\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"60\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/td>\n<td width=\"414\"><strong>&#8220;Tell Me I&#8217;m Not Dreamin'&#8221; by Jermaine Jackson<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375886788807\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Jermaine-Jackson-Tell-Me-Im-Not-Dreamin1.mp3\">Jermaine Jackson &#8211; Tell Me I&#8217;m Not Dreamin<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure id=\"attachment_992\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-992\" style=\"width: 435px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-992\" title=\"Dancin'\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-party1.jpg\" alt=\"Dancin' (probably to &quot;Thriller&quot;)\" width=\"435\" height=\"268\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-992\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dancin&#8217; (probably to &#8220;Thriller&#8221;)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_993\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-993\" style=\"width: 435px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-993\" title=\"My graduation party\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-party2.jpg\" alt=\"My graduation party\" width=\"435\" height=\"362\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-993\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Clockwise from top: Merle, Anne, George, Steve, Dave, Henry, Mark and Randy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>June also brought my graduation blowout at the Summerhill Inn (now the Cambridge). All my friends and most of the family were invited.<\/p>\n<p>Mom and Dad wanted to throw me this celebration because Mom by this time knew that she would not live to see the biggest party of my life \u2026 my wedding.<\/p>\n<p>That night was filled with fun, DJ music, presents, food and dancing. The one song that reminds me of that party (and my relationship with Mark, who was there of course) is Jermaine Jackson\u2019s <em>Tell Me I\u2019m Not Dreamin\u2019<\/em>. I was NUTS about it.<\/p>\n<p>We danced to <em>Footloose<\/em> by Kenny Loggins, <em>Close (To the Edit)<\/em> by Art of Noise, and <em>Borderline<\/em> (I hated this song) by Madonna.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as that song came on, my friends yanked me out of the booth to the dance floor\u2026 needless to say I was having too good a time to resist.<\/p>\n<p>What a night. My mother was delighted, wearing her neck brace and dancing with us.\u00a0My brother let his catchy Michael Jackson imitation rip, and Dad dutifully took movies with our new video taping apparatus. Gone was the super-8 movie camera.<\/p>\n<p>We had dinner, danced, had cake, opened gifts, and then danced some more. Looking back at this event, I feel deeply grateful that my parents put this together. It was the culmination of childhood.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4500\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4500\" style=\"width: 984px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4500 \" title=\"Happy graduation!\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-cake1.jpg\" alt=\"Happy graduation!\" width=\"984\" height=\"602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-cake1.jpg 604w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-cake1-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grad-cake1-600x367.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4500\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Happy graduation!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>By the time things broke up around 11, I said goodbye to everyone and thanked my parents for an awesome party.\u00a0I announced I wanted to go out with Mark afterward. Mom just gave me a wink that said, \u201cHave fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was to be our hottest night yet. What I remember most about being with Mark after the party was getting pretty busy in his car in the dark shadows of Willow Street.<\/p>\n<p>I didn\u2019t return home until early the next morning. Except for my own exhaustion, I saw no consequences.\u00a0Mom and Dad knew I was leaving for college within a matter of weeks and correctly assumed I was adult enough to handle myself. My feelings for Mark were powerful by then.<\/p>\n<h3>Graduation and One &#8220;Hot&#8221; Summer<\/h3>\n<p>Finally, the time had come for the Class of 1984 to leave the hallowed halls of East Brunswick High.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_995\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-995\" style=\"width: 1026px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-995 \" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grads-on-field.jpg\" alt=\"EBHS Grads-in-waiting\" width=\"1026\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grads-on-field.jpg 579w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/grads-on-field-300x174.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-995\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EBHS Grads-in-waiting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Senior Skip-Out Day<\/strong> was observed by those of us soon to be \u201cfree.\u201d Graduation rehearsal took place on the football field one warm afternoon, and we waited in line for instructions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_994\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-994\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-994\" title=\"Receiving my diploma\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/cap-gown.jpg\" alt=\"Receiving my diploma\" width=\"400\" height=\"485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/cap-gown.jpg 350w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/cap-gown-247x300.jpg 247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-994\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">&#8220;Thank you, sir!&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Unfortunately, I felt a mammoth case of cramps coming on, and had to excuse myself to return to the building. I\u2019d lived through this type of monthly kamikaze before, and no way was I going to be stuck sick as a dog on the field in front of all my classmates.<\/p>\n<p>As I reached the school, I let myself inside and felt the cold sweat and the stiffness setting in. Unfortunately, for some reason, the door to the Girls\u2019 Room in that wing was locked.<\/p>\n<p>In misery and my mobility now increasingly compromised, I dragged myself into a classroom. These cramps hit like a loaded E8 locomotive. Within moments I was on the floor, limbs stiff and perspiring profusely.\u00a0I knew I needed help. Of course, the button to call the school office was conveniently placed five feet higher, on the wall.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing I had to do something fast, lest I pass out and be found mummified the next morning, I belted out the most alarming word I knew:<\/p>\n<p><strong>FIRE!!!!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A janitor responded to the call of distress and he immediately summoned help. I was wheeled to the nurse\u2019s office, where I was given just what I needed\u2014ibuprofen and a cool compress on my forehead.\u00a0Mom, who by that time was home from her hospital stay, was by the school in a jiffy to take me home.