high school – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

I know the X is the A to Z nemesis, but I think I have a good take on X. X Marks the Spot. I thought I would share with you a few places in my past that were the center of my universe.

First, my high school. Plano Senior High School. Here ‘s a little story about my high school.

As I sit in Vogueing Corner (we were weird kids), contemplating my place in the inner circle I helped create, it hit me. Dude, your in high school. Relax.

That kind of explained my high school years. Straight edged rebellious fun peppered with quantum life contemplations and pretending to understand what a statement like ‘quantum life contemplations’ means. We always felt a little superior to those around us. We were a group of amazing, beautiful and creative people and I am blessed to still be able to call on them for some fact checking and recommendations.

Second, Park & Preston. Heres a little story about the intersection of Park and Preston, in Plano, Texas.

From the age of 13 – 18, I darted back and forth across Park & Preston sometimes several times in one day. The Chili’s was on one side of the street. The movie theater on the other. Actually, there was a movie theater on both sides and a pizza place, too. My first job at Kroger was on that intersection along with my best friends job at the movie theater, my other best friends job was at Subway and my other best friends worked at the McDonalds on the corner. No wonder I have a problem with sitting still for any length of time. We darted back and forth and back and forth, again. I should be grateful to have had a lot of experience navigating, darting traffic and learning when to stop, when to walk and when to run for my life.

These two spots were my life from the age of 13-18 and then I left home, but when I look back and think about those times, you know what. I can’t complain. I had it pretty good.

Do you have fond memories of your adolescents years?

Flag Pole Hill is a cool little park my friends and I hung out at when we couldn’t think of anything better to do. I never knew until I got older the history behind the area. The park was built in the 1930’s and is still the highest point in Dallas. Kind of cool to think people were hanging out with friends and having picnics in the same my friends and I hung out 80 years before.

“Mich, did you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“Stop eating and listen to me.”

“Ok, what?”

“You’re never going to believe it.”

“You’re probably right. Hey, give me that back.”

“I will, after you hear the good news.”

“Ok, what’s the good news.”

“We got a gig.”

“Oh my god, that’s awesome. You deserve a hug.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Where’s the gig?”

“I can’t believe it, it’s finally happening. I knew it was only a matter of time.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

“Me, too.”

“Where’s the gig?”

“You know, you’ve always believed in me.”

“Aw, I love you. Of course I believe in you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Where’s the gig?”

“I can’t wait to see you on the front row. Wear something sexy.”

“I will, but where’s the gig?”
“And, after the gig, we’ll go out and celebrity.”

“Definitely, but Jeff, where’s the gig?”

“Flag Poll Hill.”

“Yeah, Flag Poll Hill.”

“The park, where we hang out all the time and where you’ve played countless times. That’s your gig?”

“Yeah.”

“Who hired you?”

“Mike.”

“Mike?”

“Yes, Mike. Stop repeating everything I say.”

“Your best friend, Mike?”

“Yes, what happen to supportive?”

“What did he hire you to play for?”

“His birthday party.”

“The birthday party we planned?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well, is he paying you?”

“Paying me, he’s my best friend. I can’t charge him.”

“So, let me get this straight. Your first gig is playing at a park we hang out at all the time for a party that we planned for your best friend for free.”

“Yeah, ain’t it great.”

“You’re so pretty.”

It’s still one of my favorite places in Dallas. Do you have any hangouts that have lasted since high school?