This could very easily have been the first story of my Facebook (*FB) connections that I shared. After initially signing up for (*FB) and not knowing how to navigate on the site, the very first person I discovered from my 1964 Rockingham High School Graduating class was none other that Donna Tuthill (Tut). Yup, this was Ron Tuthill’s (THE ROCKET HIGH SCHOOL ALL AMERICAN FOOTBALL STAR - AND ALL AROUND GREAT GUY) little sister. While in high school, I did not know Donna well as friends, but I always DID like her. She was cute, too.

Donna was always smiling, vivacious and just plain BUBBLY! My remembrance of her is her perfect-every-hair-in-place flipped-up brown hair and a deep and resonate alto toned voice. As I remember she, Nancy Stanley (RHS ’64) and Gayle Coln (RHS ’64) were all fairly close, as in, “went everywhere with each other.” Oh well! Why not?  They were all cheerleaders for the mighty, mighty Rockets. You know what? Having just recently attended my 45th class reunion, I can truthfully say that I recognized all three of the above three ladies from across the room. To me they looked like they did in 1964. To me, they’ll never, ever change.

During our first contact, my first question was to ask if she was the same Donna Tuthill whose Dad had owned Hernando’s Hideaway, and was she Ron Tuthill’s (RHS ’61) little sister. She assured me that she was one-in-the-same. Even though we had not been friends in high school, Donna had always, for whatever reason, been nice to me, and she always issued to me an invitation to her birthday parties (dances) that her Dad had given her at Hernando’s Hideaway. The invitations were always appreciated. They were always such fun to go to. Donna always made me feel welcome, as did her Mom and Dad. In other words I was comfortable at these dances and never felt out of place. I also loved to dance and there were always plenty of girls there to dance with, if we guys could just get over being nervous about asking them for a dance. And besides, she (Donna) was a cheerleader, and what guy in his right mind didn’t want to be around the cheerleaders, and God forbid we might even get to dance with one of them?

I knew I had no chance at a dance, a date, a hug, or God forbid a kiss from a cheerleader at any time in this century; therefore, I just never asked any of them for a dance, a date or anything.  That was OK though. I was fine just mingling with them and being at Hernando’s. Besides, Donna’s birthday parties were always a really good dance and party to be attending. Donna has since explained to me that one of the main reasons a lot of us guys never got a dance, date, etc. was simply because we did not ask. ASK!!! WHY ASK? ASK A CHEERLEADER? YOU GOTTA’ BE NUTS! She also told me that Charlie Yow (RHS ’64) and Buddy Webster (RHS ’64) shared with her the same sentiments (both these guy were quarterbacks on the Mighty Rocket’s football team). Most of us knew dang well that if asked their answer would be NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! And we knew our teen male libido would never have been able to cope with such rejection. Furthermore, their refusal to our humble request would have resulted in instant death. You see my point? Charlie and Buddy were the two darn quarterbacks on the football team. If they had felt the same way as I had, I knew DANG WELL why I didn’t ask.

Looking back after all these years and having had a son and a daughter both, I’ll have to admit that Donna was right!!! What were the cheerleaders, or any of the other girls for that matter supposed to do, holler across the dance floor, while the beach music was cranked up on a 45 or playing on a big Wurlitzer Juke Box, and point to one of us and say, “HEY YOU! GET OVER HERE? I WANNA DANCE WITH YOU” - HA!!!!!

Donna now picks at me for having what she considers to be such a good memory. She still can’t believe that I remember her bringing a 45 (record) to school in the 7th grade in Mrs. Nicholson’s room and showing it to everybody. Donna always had a very good collection of 45’s, and this was a memory that really wasn’t hard for me to recall because the title of her 45 was “Oh, Donna” by Ritchie Valens. She still says she can’t believe she took it to school and that I can remember her bringing it.

I discovered after reconnecting with Donna that she and I both shared a mutual love for Beach Music, Shagging, OD (Ocean Drive), and everything that had to do with the beach and OD in general. We swapped memories of dancing at The OD Pavilion, The Pad, Fat Harold’s, Robert’s Pavilion, The Cellar, etc. I’ve been to all of them except Fat Harold’s. I knew where it was, I just never went. The OD Pavilion and The Pad were my favorites. The problem with going to The Pad was I had to get a fake ID to get in, but I was always able to borrow one from someone (thank God, Mama (Theo Smith) never knew - I THINK!).

