Back in the Day
Posted on February 18, 2015 Posted by John Scalzi 24 Comments
This is a picture of a Christmastime choral concert at my high school, roughly 30 years ago. You can tell it’s from Christmastime because of the otherwise utterly-nonessential-for-southern-California scarves the singers are wearing. I am in this picture. Can you find me?
(Here’s a larger version of the photo, if you need more detail to locate me.)
Photo by my friend Norm Carnick.
The smirk makes it too easy. :)
Yeah, the smirk is pretty much a dead giveaway.
You’re the guy on the left, standing, with your arms crossed, looking over your left shoulder.
Looking a little creepy there, if you ask me.
Are those…velcro sneakers?
Youth! Bright eyed and full of promise. We were so optimistic about life back then.
Optimistic about life? At that age, I was primarily concerned with getting laid on a regular basis, and my chances of achieving that were consistently low. So no, I don’t think I was optimistic…
@RPF – Velcro sneakers? You make it sound like that’s something from the past! :) I currently have 2 pair of Velcro sneakers – and I also have 2 pairs of these – http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dr.-Scholl-s-Men-s-Michael-Air-Pillo-Gel-Velcro-Shoes-Wide-Width/11963870 – yes, velcro DRESS SHOES!
I do like the Popeye arm effect that your (knit??) sweater gives you
So not only is there just one guy (you know who, no doubt) with a smirk, but over on the right side there’s a girl with her hand over her mouth. Seems like there’s a story there.
Nice! I particularly appreciate the fossils as backdrop.
There must have been a dress code. Nary a “Jesus and Mary Chain” t-shirt in sight.
Andy Farke:
Well, but you would, wouldn’t you?
(Context for everyone else: Andy is the curator of the Raymond Alf Museum, in which the concert in the picture was held.)
Is your collar turned up? I knew it. PREPPIE!
That cynical look on your face as you’re watching everyone else sing is a dead giveaway. No, I did NOT look up the answers first.
Yeah, the crossed arms and the smirk were a dead giveaway, and I’m so bad at looking at old photos I probably wouldn’t even recognize myself.
I guess it’s sorta my job…
Just one request, it’s “holidaytime”. Let’s not limit this to a white male christian holiday.
Michael Enright:
In this particular case, if I remember the choral selections at all correctly, it was indeed a Christmastime concert. Webb was (and is) non-denominational, but it was also a private school and, 30 years ago at least, had a default-but-not-really-pushy Christian tilt to it.
I almost had you pinner as the guy in the back row in a black shirt until I realized that was a girl. Compliment totally meant. but yes, the attitude on your face has been seen before: replicated in a photo of Athena.
To answer:
Yes, it’s me to the left of the choral group, arms crossed, with a little smirk on my face. Well spotted, people!
Pretty sure those were not velcro tennies, because I’m pretty sure I had a copy of the exact same shoe, back in the day, and they were tie-them-strings types.
On the other hand, wudda I know. There could have been a philistine velcro version…
As I get older and more get-off-the-lawnish, I find myself looking more and more for shoes that look more and more like the ones John had on in that picture, and less and less like the ones they want to market with “air pockets” and “jump-high pump-pouches” or whatever it is these darn kids these days are wearing.
As a black and white photo, it is hard to identify your red&white striped sweater and matching toboggan cap.
Reblogged this on oshriradhekrishnabole.
nice :)