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_996\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-996\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-996\" title=\"Enjoying a post-graduation sundae at Farrell's\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/farrells-grad.jpg\" alt=\"Enjoying a post-graduation sundae at Farrell's\" width=\"400\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/farrells-grad.jpg 455w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/farrells-grad-239x300.jpg 239w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-996\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A post-graduation sundae at Farrell&#8217;s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Naturally, I\u2019d missed grad rehearsal, but I assumed it was more or less a glorified follow-the-leader that I\u2019d pick up quickly.<\/p>\n<p>The next day was sunny and beautiful. The school band played \u201cPomp and Circumstance\u201d and our Alma Mater as we 1984 grads filed onto the football field wearing our caps and gowns (white for the girls; green for the guys). <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SbyurRHIle4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The video of the event may be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The stands were overflowing with happy families and friends of the graduates.\u00a0We joyfully tossed our caps high into the air following the disbursement of the diplomas.<\/p>\n<p>I realized &#8230; this is it. I would never again set foot in East Brunswick\u2019s \u201cHome of the Bear\u201d stadium as a student.<\/p>\n<p>Mom, Dad, Steve and I had pictures taken and devoured ice cream sundaes at Farrell\u2019s afterward. I was now a high school graduate. It was an odd feeling to be between two life stages, my &#8220;kid in school&#8221; years and college\/adulthood.<\/p>\n<p>Popular from the summer after graduation were <em>Miss Me Blind<\/em> by Culture Club, <em>When Doves Cry<\/em> by Prince, <em>Ghostbusters<\/em> by Ray Parker, Jr., and <em>Breakin\u2019\u2014There\u2019s No Stoppin\u2019 Us<\/em> by Ollie &amp; Jerry.<\/p>\n<h3>Summer of Mark<\/h3>\n<table class=\"floatleft\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"60\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/td>\n<td width=\"414\"><strong>&#8220;Close To the Edit&#8221; by The Art of Noise<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375886788807\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/The-Art-of-Noise-Close-to-the-Edit.mp3\">The Art of Noise &#8211; Close to the Edit<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure id=\"attachment_14279\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-14279\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14279\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-357x600.jpg\" alt=\"Mark and me\" width=\"400\" height=\"672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-357x600.jpg 357w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-179x300.jpg 179w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-768x1290.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-914x1536.jpg 914w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me-1219x2048.jpg 1219w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Mark-Me.jpg 1250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-14279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pretty cozy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, Mark and I were getting together several evenings a week. The first time I saw him play professionally was one night at <em>The Captain\u2019s Wheel<\/em> in Edison when my dad brought me to listen for a few hours.<\/p>\n<p>I usually went with Mark to his drumming gigs with <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thechatterband.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chatterband<\/a><\/em>. One time we drove down to a Center City, Philly club.\u00a0Paul Martone, the lead singer, was a ham and always got great crowd response.<\/p>\n<p>I would sit and ogle Mark as he played drums, completely digging him. I\u2019d await breaks in the sets so we could steal away for a steamy intermission.<\/p>\n<p>Whenever I was approached by any guys at these places, I\u2019d politely decline and explain I was there with the drummer. I felt like the proverbial groupie.\u00a0One song that always reminds me of seeing Mark tear it up is Huey Lewis\u2019 <em>Heart of Rock \u2018n Roll<\/em>. Pump that bass!<\/p>\n<p>I also went to see Mark perform in the percussion ensemble at Jersey City State College.<\/p>\n<p>I was extremely impressed. (He would continue with a wonderful career in concert and pit percussion, as well as set drumming.) We stole away quite a bit whenever we could, one time going to a lake to be alone but the mosquitoes found us soon enough.\u00a0Another time we went sailing on the bay in Lavallette, and spent the evening together at his sister\u2019s beach house.<\/p>\n<p>That summer was filled with seeing Mark and final college preparations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4505\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4505\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4505\" title=\"Chatterband-1980s promotional photo\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/chatter-258x300.jpg\" alt=\"Chatterband-1980s promotional photo\" width=\"400\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/chatter-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/chatter.jpg 325w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4505\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1980s promotional photo; Mark on lower left<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Soon, a mountainous cache of necessities had accumulated in the family room. This included clothes, 2 bedding sets, new foam pillow, &#8220;Hot Pot&#8221; (for those Cup a Soup and Ramen cravings), drumsticks, down winter coat for long waits at the PRT stations and walking on campus, and other supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Mom and I finalized the student loan apps and double-checked lists. Things were boxed, labeled and ready for transit.\u00a0She saw to it that everything was done. Her guidance with this was invaluable.<\/p>\n<p>I also had a job over the summer doing telephone market research for R.H. Bruskin &amp; Associates, a New Brunswick firm, in a last-ditch attempt to fill my account before leaving.<\/p>\n<p>I gave Mark a couple of 21st birthday gifts including Skittles (his fave candy) and <em>Off!<\/em> insect repellent, a humorous nod to the bugs\u2019 rampage on us during our most recent passionate lakeside foray.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Chapter 24: Lucille &amp; Lori Hit the Road\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=799\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Chapter 24: Lucille &amp; Lori Hit the Road<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-13050\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/drum-avatar-thumbnail-sm.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" \/> <a title=\"Return to Memoirs\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=13681\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Return to Chapters<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior Banquet and the Prom \u201cJam On It\u201d by Newcleus Newcleus &#8211; Jam On Itmap :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false} The 1984 Marching Band Banquet was a bittersweet mix of farewells and anticipation of going to college for us seniors. I got a Senior Award, and &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=789\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Chapter 23: End-of-Year Festivities&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14160,"parent":4,"menu_order":24,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-789","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=789"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17664,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/789\/revisions\/17664"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}