I first met Nicole Perez at Beavercreek High School during our sophomore year that began in the Fall of 1987. She and I were in Mrs. Joyner’s math class together, along with her friend Lance – who would later become my best friend over the next year. I immediately liked Nicole for her dry, witty, and occasionally biting sense of humor. It wasn’t long before the three of us were speaking a language of our own. And besides that, she was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever seen.
Over the next few years in high school, we shared several classes culminating with Mr. Gevedon’s math class during our senior year, in which she sat directly in front of me. I was happy to enjoy her company as we would chat during class ‘down time’ every day. We even once worked on a class project together and had to go see a speaker at some location off campus.
Although she was no doubt the apple of many young male high schoolers’ eye, there had been only one whom she dated throughout high school. In fact, they had first started dating during her eighth grade year at Ferguson in 1986. His name was Mark Harris and he too was one of the nicest guys you would ever hope to meet.
I didn’t know Mark all that well during high school, but when all three of us attended Wright State University following graduation (although Mark had graduated the year before Nicole and me) – I was able to get to know Mark a lot better as we would often chat between classes. Our usual topic of discussion was music. He was also a fan of Depeche Mode and actually sold me his own Johnny Marr shirt, which I would wear proudly.
Today, as if in a fairy tale, Mark and Nicole have been happily married since 1994 – with two great sons (five-year-old Ethan and eight-year-old Kieran) and a third one on the way, due in February 2010. I hadn’t seen Mark and Nicole in well over ten years at which time I coincidentally ran into them when I was working at the Dorothy Lane Kroger. But on Saturday, August 8, 2009, I had the chance to meet up with them once again when they went over to our mutual friend Heidi Maynard’s house in Beavercreek for a cookout.
Kieran and Ethan…the wild boys are calling…
With Nicole, who twenty years later, looked about three years older
Enjoying some red cabernet with my old pal Mark
It was a great evening that saw their two boys intermingling with Heidi’s three girls on the trampoline, under the apple trees, by the creek, and around a somewhat weak campfire – but one adequate enough to make s’mores. I found it amazing to find that neither of them had changed in the slightest. Somehow only aging about two or three years over the last ten, they were both still two of the nicest and funniest people one would ever hope to meet. The only difference now was that they were now successful adults – in marriage, family, and employment. She’s a school occupational therapist in the Northmont school district and he’s an elementary art teacher in Kettering.
But we all agreed that it’s hard to believe that we are now officially adults. Time melted away somewhat that evening as we all just seemed to skip over the last twenty years just for a couple of hours. Mark and I still talked about music, but now we added the more timely and ‘adult’ subject of kidney stones into the mix. They are still two of the coolest people in the world, and it would be my pleasure to hang out with them again.
Old BHS churned out some pretty good folk. Me, Heidi, Mark, and Nicole. Lance couldn’t make it unfortunately.
Continue to the next reunion…
Return to August 2009…
Great Duran Duran reference. Two thumbs up.
Aaron
September 8th, 2009
WOW…Nicole looks amazing!!!! People age well that we went to school with…must have been that Beavercreek water supply. 😛
staceysoleil
September 9th, 2009
Wait…is that Heidi in that pic too? Damn, she is looking pretty McFly herself!!! Beavercreek Babe Alert 😉
staceysoleil
September 9th, 2009
Next time I’m in Ohio – I am definitely making rounds with my longtime friends!
Lance Patak
September 9th, 2009
It was awesome to see them again. Thanks for getting me involved, Brad. You forgot to mention how cool their kids are, too. Although, who would expect anything less from the coolest people BHS churned out? Oh yeah – and Kieran took that amazing picture of the 4 of us.
Thank you Stacey! I would like to add that Mark also still looks amazing!
And, Lance – you better!
Heidi
September 9th, 2009
I’d like to add for the record that not one person has said that I look amazing. Just sayin’.
Brad
September 9th, 2009
LMAO…awww, BRADLEY! You are the cats pajamas, the cats meow, oh no wait…The Terrible Catsafterme 😉
staceysoleil
September 9th, 2009
Everyone knows you always look amazing, Brad. It goes without saying.
Heidi
September 11th, 2009
We had such a great time with you and Heidi. Neither of you have changed a bit. It’s not easy to find people who can endure my warped sense of humor. I felt like a kid again being around you! Like the movie, Cocoon!Mark always loves to talk shop (music) and discuss “The Stones” to anyone who will listen! You are too kind with your words. Truely, a man of many talents – and those are just the talents I am privy to!
Nicole
September 14th, 2009
Hi there, This is Anjali Mediratta Brannon from Beavercreek High School – a year younger than you all. Great post! Can you put me in touch with Nicole? She has been on my mind in a strong way the last 2 days and I feel I am supposed to reconnect. I would really appreciate it. Thanks! Anjali
Anjali Brannon
September 11th, 2013