After several responses to last week’s column, I was forced to recognize how full of gloom and doom it was. As I wrote it, I just tried to include all the crises that came to my mind.
My sister admonished me, saying she had read my column at night and probably would not be able to sleep, and it was all my fault.
A friend called from out of town and told me that things were never as bad as they seemed. She tried to cheer me up. Another friend admitted that this was not my normal mood, being so negative.
And they were correct. I try to see the bright side of life every day and realize how blessed I am.
I have known a few persons who always saw only the thorns on the rose bushes, never the roses. This can become a habit or an addiction, to just look for the negative in everything.
During my childhood, I knew a number of people who suffered extremely painful illnesses, and yet they did not complain. These friends tried to offset their conditions by refusing to give in to them.
I often think of the saying I heard, one fellow ask another, “Do you believe in suffering in silence?”
This fellow answered, “No, when I suffer, everyone is going to know about it.”
Even those of us who try to remain positive, sometimes face times when all we see are the negatives. One of the best prescriptions for changing our attitudes is to make a list of all our blessings. Some of us would be surprised to actually recognize how many ways we are blessed.
If we have a loving and caring family, we are rich indeed. Family members who encourage us in our endeavors and efforts are jewels that cannot be bought.
And then there are our friends, who stand by us in all situations. Friends are ready to believe the best about us and continue to care about us, even with warts and all.
If we have our health, we are blessed beyond that of many who live out their days in hospitals and other care facilities. We often take our health for granted and fail to realize what a blessing it is.
While I was still in elementary school, I recall one of my teachers telling us that the three necessities for life were food, clothing and shelter. Here in our area most people do have these necessities.
Having something to do that is worthwhile and fulfilling is an advantage that we do not recognize often times. When you stop and think of it, most people will have to work most of their lives and if the work is not rewarding, then it becomes drudgery. What a joy when a person can find worthwhile work that benefits others.
This weekend my granddaughter and her family came from Oklahoma City and took us to lunch on Saturday. Her dad joined us for the meal and some good visiting.
On Sunday after church we went to another granddaughter’s home to help celebrate her youngest daughter’s fifth birthday. While there we had a great meal of hamburgers, topped off with ice cream and birthday cake. We also got the chance to visit with another group of relatives. What a great weekend.He
10-29-2009
#458
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Plenty of reasons for stress
In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a stressful time. The situation appears to become more serious each day.
I’ve often wondered how athletic coaches survive each season. They are pushed and pulled in so many directions and no way can they please everybody. Players complain, parents complain, fans complain. How are they able to throw off all the problems and not end up with a heart attack or a stroke?
However coaches’ problems are just one area of concern. We face many life-threatening situations in today’s world. One of the main worries is that of terrorism. How safe are we? Are we going to be attacked again on our own territory? How will we end the two wars in which we are involved now?
These are all concerns that keep us awake at night, causing headaches and digestive upsets
Then there are the weather related disasters, things over which we have no control. People on the west coast are battling fires, while some on the east coast are dealing with floods. In between the two coasts, tornadoes are often a major worry.
Added to all this is the present global financial crisis. We face problems we’ve never had to deal with in earlier times. Yes, I know we were confronted with the Great Depression at one time and shortly thereafter the war to end all wars. I certainly do not want to go through either of these again.
Families worry about being able to pay their bills, or if the breadwinner will be let go from his/her job. Some students have had to drop out of college or delay beginning college because of a lack of funds. This is sad because these young people are our future leaders and tax payers.
With all these problems it seems the world is in an upheaval. Did we not learn anything from our previous experiences? During and after the severe depression, my family along with many others, learned to be thrifty and conserve whatever could be repaired and reused.
In this day of immediate gratification, we spend money we don’t have. Some of our young adults do not realize that purchases charged to their credit cards have to be repaid at some point. However, they are not totally to blame for this, because their parents and other adults have done the same and set an unwise example for these persons.
In addition to all these problems, along comes swine flu. Are you as confused about this condition and how to treat it as I am? One doctor says those who are vulnerable should receive this vaccine, while another medical professional indicates, or at least hints, that this treatment may not be safe? The flu itself has been compared to the serious strain of flu that hit the world in 1918.
