The song I’ve chosen is I Have Dreamed from Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.” The place it reminds me of is Little Flower High School for Girls in Philadelphia.

In the fall of 1977, I acted in “The King and I” at Little Flower. It was the first play I was in, and it opened the theatre world to me. While acting in this play, I decided to take Theatre as a major in college.

I think this song does more to remind me of Little Flower than the others in the play because it’s not as well know. At least, I probably didn’t know the song back then, so it was new. The most intense feeling I get from the song (since my memory isn’t that specific) is the sense of seeing the two lovers singing to each other. It must have been the first time I saw a love song acted out in real life.

There are so many memories and topics I could discuss today as I think back to that time. Why did I audition for a play at a girl’s school? How did being at an all girl’s school affect me, especially since I went to an all boys high school? Did I date any of the girls? Well, I’ll leave these and the other topics for other blog entries.

Jeannine Schiller-Lenge
I haven’t seen Jeannine since her wedding in the mid 90′s. Marriage is enough of a reason for a woman to not keep in touch with single male friends, but I really do miss her.

I met Jeannine while doing plays at Little Flower High School. She was beautiful and intelligent, which made me naturally drawn toward her. I asked her to go with me to my Senior Prom, and she did! Over the next several years, we would meet up now and again. We’d even go a couple of years without seeing each other, and then, somehow manage to find each other again. However, this time around, it seems we’ve lost touch forever.

Terri Houser
Speaking of Little Flower High School, the whole reason I started doing plays there was because I met Terri during an event for Saint John Newman. Three boys from Roman were chosen to take part in the procession, and I got to carry our school flag. Three girls from Little Flower were in line behind us, and we had to wait for about an hour before the ceremony began, so we talked the whole time.

It was unusual for me to keep up my end of a conversation, especially in those days, but Terri was very easy to talk to and there was an attraction. She was newly elected head of the Student Council at Little Flower and quite cute.

When I did the first play at LF, Terri signed my program book and gave me her phone number. I called her to go to a party, with the hopes that we might start dating regularly. At the party, she told me that her family was moving to Colorado. I have never heard from her since.

There are a few Little Flowers that I would have like to have gotten to know better or kept in touch with…
Marianne, who called me “Bobby Bear,”
Donna, who became a nun,
Dottsie, who I never really knew but was really cute,
and the teacher who directed “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

John Lund
Joe Bonner
Mike Sexton
Mike Pascarella
Mike Minnick
My high school friends, some of whom I could probably contact via the school website, but don’t because I don’t feel worthy. They’ve gone on to have careers and families. I’ve been trapped in my own world, getting nowhere.

Joe Yukanavitch
Joe was my best friend in my later years as a boy scout. Once I left the scouts, he and I lost touch for a while, until I bumped into him on day. We caught up for a bit, then he took off on his bike, and I haven’t seen or heard from him since.

Amy Kresloff
I met Amy while working at Camp Saginaw in 1979. I do know where Amy is and have contacted her once or twice. She is another friend who married, and she has no real reason to keep in touch with me. I have a few great memories though.

Lisa “Lee” Blender
Lee was another young woman I met at Camp Saginaw. She, Amy, and I hung out together the entire summer. I saw Lee a few times after camp, but lost touch with her after a year or so. I wonder what she is doing now.

Donna Baptista
Donna was my piano instructor at Temple University. It seemed we spent more time talking about my problems than working on the piano. She was married, so I couldn’t get too close to her, but one always wonders about these things.

Albert Lucas
Albert is a world record holding juggler who I worked with at Busch Gardens. While we never were very close friends, I was glad that he considered me someone he could talk to and spend time with after work hours, even if it was just to do some computer work for him.

I’ve tried looking Albert up several times via Google and other search engines, but he seems to be very private and not much information is available. I have always wanted to continue our friendship.

I miss the support and happy times that a group of friends offered.

There are many others I’ve missed over the years. Perhaps I’ll add some to this list later.