I haven’t been to the beach in years, and OD specifically. I told Donna I just had not had time. She began to encourage me and my wife to make our pilgrimage to OD and also invited us to Fat Harold’s in particular. You see, Donna now lives within minutes of the OD Pavilion and Fat Harold’s. As her profile on (FB) states, “If you are lucky enough to live at the beach, you’re lucky enough…” Fat Harold’s is one place and landmark I really want to go to just to say I have shagged there, too.

HA- HA!!! - DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! -
FINALLY THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A CHEERLEADER TO DANCE - MAYBE EVEN TWICE - ONCE WHEN MY WIFE AND I MAKE OUR PILGRIMAGE TO FAT HAROLD’S & ANOTHER AT OUR UPCOMING 45TH REUNION! - GUESS WHAT - I ASKED & THE CHEERLEADER SAID, YES! TO BOTH!
WOW!!!

I also knew that this would not upset my wife, because she knows how I love to shag. Gail (my wife) doesn’t know how to shag, and she just never has cared if I shagged with other girls as long as I slow danced all the slow dances with her. My first shot at dancing with Donna would be at our upcoming reunion in a month or so. Yup, a cheerleader had actually said she would dance with me.

When I finally saw Donna for the first time in 45 years at our recent reunion, I instantly recognized her all the way across the motel lobby. She evidently recognized me too and came straight to the table where my wife and I were sitting. When I stood up to greet her, I really couldn’t decide how I should greet her. I didn’t have to decide. She reached out and gave me the biggest hug. I’ll never forget what she said to me.  “You don’t know how glad I am to see you again!” It suddenly dawned on me that (FB) had now again allowed me to once again find another of my high school classmates, and not just any classmate, but one that would become a very special and close friend. While she was hugging me, I felt a warm tear on my cheek that had fallen from her eye. GOHLEE! She is really, actually and genuinely glad to see me and was sincere.

The night of the reunion supper and dance came, and before I could get to her, she came to my table and got me. “Let’s go!” she said. I don’t think we got over five steps from the table. - Never made it to the dance floor - We just stopped and started to shag right there next to one of the dinner tables to one of dem good old beach tunes. My mind instantly took me back to our high school days, and it was flooded with a multitude of old “OD” (Ocean Drive) memories and of dances there long ago. The Pad, OD Pavilion, Robert’s Pavilion, The Cellar. Gosh, all those places were such fun. I even got to shag with her a couple more times that very same night. One day soon I’m gonna’ get to shag with Donna again and slow dance with my wife at Fat Harold’s, too. Then my pilgrimage will be complete.

By the way, this girl (Donna) can dance! Nothing fazed her! Turns - Nothing Fazed Her! She was good! DANCING WITH A CHEERLEADER! NO DANCING WITH A GOOD OL’ (NOT OLD) CAROLINA GIRL & A CAROLINA GIRL DONNA IS THE EPITIOME OF)! I had a ball! I just hope I didn’t hold her back. When we finished, I politely thanked her, and was going to return to my table. She grabbed me again and proceeded to hug me and kiss me (right in the mouth).

DANG! -
‘A HUG, A KISS, A TEAR, & A DANCE WITH A CHEERLEADER ALL IN ONE NIGHT!!!!!”


EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK 45 YEARS!

THANK YOU GOD!

Again, had it not been for (FB)!!!! I would have never reconnected with this old classmate, and I would never ever have experienced the special friendship that we’ve developed. - What can I say! WELL!

FORGET THE CHEERLEADER SYNDROME FOR ONE MINUTE! THE MOST IMPORTANT  THING TO REALIZE ABOUT THIS ENTIRE STORY IS NOT THE CATCHY TITLE, BUT THAT I HAVE ESTABLISHED A REALLY, REALLY GOOD & LIFELONG FRIENDSHIP WITH ONE SUPER CAROLINA GAL!

THANKS, DONNA FOR BEING MY FRIEND!

SEE YA AT FAT HAROLD’S!