My grandmother related stories regarding that time and how bad it was. She remained free of this illness, but went from one neighbor to another to care for those who were suffering with it.
I find it really strange that at this critical time in our history that some persons want to delete the name of God in our pledge of allegiance. I think we need that now more than ever.erro
10-22-2009
#457
I’ve often wondered how athletic coaches survive each season. They are pushed and pulled in so many directions and no way can they please everybody. Players complain, parents complain, fans complain. How are they able to throw off all the problems and not end up with a heart attack or a stroke?
However coaches’ problems are just one area of concern. We face many life-threatening situations in today’s world. One of the main worries is that of terrorism. How safe are we? Are we going to be attacked again on our own territory? How will we end the two wars in which we are involved now?
These are all concerns that keep us awake at night, causing headaches and digestive upsets
Then there are the weather related disasters, things over which we have no control. People on the west coast are battling fires, while some on the east coast are dealing with floods. In between the two coasts, tornadoes are often a major worry.
Added to all this is the present global financial crisis. We face problems we’ve never had to deal with in earlier times. Yes, I know we were confronted with the Great Depression at one time and shortly thereafter the war to end all wars. I certainly do not want to go through either of these again.
Families worry about being able to pay their bills, or if the breadwinner will be let go from his/her job. Some students have had to drop out of college or delay beginning college because of a lack of funds. This is sad because these young people are our future leaders and tax payers.
With all these problems it seems the world is in an upheaval. Did we not learn anything from our previous experiences? During and after the severe depression, my family along with many others, learned to be thrifty and conserve whatever could be repaired and reused.
In this day of immediate gratification, we spend money we don’t have. Some of our young adults do not realize that purchases charged to their credit cards have to be repaid at some point. However, they are not totally to blame for this, because their parents and other adults have done the same and set an unwise example for these persons.
In addition to all these problems, along comes swine flu. Are you as confused about this condition and how to treat it as I am? One doctor says those who are vulnerable should receive this vaccine, while another medical professional indicates, or at least hints, that this treatment may not be safe? The flu itself has been compared to the serious strain of flu that hit the world in 1918.
My grandmother related stories regarding that time and how bad it was. She remained free of this illness, but went from one neighbor to another to care for those who were suffering with it.
I find it really strange that at this critical time in our history that some persons want to delete the name of God in our pledge of allegiance. I think we need that now more than ever.erro
10-22-2009
#457
Thursday, October 15, 2009
We need to discuss cancer
For the past eleven years, I have observed October 9th as a special day in my life. That was the day I underwent cancer surgery.
Telling this again reminds me of my Mother’s brother who, along with his wife, visited in our home regularly.
The conversation would be going along smoothly and Uncle John would look around and in a rather loud voice ask, “Say, did I ever tell you about so and so?”
My aunt would lean over toward us, his audience, and quietly say, “Yes, you’ve told them numerous times, but you all are getting ready to hear it again.”
Now I certainly do not intend to make light of the subject of cancer, but telling my story again is like getting on my soapbox. At this point, I am more concerned with the times after cancer.
During the period of my diagnosis, surgery and later during the chemotherapy, it was like moving through a large black tunnel, with no visible light at the end.
However with the love and support of my family members and so many friends, I worked my way through that dark tunnel. I believe that anyone who goes through this experience cannot do so without learning much about themselves and others.
For one thing you have to learn who you really are. Maybe that sounds strange to you, but you do a lot of thinking during those days when you don’t feel like doing anything other than staying immobile.
We have questions regarding our life: why did this happen to me when there is no history of cancer in any of our family; am I going to survive and what kind of life can I have afterwards? These, and many other questions crowd your thoughts.
In my view, a positive attitude and encouragement from others are as vital to recovery as is treatment of chemo or radiation, or whatever.
When I went for my treatments, so many of the other patients looked totally defeated. Their faces and demeanor showed that they had given up.
It is surprising how easily we chemo patients bonded. We talked about the status of our treatments, our families and especially the little ones. Each of us thought we had the cutest, smartest grandkids and great-grandkids in the world.
