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Last month SilverStringer Don Norris published a photograph of his 1948 Melrose High School football team, which appeared in the sports section of the Boston Herald. It just so happens that I have similar copies of the high school teams for the years 1940 (Boston Globe) and 1941 (Boston Post). As I reviewed the names and faces of teammates of some sixty-five years ago, it is interesting what comes to mind. First of all, the won and lost records don't seem so important any more and the aches and pains of this gruelling sport also fade from memory, unless one suffered a serious injury. (Of course, my brother Bob won't forget his 1942 and 1943 football team records since they went undefeated both years.) What I did think about - and it really hit me - was the amount of time that is devoted to playing high school sports. Regarding football, for example, the season begins around the last week in August and continues through November, with the final game usually played on Thanksgiving Day. Practice begins right after school classes, from around 2:30 up until 5 p.m. or so - every day of the week. And just think about someone like SilverStringer Russ Priestley, who played football, hockey and baseball all through high school. Just one final observation: I think it is remarkable that Don Norris and I still have these mementos of so many years ago. In my case, my Mother kept a scrapbook for me which began at birth and continued through school, military service and up until I was married. The remarkable thing is that I was one of ten children - the big question is was I the favorite and favored child - or did she maintain scrapbooks for all. I decided not to pursue that question with my siblings. September 1, 2006
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