Sunday, October 3, 2010

Making Memories

This weekend I attended a high school reunion that was different from your normal reunion.  Instead of one or two classes, EVERYONE who ever attended our high school was invited.  FVHS was closed in 1970 (3 years after I graduated) and was replaced with a new building with a new name.  So this reunion was special.  The old building is definitely not what it once was and many parts, especially the main building, have fallen into disrepair. 


                               They just don't build them like they used to.


But on a beautiful fall day we gathered on the front lawn of a place that one of our speakers referred to as CAMELOT...and we recalled memories of wonderful years gone by.  We hugged friends & acquaintances we hadn't seen in years...sometimes having to look at name tags before we recognized them.  Needless to say, some had changed more than others! 

My 8 girlfriends & I (referred to as Valley Girls '67) had planned an all-girls weekend and roomed together at a nearby hotel.  Some of the VGs were not able to attend and were greatly missed.  My roommate was Evelyn (seen here in her cute sun hat) and I enjoyed that so much....EXCEPT for an adventure we hope never to repeat.  At 11:30 p.m. our toilet decided to become a volcano, gushing out water by the bucketfuls.  It wasn't long before we were flooded.  At 1:15 a.m. (yes, that's EARLY morning) we were dragging our luggage across the parking lot to another room which, by the way, was of shoebox proportions.  We finally got to sleep about 2:00 a.m.

Jackie (former majorette)  & Ev (President of Pep Club)

Nothing, however, could dampen (no pun intended) our wonderful weekend together.  There was much fun, laughter, food, song, and dance...yes, we OLDSTERS got down and boogied to the same rock & roll band that had sprung up right there in our own high school when I was in about the 10th or 11th grade.  Here are some more photos I took but I was having so much fun and spent so much time talking to different friends and old teachers that I would forget that my camera was hanging around my neck.


Me, Jackie, Truitt, Kaye, Olivia


Jerri (friend, cousin, & former cheerleader)
Jackie (former majorette & fire twirler!)

Kaye (former cheerleader)
Judge Jimmy (class hunk & fabulous basketball player)

Olivia (our class redhead; she flew in all the way from TX)
Kaye (former cheerleader)

Debra, Gwen, Judy, Jan
Beautiful Girls of '68

FRIENDS  FOREVER
front:  Kaye, Olivia
middle:  Jimmy, me, Jerri, Evelyn
back:  Jackie & her sister June

Tommy (another class hunk, good athlete, & class "bad boy"; some of our teachers would turn over in their grave if they knew he is now a high school teacher!)
&
Charlene (better known as "Charlie" & one of the best girl basketball players ever)

THE CLASS OF '67:  Best of the Best
(The only one I haven't mentioned is BUTCH, in the red shirt...one of the nicest guys in the world!)


Fun Memorabilia

Now all the fun is over...I'm back home safely and hope all my friends are too.  As I look over the pictures and tell my husband about everything and everybody, I can't help but feel a tug at my heart and a tear (or two..or three) in my eye.  It's very bittersweet to me to spend time with some of my very best friends and to see other friends that I'm not sure I will ever see again in this lifetime.  As I looked around at how much we had all aged (some more than others) it made me realize how swiftly time goes by...but also makes me realize how blessed I was to grow up where I did, to have the friends I had, and to attend one of the best high schools in the state at that time.  I will forever be thankful for all the sweet memories I still have from my high school days, as well as the memories I stored up over the weekend.  To my Valley Girls '67...once again we rocked and stood out among the crowd...once again you all reminded me of why I chose you to be my friends then and now...once again I feel so blessed that you took me into your group when I moved to the Valley...once again I feel blessed to have you in my life again even though we parted 43 years ago.  To Jimmy, Truitt, Tommy, & Butch (some of our Valley Guys)...it was wonderful seeing your handsome faces again and spending time with all of you...you were HUNKS then & in my mind you still are!  To all the other alumni that were there...thanks for making CAMELOT a place we can all look back on with fond memories.  To my teachers...there just aren't enough thanks to tell you how much I appreciate all that you taught me because each of you helped me become what I am today.  So...a wonderful time was had by all...and I can hardly wait till the next reunion when more bittersweet memories will be made.

17 comments:

  1. What wonderful pictures and I just love it that you got to spend time with your girlfriends! The toilet gusher, well... that's kinda funny! Made for a good story to remember and share with us girls!

