Weldon E Howitt High School - Hi Life Yearbook (Farmingdale, NY)

Page 28 text:

19 December 1981 With the obtrusive clang of a bell, first period had begun. Students straggled in and threw themselves into their seats. The teacher slammed an iron hand down on his desk to end all other activities. Notebooks opened, texts arose. All attention focused on factoring some obscure bunch of numbers. My attention wandered elsewhere. A bag of M M’s cleverly sand- wiched inside some kid's notebook held a magical lure for me. As the teacher droned on about the prophecies of Pythagoras, a hungry hand silently reached out, fingers desperately pushing and probing to reach that all important bag of M M s. Going without breakfast can drive anyone to desperation. The M M's dangled just beyond my reach. So close, yet so far..... It was not the passing bell that sent me swiftly out of the room. It was hunger—quickening, crazed hunger. I popped gum from a girls purse, stole Starbursts from some hapless fool's back pocket, snatched a Snickers from an unsuspecting sophomore, when suddenly it hit me—I was a junk food junkie. I needed a fix desperately! I frantically searched the halls for the neighborhood supplier, one of those Angels of Mercy selling candy bars for some teacher's Abscond-to-Florida fund. A soda, a pretzel. Some- thing, anything! Nothing could be found. From the dim annals of my memory, a quote came to me and I yelled through the commons, My kingdom for a Coke! No response. I huddled in a corner and closed my eyes, visions of Doritos dancing in my head. I could almost here the Devil whispering in my ear, Give me your eternal soul and the cafeteria is yours! Desperately I darted to the cafeteria and pawned my soul for a bagel, a bag of potato chips and a fruit drink. So what if I needed the money for my elderly grandmother's hernia operation? She'd get over it. I just needed the fix because I'm .... a junk food junkie!!

Page 30 text:

Renaissance It began with caution. The idea was planted. Slowly, plans ex- panded, and before long we were experiencing a Renaissance of school spirit. Homecoming week end was becoming a reality. In addition to the traditional Green and White Day, the Pep Ral- ly and Homecoming Dance were added. (In reality this was just a revitalization of a tradition sus- pended 20 years ago.) Most stu- dents were optimistic and viewed this as a sign of things to come. “I think this signals a rebirth of school enthusiasm long awaited in Farmingdale. It shouldn't have been this long in the coming.” Jackie Mosca, senior, proclaimed. Green and White Day started the weekend as green and white- clad students hurried around pur- chasing matching carnations at 75 cents each. There wasn’t one car- nation unpurchased by third peri- od, only broken stems lying hap- hazardly in the halls. On November 6, the 1:35 bell rang, setting the student body free to participate in the pep rally held seventh and eighth periods. 87.22 tons of uniformed football players were cheered on as they pounced through a huge loop. The March- ing Band, Dalerettes, cheer- leaders. and gymnastic team helped the crowd become enthusi- astic. Andres Gomez, the winner of the chocolate and banana cream pie eating contest, was in- debted to the Girls’ Leaders Club for their luscious contribution. “I just entered the apple dunking contest with Jerry Clinton to add to the spirit. I never guessed we would win!” exclaimed Patty Rod- gers, senior. The celebrating continued that evening at the Homecoming Dance, Farmingdale’s first in sev- eral years. Once again the Com- mons was crowded with enthusi- astic students as the King, Queen, (continued) Despite the fact that they lost, everyone was proud of our football team for giving such a valiant effort. The Pep Band did an excellent job in leading the crowd in enthusiastic cheers. The pie eating contost vt-asTirjgpf the hPre'popi lar attractions at the Hom Rii tivities. Her Paulo Scagliarini ravages a chocoljte cream pi Homecomi