Getting to Know the Neighborhood

After a long week with lots of shooting for the Observer, I wasn't totally thrilled at the idea of getting up early on Saturday for another one. The fact that it was a high school reunion, and not even my high school, didn't get me any more enthused.

But I was dead wrong -- following the parade on its short route to the school, and talking to old Woodrow alums along the way, made for one of the most fun shoots I've had yet in Dallas. There was a great small-town feel around the Lakewood neighborhood school, and best of all, this was my neighborhood.

I met Tom Hopkins (above) out in front of the school, where he was watching the parade come in. He planned on driving in the parade like he usually does (there's one every five years), but this time they'd filled all the cars already. Instead, he took up a Greaser pose against his car and sized up everyone going by. I wrote more about him in the lede of my post on the Observer blog Unfair Park.

It was a great start to the weekend, and a nice change of pace from all the concerts and press conferences. Best of all, I feel a lot more a part of this neighborhood after hearing so many great stories about what it was like in Lakewood decades ago. Crashing someone else's high school reunion ended up being great -- I'll definitely have to try it again sometime.

I also posted a slideshow on the Observer's site, including author Lawrence Wright, a Woodrow '71 grad who was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame Saturday. Steve Miller (you know, "The Joker") was honored too, but I believe he was a no-show.

Still, once again it's a little frustrating there was nowhere on the site to run this one any bigger than our slideshow holder:

...or maybe I should just quit complaining and get closer.