"Strobe light dancing"

I have so many memories of Craig, but there are two stories that stick out in my head. As many band members knew, I had the biggest crush on Craig my sophomore year. I remember one day when Craig needed a ride home. Since I was only a sophomore, I wasn’t allowed to park in the school parking lot and I had parked across the street in a neighborhood. I was thinking to myself, “What a great day for Craig to ask me to take him home!”

My dad had let me borrow his brand new truck that day and I thought I looked pretty cool driving it. As we got in, all buckled up and ready to go, I thought I would be cool by stepping on the gas pretty hard and driving away with power!! I put the truck in gear and slammed the petal down. Little did I realize that I was in reverse. My truck flew backwards up on to someone’s lawn, missing the mail box by inches. I was so extremely embarrassed. I thought I had blown all chances with Craig! But of course he was as sweet as ever and helped me to laugh it off.

On a different occasion, Craig had organized a group date to get together and dance. I went with Craig, and there were other couples from band there too. The night started out with some ballroom and swing dancing, just casual and fun. Well, Craig got this awesome idea to “dance with a strobe light”. So we turned all the lights off in the church gym, and he turned the strobe light on. I have to admit it did look pretty cool. Then he got even more creative and suggested that I do a running jump into his arms, just like the professional dancers do. So I went back about ten feet, he counted to 3, and I ran to jump in his arms. Well, strobe lights tend to distort your perception, and when I thought I was close to Craig, I jumped, he reached out, and we missed each other by a good four feet!!! HAHA I was on the ground laughing so hard, and of course Craig was so sorry. It was a good idea, but I don’t recommend jumps and lifts in “strobe light dancing”. ; ) Love you Craig! You will be missed.

--Amber Haycock