High School Reunion

My high school class is having our 25-year reunion this weekend, and there was a gathering last night at someone's house which Don and I attended. I was a little skeptical about going, but I really had a good time. It was like we kind of picked right up where we left off, but without all the immaturity we had then.

I went to my 10-year, but not my 20-year. Since then I have reconnected with about 30 of my classmates on Facebook, so that made me a little more enthusiastic about going this time. I had great conversations with people that I hardly knew in high school. I found I had more in common with some of them than I now do with people I was once friends with.

Still, no matter where we are in life, we all share the common bond of our past. Many of us went all the way through school together (I moved to that system in fourth grade), so they were a big part in making me who I am.

I'm glad I have Facebook now to help me keep up with these friends, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again at my 30-year reunion.

With my friends Barbara and Esther.

Franklin Band Days

I’ve been reminiscing a lot lately about my Franklin High School marching band days, probably because it’s fall and because I’ve been hooking up with a lot of those old friends on Facebook. I played the clarinet then; I was TERRIBLE, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying marching band. It was a lot of hard work and dedication (both on my part and my parents’, having to come pick me up at all hours of the day and night), but I’m glad I did it.
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We had practice every afternoon after school during football season, played at the games every Friday night (many of them out of town) and had contests on Saturdays. Didn’t leave much time for a social life, but most of my closest friends were in the band anyway. I can still remember the thrill of marching out onto the field for a performance, and the even greater thrill of winning. We were state champions my sophomore year. My senior year, we were in the Orange Bowl parade and then stopped by Disney World on the way home.
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Even now, Friday nights in the fall remind me of playing at football games. Sometimes it was FREEZING cold. We sat in the stands and waved Confederate flags as we cheered on our team (now no longer politically correct, but after all, we were the Franklin Rebels). I didn’t know the first thing about football when I started high school, but by the time I graduated, I had learned all the rules and actually enjoyed watching the games.
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Besides learning about football, I also developed a lot of discipline and endurance from being in the band. I learned some things about music and rhythm, though I was a very slow learner on those things. (I still consider myself to be "rhythmically handicapped," even though I have since learned to play the flute moderately well.)
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I think being in the marching band was definitely the highlight of my high school years, and if I had to do those years over, I would do it again.
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But I’m glad I don’t have to.
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Memorable Birthday Gifts: Hawaii

When I turned 30, my friend Laurie gave me an amazing gift: an all-expense-paid trip to Hawaii for a week.

She didn’t always give me such generous gifts, but she had won a trip for two through her work, AFLAC, and I was the lucky person she chose to take with her.

Click below to see a few pictures from our trip.

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Birthdays Through the Years

Well, it may be a little vain, but since today is my 42nd birthday, I have gone through some old photos and pulled out some birthday pictures of me through the years. Lucky for you, I couldn’t find too many. Thanks to my mom for organizing and labeling my childhood pictures for me. Unfortunately, she didn’t get in any of them; I guess she was always taking them! I am thankful for each year God has given me, and look forward to what He is going to do in my life in years to come!

P.S.: Happy Birthday Jan!

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