Although most of the cancer patients were middle aged or older, a few were young adults. One young man I met said he had been diagnosed nine years earlier and had taken treatments off and on since that time.
The breast cancer support group sponsored by the American Cancer Society was a great source of encouragement and support to many of us. We met once a month and discussed our problems, and serious as it was, we always had a few laughs. This was particularly true when we talked about our hair. When I related my experience of losing my hair in the shower and worrying that it would stop up the shower drain, they all got a laugh.
I do not know why the Lord has given me these extra years, but for whatever reason, I am most grateful.
As I’m certain most of you are aware, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so ladies, get those mammograms and wear something pink to show your support.
10-15-2009
#456
Telling this again reminds me of my Mother’s brother who, along with his wife, visited in our home regularly.
The conversation would be going along smoothly and Uncle John would look around and in a rather loud voice ask, “Say, did I ever tell you about so and so?”
My aunt would lean over toward us, his audience, and quietly say, “Yes, you’ve told them numerous times, but you all are getting ready to hear it again.”
Now I certainly do not intend to make light of the subject of cancer, but telling my story again is like getting on my soapbox. At this point, I am more concerned with the times after cancer.
During the period of my diagnosis, surgery and later during the chemotherapy, it was like moving through a large black tunnel, with no visible light at the end.
However with the love and support of my family members and so many friends, I worked my way through that dark tunnel. I believe that anyone who goes through this experience cannot do so without learning much about themselves and others.
For one thing you have to learn who you really are. Maybe that sounds strange to you, but you do a lot of thinking during those days when you don’t feel like doing anything other than staying immobile.
We have questions regarding our life: why did this happen to me when there is no history of cancer in any of our family; am I going to survive and what kind of life can I have afterwards? These, and many other questions crowd your thoughts.
In my view, a positive attitude and encouragement from others are as vital to recovery as is treatment of chemo or radiation, or whatever.
When I went for my treatments, so many of the other patients looked totally defeated. Their faces and demeanor showed that they had given up.
It is surprising how easily we chemo patients bonded. We talked about the status of our treatments, our families and especially the little ones. Each of us thought we had the cutest, smartest grandkids and great-grandkids in the world.
Although most of the cancer patients were middle aged or older, a few were young adults. One young man I met said he had been diagnosed nine years earlier and had taken treatments off and on since that time.
The breast cancer support group sponsored by the American Cancer Society was a great source of encouragement and support to many of us. We met once a month and discussed our problems, and serious as it was, we always had a few laughs. This was particularly true when we talked about our hair. When I related my experience of losing my hair in the shower and worrying that it would stop up the shower drain, they all got a laugh.
I do not know why the Lord has given me these extra years, but for whatever reason, I am most grateful.
As I’m certain most of you are aware, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so ladies, get those mammograms and wear something pink to show your support.
10-15-2009
#456
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Family meals make life rich
For a while now, I’ve been traveling a journey to the past. Many of the memories of earlier happenings and events are still so fresh in my mind. Some of these memories are clearer than recalling what I had for breakfast this morning.
Speaking of breakfast, one rule at our house when we were growing up was that we ate together as a family in the mornings and again at night.
Our morning meal usually consisted of fruit juice, cereal, bacon, ham or sausage, eggs and biscuits or toast. Usually on Sunday mornings, Mother cooked pork chops with brown cream gravy. What a feast!
It never occurred to us to leave for school with a piece of toast or a doughnut. Later when I became a teen, I often spent the night with one of my girl friends. Sometimes we had a soda for breakfast and as sure as shooting, I would become nauseated.
After Ray and I were married and the children came along, we continued to make a serious effort to eat together as a family, most especially at night.
While sitting at the table, we discussed the events of the day and often times mentioned problems we had.
Once when one of the boys had a friend over to eat with us, this young guest said something about, “My ole lady.” Ray laid his fork down on his plate and looked this boy in the eye and said, “Son, are you talking about your mother?”
“Yeah,” he said.
Ray replied, “In our house you do not call her ’Your ole lady.’ She is your mother.”