    You are certainly one of the LESS aged:) You look gorgeous!

    Enjoy your day and your memories! HUGS!

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  2. Hi Cheri,
    What a neat post! I so enjoyed seeing all the pics and hey girl, you still look beautiful!
    I also received my beautiful box this weekend and I am so thrilled with it! I love all the treasures and how thoughtfully you put it together.
    I will have mine out next week. I have been a bit busy, come by and see my post when you can.
    Thanks again,
    Cindy

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  3. Hi Cheri,
    I graduated high school in 1967 too! It is wonderful to be able to go back and pick up with long lost friends and just to be kids again.

    I'm so glad you had a wonderful time and by the way, you look wonderful!

    hugs
    Sissie

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  4. Cheri, it looks like you had a wonderful time. Isn't it nice to be with friends who "knew you when"?

    I remember what flat land looks like. I'm from Baxley!! Family members lived in Hazelhurst, Surrency and Moultrie. A few generations ago my family lived on the Coast at Midway in Liberty County near Savannah.
    Nancy

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  5. Wow, I'm very envious! I hated high school (Dallas, Texas, class of 66, a senior class of over 300), and wouldn't go back to a reunion if you paid me. Isn't that sad? Thanks for sharing your reunion, and I think you all look mah-va-lous!

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  6. Oh what fun! I've never been to a class reunion but I've always wanted to go to one. I love the majorette uniform! Costumes have really changed, no doubt. Thank you for sharing this memory with your blog friends.

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  7. Oh what a precious post. It looks like such fun and what a blessing to be able to see so many old friends and catch up other on what all is going on. I know you all had a wonderful time. I got a chuckle when I saw the cheerleading outfits. I still have mine too. Sweet memories.

    You asked what kind of paint I used to paint the pitcher that I redid. Just regular spray paint, and just minwax stain. Nothing special. After it is all dry I use crystal clear spray paint to seal it all. Hope this helps. Hugs, Marty

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  8. It looks like you had a great time!! I know mom and dad did! They even found who use to be the owner of one of our past dogs (Cadi). I'm sure everyone loved sharing stories with each other!
    I can't wait til I get to go back to Westfield in 30 years and see what it's like!

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  9. There were 1000 kids in my graduating class and impossible to know everyone. I had a small circle of friends that I still keep in contact with. It looks like you had a wonderful time. Those were the days of such innocence. The kiddos today all want to grow up too quickly. I think it's funny that when we see people our age that we went to school with, we still "see" their young faces and personalities! Great time!

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  10. I now y'all had a great time. It is so terrible that my class has never had a reunion.

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  11. Hi Cheri,

    What a wonderful time for you and your friends.
    You school looks like mine. You are right, they don't make them like they used to.

    I am so excited that i got to see Jeff face to face via skpye. I am loving "technology" now.

    Have a fantastic rest of the week.

    Big hugs,
    Barb

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  12. sounds like a great time except for the bathroom. great photos for forever memories. thanks for your coment on my post dogs. rose

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  13. I missed my 30 year reunion last year. So glad your was a positive experience . :-)

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  14. Great memories to add to maybe a few faded memories. What a wonderful time if seemed to have been.

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  15. So fun! I haven't been to a reunion since the one we had at ten years. It was so surreal to see everyone that I haven't gone to another. That and the fact that my ex-husband was in the same class I was ;-)

    Glad to see your digging out of you huge pile of things to do. Good luck catching up!

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  16. What a sweet post, Cheri! So fun you could meet up with so many friends from the past...and you look GREAT!

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  17. O, Cheri..I loved this post. I can so relate to it.
    I am about 10 or ll yrs older than you, graduating in '56. We had our class reunion in 2006 and I never had so much fun. All my girlfriends were there..we shared rooms and it was just like we had never been apart. Some of the guys that were soooooo handsome and I had such a crush on were so cute...bald headed, pot bellied and grinning from ear to ear. Oh, how I love all of them. I am so lucky to have 2 of the girls I started 2nd grade with, graduated together and stayed friends all these years, live right here by me. We go to lunch, thrifting..just hang out. If my hubby is out of town, I go spend the night with one of them. I AM BLESSED.

    Our school has ALL CLASS reunions, too.
    So glad you had such fun.
    hugs, bj

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