Introduction

Preface

The names, places, and the chronology of events have been changed to protect the innocent. Keep in mind this is a work of fiction since good stories are best left to the imagination. Sometimes a little mystery is better that the truth. These stories are inspired by events from my high school life. If you went to Kadena High School in the 80's, you might recall rumors about similar exploits. However if any of the events seem too real, it's just pure coincidence.

Prologue

I write these stories for the people who had affected my teenage life and to thank them for the memories. The encounters may have been good or bad for me at the time, but in hindsight each episode became a very memorable experience; the culmination of which, helped to make me the man I am today.

This is also a tale about an average group of friends who's knack for fun and survival during those awkward days happen to make a good story. When I joke around with my friends about our days at Kadena High School, we always tend to laugh. There are always those moments that we all remember, that made me wonder if others outside of my close circle of friends would like to hear it. Well if you'd like to read about those tall tales, then these are the stories for you.

Looking back, it's easy to realize that it's really not about how popular you are or who you were seen with at the time. It's about those precious moments of time that you never forget, that gave you inspiration, that made you sad, that made you angry, that made you smile, that made you stronger, and that helped you define who you really are. It's also about the life long friends that you make on the way.

For me, my "right of passage" occurred on a small rock floating on the western hip of the Pacific Ocean.

I am Okiboy Mike and this is my story.

Thanks

Special thanks to all the Okiboys: Anthony, Chad, Arman, AnthonyM, Tom, Rick, Chris, Joe, Jimmy, Brian, Halex, Greg, Albert, Ed, Bob, Dave, and Don. Thanks to the girls: Becky, Heather, Tina, Chantelle, Jennifer, Beth, HeatherH, Michelle, Maria, Debbie, Kristi, Ronni, Amy, Tish, Tami, Carolyn and Robin. I'd also like to thank all the other unmentioned people in the story whose names I can't remember.

Special thanks to my parents for their love and for letting me hang out with the gang, my kids for being a strong motivating factor, and to my wife for putting up with a guy who talks big, but never finishes anything. Let's hope I can finish this one.