In 1979 (I think), the McCracken fam (then four in numbers) migrated from my brithplace of Reading, PA up PA222 to the once barren now thriving metropolis of Wescosville. I wish I could say it was all downhill from there, because it would be easier to write, but alas it was not. (*sigh!*)

It wasn't long before I befriended a few of the Shepherd Hills neighborhood ruffians. Chris Alexander (last heard from in 1983) and Scott Weaver (picture at left) among them.

My sister was born in March, 1982. I stayed down the street with a friend while my parents went to the hospital. On that same day, the man across the street died from a heart attack. I remember standing out front and watching the ambulance...

• Recieved my first athletic award, the Shepherd Hills Sharks Coaches Award (swimming), at the age of eight.
• Once scored a fade-away three pointer from the corner to win a YMCA basketball game. Got chewed out by the coach: I was supposed to have passed the ball to his son.
• Captained my fifth grade homeroom lunchtime volleyball team.
• Switched from piano to clarinet in fifth grade, four years after starting lessons.
• In my last official move as a Boy Scout, I won the Minsi Cup Triathlon at camp the summer before seventh grade.

In Junior High I first became involved in band. I played clarinet and tenor sax and in ninth grade, I was vice-president of the Eyer Junior High School Band (stop laughing, please) as well as in jazz band. A group of us started hanging around each other regularly. It led to first girl/boyfirends for most of us. Minus the ones I don't remember, they were Andy Dundin, Brian Hahnlen, Ed Jalowiecki, Kim Morgan, Kerri Picken, Kevin Ruch, Danille Sauerwine, Andrea Schoedler, Danni Tigges, Scott Weaver, and Heidi, who's last name I don't remember...

At Emmaus High School, 'Home of the Green Hornets' covered the side of the gym like a giant stereotype. The days I went there, students couldn't complain enough about it, but after the fact, I think it's fair to say most people love the place. Come to think of it, that seems to be a pattern in life... From 1990-1994, I managed to be in band, swimming, indoor colorguard, lifeguarding, teaching swimming lessons, orchestra, jazz band, french exchange program, SADD, saferides, and national honor society. Oh, yeah, and I graduated from high school, too.

My closest knit group of friends was known as the Shepherd Hills Posse (SHP). It would be fair to say that I have enough stories for a lifetime from this crew. All that awaits my creating an SHP page...