I sometimes think that rudeness has overtaken our nation. This does not just concern the young children and teens, but look at some of the adults some of whom are so rude in speech and manners.
My siblings and I were taught to say, “Please, thank you, yes sir, no sir” and other polite expressions.
Some parents are so busy making a living, they fail to see the importance of making a life. Many of us do not make enough time for our children.
In our fast-paced world, it is not always possible to have our meals together as a family. Many times a father works more than one job or is on shift work and does not have the opportunity to eat with his family. I think this is a real detriment to having close family relations, but on the other hand, the children can recognize the quality time they do have with their parents is special.
I think the love of reading was instilled in my children early in life and though they are all adults now, they still enjoy reading.
Ray began taking David fishing when he was probably about six years old. When there are several children in a family, it’s helpful if parents can spend some time alone with each child. This forms a close bond between parents and their children.
I’m sure that many parents feel the same as I do: if we could just go back and do ‘parenthood’ over again, we would surely do a better job, but that is not possible. We need to be grateful for the things we did do right.
10-8-2009
#455
Speaking of breakfast, one rule at our house when we were growing up was that we ate together as a family in the mornings and again at night.
Our morning meal usually consisted of fruit juice, cereal, bacon, ham or sausage, eggs and biscuits or toast. Usually on Sunday mornings, Mother cooked pork chops with brown cream gravy. What a feast!
It never occurred to us to leave for school with a piece of toast or a doughnut. Later when I became a teen, I often spent the night with one of my girl friends. Sometimes we had a soda for breakfast and as sure as shooting, I would become nauseated.
After Ray and I were married and the children came along, we continued to make a serious effort to eat together as a family, most especially at night.
While sitting at the table, we discussed the events of the day and often times mentioned problems we had.
Once when one of the boys had a friend over to eat with us, this young guest said something about, “My ole lady.” Ray laid his fork down on his plate and looked this boy in the eye and said, “Son, are you talking about your mother?”
“Yeah,” he said.
Ray replied, “In our house you do not call her ’Your ole lady.’ She is your mother.”
I sometimes think that rudeness has overtaken our nation. This does not just concern the young children and teens, but look at some of the adults some of whom are so rude in speech and manners.
My siblings and I were taught to say, “Please, thank you, yes sir, no sir” and other polite expressions.
Some parents are so busy making a living, they fail to see the importance of making a life. Many of us do not make enough time for our children.
In our fast-paced world, it is not always possible to have our meals together as a family. Many times a father works more than one job or is on shift work and does not have the opportunity to eat with his family. I think this is a real detriment to having close family relations, but on the other hand, the children can recognize the quality time they do have with their parents is special.
I think the love of reading was instilled in my children early in life and though they are all adults now, they still enjoy reading.
Ray began taking David fishing when he was probably about six years old. When there are several children in a family, it’s helpful if parents can spend some time alone with each child. This forms a close bond between parents and their children.
I’m sure that many parents feel the same as I do: if we could just go back and do ‘parenthood’ over again, we would surely do a better job, but that is not possible. We need to be grateful for the things we did do right.
10-8-2009
#455
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Well, do you have a story?
Have you ever heard the statement, “Everybody has a story?” If we had each of our friends and relatives write his life story, everyone would be different. I’m sure many of us would be surprised, perhaps shocked or even proud. It would be inspiring to learn of the hardships these persons had overcome.
Could you tell from where your parents came and what their lifestyle was? Were they farmers, or miners, or accountants?
Were your parents older when you were born, or had they barely turned of legal age?
I often think back to incidents in my childhood and one of the very first things I remember is riding home in the back seat of our old car. I’m not sure about the make of the car, nor the model year, but I do recall that it had those isinglass snap-in pieces that served as window coverings. I had my head in Mother’s lap because I had just had my tonsils out and we were on our way home. I was two years old at that time.
Maybe you grew up in a rural area, a large city or a small town? Where would you prefer to live today? It seems to me that there are some places that just echo the word ‘home.’
Did you have friends or acquaintances of other cultures? I always felt special because we lived in an area that had several different nationalities represented. At one house we had a German family who lived across the street from us, and a Norwegian couple next door to us. Both families had unique manners and practices that were different from ours.
