“Have you always been this cool, funny and handsome?” is a question my kids often forget to ask me. In fact, in over 24 years, they have never asked me that question once. Come to think of it, neither have any of my friends or co-workers. But we will get to them another day. Today, we are going to focus on my daughters’ appalling lack of curiosity. They have witnessed my coolness, incredible sense of humor and amazing sense of style/handsomeness for over 24 years now. Surely, they must wonder where all of “this” began. To answer their unasked questions, I decided to bravely go to the only place that could provide definitive answers. That’s right . . . I went to my 8^th grade middle school yearbook! Between the pictures and all of my friends’ comments who signed said yearbook, this would prove beyond any doubt that, yes, I have always been “this cool, funny and handsome”. What could possibly go wrong?

Let’s start off by seeing how cool and funny all of my friends thought I was by reading what they wrote when they signed my yearbook back in 1985.

• “Don – You’re a really good friend. A little strange but you’re nice. Stay that way.”
• “Donny – You’re a sweet guy with a great sense of humor and a little weird at times, nevertheless you’re a great friend and guy.”
• “Donny – You are definitely a different person. I love your sense of humor.”
• “Donny – You’re a nice and weird friend. Stay that way.”
• “Donny – You’re a great friend . . . keep that good sense of humor.”
• “Donny – To a sweet guy with a great sense of humor.”

Hmmmm, not exactly what I imagined was going to be there and it raises a couple of questions. One – I was not aware that that many people still called me “Donny” in 8^th grade 🤔. Secondly, what exactly was I doing that was so strange/weird? On second thought, wait – don’t answer that. Seriously, please don’t answer that. Pretend I never asked. In fact, here’s $20 – let’s pretend I never brought it up.

Still, that didn’t work out quite the way I expected. “A little strange . . . a little weird . . . definitely a different person”. Hold on one sec . . . let me check my thesaurus – maybe those are another way people used to say “cool” in the 80’s. Sigh. Ok, maybe we will have to strike “cool” from the list. But I am a “glass half-full” kind of guy. Not only was I apparently funny with a good sense of humor, but I was also a great friend! Mrs. Chump will not be happy that I have documented proof of people thinking I am funny. As if I needed encouragement lol.

Ok – so let’s take a quick status of how we (I’m) are doing. Funny? Check! Cool? Mmmmm, let’s go with a Check minus (Umm, I’m grading on a curve for this one). On to handsome! For this I can only offer photographical proof – that should put all questions to rest. I will post my 8^th grade class picture below once I turn the page and look at it. Let’s see what a young Don (or I guess Donny) Conners looked like in 1984-85!

😮😯😮Oh dear me . . . what have I done? What have I wrought upon myself?

I gotta admit folks – this is going to be tough to come back from. That is just – um, well – unfortunate. Give me a minute – I’m going to need another glass of wine after looking at that. I’m sure there is something positive to say about that picture but for the life of me, I can’t think of it. And to think, I’m sending this out before any of you have even had your morning coffee/tea. I’m so sorry. ** even heavier sigh than above when I found out I wasn’t cool **.

Well, it is time for a final status check – one last report card I’m not looking forward to receiving. Funny – Check! Cool – Check minus. Handsome – Check minus minus minus minus minus minus (and sadly, that is on a curve as well).

I guess there are a couple of lessons I could take from this. One, the past (i.e. a young Don Conners) isn’t always quite as great as you might have remembered it. Doesn’t mean it was bad, but maybe a few details were slightly “enhanced” over time 😂. The second lesson might be a bit more important. How you start isn’t always how you finish. I’d like to think that over the years since this yearbook came out, I’ve improved and grown quite a bit as a person. Are my jokes funnier and more mature? No, not at all. Am I more “cool” and less “weird/strange”? Well, tbh, that probably depends on who you ask lol. But I’d like to think so. And I am pretty sure I am not the only one who has grown as a person. While I am not a diehard supporter of social media (he says as he posts links to this blog on Facebook and Instagram), it has been very enjoyable to use in watching my fellow 1989 classmates from Old Mill North (and high school) develop into some pretty amazing and unique individuals, each offering their own contributions to this world. Here’s hoping that you take a look back and appreciate the journey that brought you to today. And with that, cheers to Old Mill Middle School North (and OMHS) and the class of 1989!

And just for my own peace of mind so I can sleep at night, here is a picture I like a little more of myself (I’m the one without a dorsal fin).

Like people, some wines often improve with a little extra time in the bottle. That’s not to say the wines aren’t good when they are initially released – just that with time, some of the coarser edges (i.e. tannins) are smoothed out and some tertiary flavors that are initially hidden come a bit more to the forefront. So it is with this week’s Wine of the Week, Pepper Bridge’s 2014 Trine. 2014 Trine is a Bordeaux blend, led with 37% Cab Franc, 34% Cab Sauv and 15% Merlot. When initially released, it was noted for its firm tannins and bold acidity. Drinking it twelve years later, the tannins have integrated a bit better and more earthy/tertiary notes like leather and tobacco have come forward. A beautiful wine that has developed beautifully.

Country:	United States	Producer	Pepper Bridge
Region:	Walla Walla	Grapes	Cab Franc Cab Sauv Merlot Petit Verdot Malbec
Style:	Dry Red	Vintage	2014
Tasting Notes
Acidity – Medium Body – Medium + Tannins – Medium   Sweetness – Dry Alcohol – 14.5%   Cost – $75