if (EEPROM.read(0) == 255){
// blank, no initial data stored, so put some in
EEPROM.write (0,21);
// etc for initial positions or something
}
else {
// move the the existing start data into variables
start1 = EEPROM.read(0);
start2 = EEPROM.read(1);
start2 = EEPROM.read(2);
// or whatever
}