The Norwegian neighbor always brought out some sort of sweet treat when we visited, even if we just dropped over to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg. This couple was polite and respected the property of others.
Another time when we lived on a different street, our nearby neighbors were natives of England. We loved hearing them talk. The father worked in a relative’s bakery and they always had doughnuts or cinnamon rolls or some such pastry at their house. There were a number of children in this family and when I sat with Margaret at lunch in school, she was agreeable to swapping part of our lunches. She would take a part of my cheese and crackers in exchange for a jellyroll or doughnut.
Coming from Texas, I never knew much about Indian tribes until we moved over to Antlers in Southeastern Oklahoma. There I met a Choctaw woman who became one of my dearest friends. She was a compassionate person and very energetic. She has remained a special person to me to this day.
When our house was being built here, we lived in the country for several years. Some of our city relatives were visiting once and one of them asked, “Ray, what do you all do for entertainment?”
“Well, once in a while the road grader comes down this road, and at times, we’ve had some crop dusters fly over.”
While living in the country, we did come to appreciate the use of modern conveniences; such as an all weather road, availability of drinking water and being able to do the laundry at home.
10-01-2009
#454
Could you tell from where your parents came and what their lifestyle was? Were they farmers, or miners, or accountants?
Were your parents older when you were born, or had they barely turned of legal age?
I often think back to incidents in my childhood and one of the very first things I remember is riding home in the back seat of our old car. I’m not sure about the make of the car, nor the model year, but I do recall that it had those isinglass snap-in pieces that served as window coverings. I had my head in Mother’s lap because I had just had my tonsils out and we were on our way home. I was two years old at that time.
Maybe you grew up in a rural area, a large city or a small town? Where would you prefer to live today? It seems to me that there are some places that just echo the word ‘home.’
Did you have friends or acquaintances of other cultures? I always felt special because we lived in an area that had several different nationalities represented. At one house we had a German family who lived across the street from us, and a Norwegian couple next door to us. Both families had unique manners and practices that were different from ours.
The Norwegian neighbor always brought out some sort of sweet treat when we visited, even if we just dropped over to borrow a cup of sugar or an egg. This couple was polite and respected the property of others.
Another time when we lived on a different street, our nearby neighbors were natives of England. We loved hearing them talk. The father worked in a relative’s bakery and they always had doughnuts or cinnamon rolls or some such pastry at their house. There were a number of children in this family and when I sat with Margaret at lunch in school, she was agreeable to swapping part of our lunches. She would take a part of my cheese and crackers in exchange for a jellyroll or doughnut.
Coming from Texas, I never knew much about Indian tribes until we moved over to Antlers in Southeastern Oklahoma. There I met a Choctaw woman who became one of my dearest friends. She was a compassionate person and very energetic. She has remained a special person to me to this day.
When our house was being built here, we lived in the country for several years. Some of our city relatives were visiting once and one of them asked, “Ray, what do you all do for entertainment?”
“Well, once in a while the road grader comes down this road, and at times, we’ve had some crop dusters fly over.”
While living in the country, we did come to appreciate the use of modern conveniences; such as an all weather road, availability of drinking water and being able to do the laundry at home.
10-01-2009
#454
Monday, September 21, 2009
A ‘Roomba’ No Kin to Rumba
Sometimes I wonder if I was born fifty years too soon, or if I’m just not ready for this electronic age. My, there is so much to learn!
When one of your great-grandchildren advises you on how to take a photo on your cell phone, do you feel totally useless? I enjoy using my computer and usually have no serious problems with it, but there are times when I feel like Ned in the first reader.
I guess these thoughts are the result of some happenings at my sister’s home recently. In the first place, she was given a birthday gift of a “roomba.” I had no clue as to what this was, and guess I was too embarrassed to ask.
After several conversations regarding this new product, at least new to me, she finally explained that it was a different kind of vacuum cleaner. This is the small round instrument that travels the carpet without anyone holding onto it to guide it. One of the reasons I was confused when she told me about it, was due to the fact that I thought she was saying she got a rumba.
