Friends.......and enemies......

I recall Ronny Johnson beating me up pretty bad more than once- bloody nose etc.  One time I came home looking very worked over- black eye and bloody face and Jody and Lanny headed for the door when they heard that Ronny had pummeled me.  They brought him back to our house at the back door.  I was standing at the top of the stairs and still so upset that my body was shaking.  I can’t recall who leaned into me so that my shoulders were braced between them and the wall- it helped get the shaking under control.  They did it without words and it was intended as an act of kindness.  I still appreciate that.  I recall mom asking Ronny why he did it and he said “because I don’t have a mother.”  Cheap line but he was likely right.

Gillan

Jody had the best looking girl friends. Roseanne was my favorite.

Monte

Mont ... I'm glad you were too young to do anything about my girl friends. I was always very lucky in that department. Who was that girl you and Gillan had the hots for ... Lorie ?

Jody

Laurie Russel was originally Marji's friend.  Tammy and Darcy were siblings.  Tammy married a guy most of us thought was a jerk (I can almost say his name- there it is- Conrad Henenger, right?) but he was incredibly kind to Tammy and was really there for her with her crippling disease which put her in a wheel chair and not long after it ended her life.  I had heard that Laurie also passed away but don't know. 

Gillan

The big controversy with Laurie and I was that I asked her to a New Years Eve dance when she was 14 and I was 16.  It became a hill to die on for everyone involved, particularly me.  We stopped dating when she turned 16.  She and Monte picked up from there.  Do I have that right Monte?  Or would you rather not recall?

Gillan

I recall Lori and Gloria Jarus having a really intense rumble in Gloria's front yard one day.  It was a "down on the ground, dirt in your eye" kind of deal.  I recall a shoe being used as a weapon by Gloria at one point and I remember the Smiths cheering Lori on.  I think Gloria secretly wanted to be a Smith- maybe it wasn't so secret.

Gillan