August 21st about 4:30 am I will be leaving my brother's house, closer to Falmouth by about 90 minutes, and heading south to the junior high school to catch a bus to the Woods Hole start line along with 12,000-14,000 other runners. We'll begin the 7-mile route to Falmouth Heights and then have to walk a mile or two back to our cars. Fun.

If you would like to make a donation wisely and effectively, you can head over to the fundraising page with the link here and make a difference with me.

You’ve got to come back with me! Back to the future!” – Dr. Emmett Brown in Back to the Future

In 1973 I was a senior at the University of Massachusetts, living in Amherst for the summer, taking some classes, and my career as a sports reporter for the Daily Collegian had ended the previous winter when I completed the season as the beat reporter for the swim team. (See, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.)

In the process of cleaning out some files, I came across a yellowed newspaper column I authored that appeared in the UMass summer newspaper The Crier. You can decide if it is actually my first Weblog.

I retyped it for you and it appears below. It has been slightly edited to be more politically correct or to help clarify an obscure reference.

Remember that it was written by a college kid almost 50 years ago in a very different world than we live in now.

GOING TO CLASS: This occasional one-day-a-week habit that you now have, could be almost a daily event with a little effort. Such things as reading newspapers and writing letters to the guy or girl you left behind can make the time spent in classes almost worthwhile.

STUDYING: Now by this I don’t mean bringing your books to the Bluewall Pub for a few beers. The new library, the tallest in the world, is a fine place and if you put in an hour a day there, by September, you should know your way around.

WALKING: In view of the anticipated parking fee increase, it might be a good idea to try this ancient ritual. It could be a way that will lead you to interesting places-try the cow barns on for size. This activity can also be coupled with practice waiting for the bus, just so you have it down pat when September comes.

READING: The mere fact that you’ve made it this far in the article proves you have real potential as a reader. There is more to life than foldouts and cartoons you know.

HITCHING: If you are a girl, this can be a great way to meet new people. If you are a guy, this can be a great way to feed your smoking habit by bumming a cigarette from everyone who picks you up.

WAITING IN LINE: Try this at Friendly’s if you want ice cream, or McManus’ when you want a booth to eat your number 3 breakfast in peace. The management of both places have consented to making the lines as long as possible.

SHOPLIFTING: This is an old favorite here at Umass, especially at the Bookstore. You can try this if you really don’t give a damn about your education, because that’s what it will cost you.

GORGE IT: Chesterfield Gorge is right from the movie "Deliverance." You can frolic, picnic, drink, explore and swim there, not to mention kill yourself if you’re not careful.

SUGARLOAF IT: Mt. Sugarloaf on 116 is best known for its inspiring views of the Pioneer Valley. You won’t see many pioneers from its observatory, but you’ll see a lot of tobacco fields.

HOLYOKE IT: Skinner Park at the top of Mt. Holyoke is twice as far away as Sugarloaf, but twice as nice, plenty of tables and a splendiferous view. It’s a must once a summer.

GRASS IT: Remember in high school it was either parking or grassing? Well, since it costs so much to park these days, grassing is recommended—it’s free. Orchard Park is a sentimental spot for many people, if you watch out for the bugs, horse manure and falling apples, you’ll be all set.

PUFFER IT: Puffer’s Pond is kind of notorious. It’s buggy, dirty, and crowded, except for skinny-dipping late at night. It’s your only alternative if you haven’t been successful breaking into the Pufton Village pool.

POND IT: Around the world-famous Campus Pond, is still the easiest place to find a plot of earth to collapse on. In case you were wondering, it became world famous by having two more swans than the University of Connecticut campus pond.

TOWN IT: If you are desperate, you can walk into town and watch all the high school kids act like college kids and all the elementary school kids act like high schoolers. Town is also a great place to wish you weren’t in Amherst for the summer.

FORGET IT: If you’ve tried all this and still wish you weren’t here, forget it because you still have another six weeks of school left, and besides the Patriots will be here any day now, taking their wedding rings off and playing ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ around campus.

FAKE IT: Speaking of the Patriots, this one’s for the guys. Pretend you are a star for the New England Patriots. Just remember some girls do know their football and pick someone who might look like you in terms of height and weight and shoulder width.

COOL IT: Next time it pours in Amherst, probably in five minutes, grab a bar of soap and a can of beer and run outside to shower in the rain. The only possible side effect is pneumonia.

STRAIN IT: Your heart that is. If you still smoke and drink it is a little risky to get out there and jog around campus, besides you need a really distinctive hat to be noticed at all.

BLAST IT: This is a Umass tradition. It consists of putting your favorite record on your new stereo, aiming the speakers out the window, and forcing your music on everyone within five miles of your room. It was made famous in Southwest Residential Area.

LOVE IT: Still the most popular indoor or outdoor sport, and aside from preventative measures, make sure you are good at remembering names

LIVE IT: You still get to spend at least two months of your life this year in Amherst in the summer. So, whatever you decide to do, live it up for yourself, because no one can do it for you. 

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