But, back to the cleaner. Her daughter kept asking her if she had tried it out yet, and Sis made one excuse after another. Finally, she just confessed that she did not know how to use it and had not taken the time to read the manual.
If ever there was a stickler for reading a manual prior to use, it was my husband. My son-in-law accompanied Ray to look at cars one day. Don said, “I thought Ray was going to sit down and read the entire manual before we left the car dealership.”
After my niece had given her mother instructions on using her new tool, my sister did a few trial runs. I gathered that one of the vital things regarding the use of this cleaner is to be certain to set the stops, so that the machine stays within the boundaries where you want it.
My niece retrieved the cleaner and took it to her house to try it out. She said she set a table leaf to keep it within a certain room, but when she checked on it, the machine had gone over the leaf and was cleaning in an adjoining room.
The latest news from last week is that my sister had used the vacuum and was pleased with it.
Several years ago my sister’s other daughter gave her a fancy new electronic toothbrush for Christmas. When Sis told me about this, I asked how she liked it. “Oh, I really don’t know, I haven’t used it yet.” As time rocked on, I would periodically ask Sis about the new item and she gave various excuses for not using it.
Finally, one day she confessed that she was afraid of it. I told her to read the manual and she responded that she had done that, but was still afraid of it.
Several years later her daughter Terry was moving out of state and Sis approached her and asked if she would like the never-used toothbrush. Terry accepted the offer with gratitude and so far, I’ve not heard of any dire reactions resulting from use of the toothbrush.
9-17-2009
#452
When one of your great-grandchildren advises you on how to take a photo on your cell phone, do you feel totally useless? I enjoy using my computer and usually have no serious problems with it, but there are times when I feel like Ned in the first reader.
I guess these thoughts are the result of some happenings at my sister’s home recently. In the first place, she was given a birthday gift of a “roomba.” I had no clue as to what this was, and guess I was too embarrassed to ask.
After several conversations regarding this new product, at least new to me, she finally explained that it was a different kind of vacuum cleaner. This is the small round instrument that travels the carpet without anyone holding onto it to guide it. One of the reasons I was confused when she told me about it, was due to the fact that I thought she was saying she got a rumba.
But, back to the cleaner. Her daughter kept asking her if she had tried it out yet, and Sis made one excuse after another. Finally, she just confessed that she did not know how to use it and had not taken the time to read the manual.
If ever there was a stickler for reading a manual prior to use, it was my husband. My son-in-law accompanied Ray to look at cars one day. Don said, “I thought Ray was going to sit down and read the entire manual before we left the car dealership.”
After my niece had given her mother instructions on using her new tool, my sister did a few trial runs. I gathered that one of the vital things regarding the use of this cleaner is to be certain to set the stops, so that the machine stays within the boundaries where you want it.
My niece retrieved the cleaner and took it to her house to try it out. She said she set a table leaf to keep it within a certain room, but when she checked on it, the machine had gone over the leaf and was cleaning in an adjoining room.
The latest news from last week is that my sister had used the vacuum and was pleased with it.
Several years ago my sister’s other daughter gave her a fancy new electronic toothbrush for Christmas. When Sis told me about this, I asked how she liked it. “Oh, I really don’t know, I haven’t used it yet.” As time rocked on, I would periodically ask Sis about the new item and she gave various excuses for not using it.
Finally, one day she confessed that she was afraid of it. I told her to read the manual and she responded that she had done that, but was still afraid of it.
Several years later her daughter Terry was moving out of state and Sis approached her and asked if she would like the never-used toothbrush. Terry accepted the offer with gratitude and so far, I’ve not heard of any dire reactions resulting from use of the toothbrush.
9-17-2009
#452
Friday, September 11, 2009
Reunions can Capture Time
Over the years I have often wished that I could have attended some of my high school reunions. In 2002 my class celebrated our sixtieth reunion. How I would love to have gone to that, even though I likely would not have recognized many of those present.
Time gets away so fast, and a person looks back and realizes that years have passed since we were back in class together and enjoying mostly carefree days with no serious worries.
