Sophmore Year in High Scool and Cost Rica
Moving on with my reflections on life.

High School Sophmore year was an eye opening born again experience for me. It was the beginning of 3 wonderful happy years. It was a complete turnaround of school life for me. It was a time when my whole spirit got revitalized and self confidence soared like an eagle. It was when the real personality of Don Ladolcetta fought its way out of its shell and the person that most people know as Don Ladolcetta today, was formed. Wow.

After a year of being invisible as a freshman, I began to realize that my days of being teased by my school mates was over. I had a lot of good friends at the school and I was about to make a move that would secure a guaranteed positive social life for the rest of my time there. I joined band.

Don Koehler - a St Cyril's chum had told me about stage band and I watched the kids play the great music and I said I want to do that. Don played trumpet and I signed up for trumpet in Sophmore year. as a kid my parents made me take guitar lessons and as a result I had a real good music foundation, so all I needed was trumpet skills and I was in. I knew I was a year behind everyone else and so I had to play catchup, so when I had the chance I practiced all the time and joined every musical I thing I could. I loved the sound a trumpet made and I listened to Herb Albert play and I was inspired. The additional wonder of it all was that as soon as I joined the band I met a ready made bunch of friends who became my extended family. These were great people who were nice to me and they wanted a social life too. Now when I went to school I knew there would be a pile of people ready to smile and say hello and sit with me for lunch. We did things together on weekends and we stayed every day after school to practice and have a few laughs. they were beatutiful times. Another benefit was girls. they belonged to the band and as a result of being part of the band I automatically had the right to strike up a conversation with them without being shunned or laughed at. I learned in Sophmore year that girls were not only interesting people, you could actually talk to one up close and if you were witty enough you could make them laugh and that was such a head trip. I loved thinking on my feet, walking up to a girl and provoking a smile or a laugh out of her. I started off slow at first but before long I found I could do it on a regular basis without much effort and with no negative affects whatsoever. This was the coolest thing ever. And there were plenty of girls in band to practice on and all different kinds from the plain and mousy to the gorgeus and vibrant. I didn't discriminate. I worked all the girls. Now don't get me wrong, I wasn't dating these girls, cause I was still too naive and afraid to take the next step but I was working on my future skills and I was getting good at it, And before long my life looked like it was taking the turn it was supposed to. I started to have normalcy. I had friends (boy and girl) I had direction. I had confidence. I had fun. My three year in the band were the best in my life. I no longer felt sorry for myself and the future looked great.

The band performed in so many ways. jazz band used to go to other schools and play daytime concerts during assembly.
Pep band used to play at all the football games. Pit Orchestra played at all the school musicals. Brass choir traveled to churches and played at religious functions. And of course there was orchestra and concert band. I practiced hard at these things and got to join all of them. I worked hard at them and watched, as over time I moved up slowly from 3rd trumpet 4th seat upwards toward the ultimate goal of 1st trumpet 1st seat - the one Ed Canava used to have and the one I could never get but I was always nipping at his heals for it.

I played music for the nicest man on earth - Michael Nardotti - our music teacher. This man was a saint on earth, a mentor, a friend, a father figure, a leader. he never yelled, he loved music and he loved the kids that played for him. he was always inspiring and always trying to help you do better. I wish I could tell this man how he touched my life and made it so rewarding. While he was my teacher, I never thought to say to him "Gee Mr Nardotti, thanks for all you do" It's only 30 years later, long after he is dead and gone that I can lay this tribute on him. If there is a heaven I am certain this man is there and he is playing the most heavenly music in the most heavenly orchestra.

There were other teachers too, Like young Sister Sheila, chorus director who was never meant to be a nun - her parents made her do it. It was good for her that she eventually left the convent and got married. I thought she was pretty. Of course my upbringing made sure that I treated her with nothing but the utmost respect and dignity. She was a special friend too.

OK so now you have the foundation for what the rest of my high school life was like. I will talk about Junior year when I get back from Costa Rica. the family and I are taking a little vacation there.

OK Don. you don't like the heat, you don't like the sun, you don't like humidity, you don't like the jungle. you like civilization and airconditioning, a good meal, a nice nap. So what in God's name are you doing flying to the equator to vacation in the jungle of a 3rd world country.

I am going to be sleeping at the bottom of an active volcano that I am told makes booming noises all night so you can't get a peaceful sleep. friends have told me of cockroaches the size of grapefruit crawling on the walls of their hotel room and watching with fascination as the big wild iguana swoops out from under the bed and scoops them up in from of your eyes. These friends have shared stories of being stalked by jaguars while on a hike.

I have recently watched travel channel shows on Costa Rica and see strapping young healthy explorers freaking out at how hot it is along with huge amounts of bugs bites they had. These same shows talk about the huge volume of poisonous snakes and third world roads with potholes as large as cattle. My guidebook says I should wear a money belt to guard from pickpockets in the small villages surrounding the country.

I am going to this place. Am I crazy. Tune in next week because when I return I will regale you with horror stories of my life in the jungle.

Love to all.