When you do look back, certain people stand out in your memories. You think of the beautiful young teenage girls, and the handsome athletic boys. Most of the girls were impressed with the football players and those who participated in basketball.
In the school yearbooks, students were named as the most likely to succeed, the prettiest girls, the friendliest and so on. Boys are also known for their outstanding qualities.
Of course, there were the cheerleaders. At our school, we had both boy and girl cheerleaders. Several years ago, one of my grand-daughters was here and she found my old annual and began laughing as she leafed through the book.
“Mamaw, were those the cheerleader uniforms?” Rachel asked.
“Yes, our school colors were red and gray, so the boys wore gray wool slacks with red satin shirts, and the girls wore gray wool circular skirts (below the knee length) with the red satin shirts.
As I overheard conversations regarding the all school Waurika reunion this weekend, I was impressed with how well the activities were organized. But I know a lot of former students worked long and hard on getting this all together. I heard several people state that this was the best reunion of all time. The musical entertainment during the banquet seemed to be especially pleasing to the crowd.
As a member of the class of ’69, Starr was impressed with the number from her class who were there for their 40th reunion. Of course, it’s sad when you realize that a large number have already passed away.
When she got in Saturday night after the banquet, I began to quiz her about who she had seen. “Oh yes, Mother, I saw her and she looks great.” Some she did not recognize right away and some did not recognize her.
From her class of 39 graduates, nine have died. However, they had 40 persons registered for the special noon luncheon for their class. Some of these were spouses and other relatives. I have noticed that over the years the graduates who seem most interested in attending these functions are the older ones, and especially those who live in other towns and states. I suppose this is that eternal longing to return home.
From David’s class of ’68, there is a large number of former students who have returned to Waurika and now make their home here.
Many of the former students who had stayed over till yesterday were in attendance at our church yesterday. I must say, I saw a few whom I did not recognize, but at this stage in life, I’m not embarrassed to ask these people their names. At age 85, we are not expected to remember names or even faces.
9-10-2009
#451
Time gets away so fast, and a person looks back and realizes that years have passed since we were back in class together and enjoying mostly carefree days with no serious worries.
When you do look back, certain people stand out in your memories. You think of the beautiful young teenage girls, and the handsome athletic boys. Most of the girls were impressed with the football players and those who participated in basketball.
In the school yearbooks, students were named as the most likely to succeed, the prettiest girls, the friendliest and so on. Boys are also known for their outstanding qualities.
Of course, there were the cheerleaders. At our school, we had both boy and girl cheerleaders. Several years ago, one of my grand-daughters was here and she found my old annual and began laughing as she leafed through the book.
“Mamaw, were those the cheerleader uniforms?” Rachel asked.
“Yes, our school colors were red and gray, so the boys wore gray wool slacks with red satin shirts, and the girls wore gray wool circular skirts (below the knee length) with the red satin shirts.
As I overheard conversations regarding the all school Waurika reunion this weekend, I was impressed with how well the activities were organized. But I know a lot of former students worked long and hard on getting this all together. I heard several people state that this was the best reunion of all time. The musical entertainment during the banquet seemed to be especially pleasing to the crowd.
As a member of the class of ’69, Starr was impressed with the number from her class who were there for their 40th reunion. Of course, it’s sad when you realize that a large number have already passed away.
When she got in Saturday night after the banquet, I began to quiz her about who she had seen. “Oh yes, Mother, I saw her and she looks great.” Some she did not recognize right away and some did not recognize her.
From her class of 39 graduates, nine have died. However, they had 40 persons registered for the special noon luncheon for their class. Some of these were spouses and other relatives. I have noticed that over the years the graduates who seem most interested in attending these functions are the older ones, and especially those who live in other towns and states. I suppose this is that eternal longing to return home.
From David’s class of ’68, there is a large number of former students who have returned to Waurika and now make their home here.
Many of the former students who had stayed over till yesterday were in attendance at our church yesterday. I must say, I saw a few whom I did not recognize, but at this stage in life, I’m not embarrassed to ask these people their names. At age 85, we are not expected to remember names or even faces.
9-10-2009
#451
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